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At its August 7 meeting, the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Peace River Basin Board adopted a fiscal year 2010 (FY2010) millage rate of 0.1827 mill, which is the same as the current fiscal year. The Peace River Basin Board area includes Hardee, DeSoto and portions of Polk, Highlands and Charlotte counties.This millage rate combined with a reduction in taxable property values as certified by the five county property appraisers will result in an estimated…

Funding will help restore water quality and natural systems, and create sustainable water supplies in the Southern Water Use Caution AreaGovernor Charlie Crist and Lieutenant Governor Jeff Kottkamp released their 2008-09 budget recommendations today, which included $25 million for the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s West-Central Florida Water Resource Action Plan (WRAP.)The WRAP is a long-term water resource protection, restoration and water…

The Florida Legislature included $15 million in its 2008–09 state budget for the District’s West-Central Florida Water Restoration Action Plan (WRAP), which will help restore water quality and natural systems and create sustainable water supplies in the Southern Water Use Caution Area (SWUCA). “In this incredibly tight budget year, we are extremely grateful that the WRAP was funded, which will aid in the District’s efforts to recover the Southern Water Use Caution…

 At the FARMS program presentation are (from left to right) Paul Samuels, Peace River Basin Board member; Mac Carraway, Manasota Basin Board member; Senator Mike Bennett; Representative Nancy Detert; Patsy Symons, Governing Board secretary; Tom Dabney, Governing Board member; Frank Strelec, Manasota Basin Board member; and Ken Harrison, Peace River Basin Board member. Members of the District’s Governing Board and the Manasota and Peace River basin boards…

 Proximity to the Charlotte Harbor estuary is reflected in the tidal nature of the river and its associated floodplain wetlands. The Peace River is highly braided in these lower reaches and the name of the property is derived from a prominent branch of the river, known historically as "Deep Creek," which parallels the eastern boundary of the site.About half of the property is pine flatwoods consisting of longleaf pines and a diverse mixture of native shrubs and herbs. A…

District staff, Governing Board members and Hillsborough River Basin Board members recently welcomed the first wave of warm weather with a canoe trip down the upper Hillsborough River. The outing was an opportunity to see firsthand a highly protected natural river in its upper reaches, which ultimately provides water supplies to the City of Tampa and freshwater flows to Tampa Bay. “The upper Hillsborough River is in excellent ecological condition, with good water…

State Sen. Michael Bennett and Rep. Nancy Detert recently presented a $1 million check to the Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) in support of the Facilitating Agricultural Resource Management Systems (FARMS) program.The FARMS program is a cost-share reimbursement program that conserves water and protects water quality.Through accurate and efficient irrigation utilizing the latest technology, farmers are able to save water and fuel, said David Brown,…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Governing Board approved a nitrogen reduction goal for water discharging from Lake Hancock and a preliminary treatment plan to achieve those goals.Lake Hancock is in the headwaters of the Peace River watershed that extends 120 miles downriver to Charlotte Harbor, an estuary of national significance and a Surface Water Improvement and Management (SWIM) priority water body. Water quality leaving the 4,500-acre lake has…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District will be conducting “controlled, prescribed burns” during the rest of November and throughout December and January on the District’s Upper Hillsborough property in Pasco County.The Upper Hillsborough property is approximately one mile east of Zephyrhills. The scheduled, managed burns are a part of routine maintenance of lands managed by the District. Approximately 500 acres of land will be burned in small,…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board today approved a project that could replenish the Floridan aquifer by up to two to three million gallons of water per day (mgd).The project involves the development of an alternative water supply at CF Industry’s South Pasture mine, located in Hardee County. The plan is to capture excess surface water and storm water at the mine and route it through a constructed wetlands treatment area, and then to a sand…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District will be conducting “controlled, prescribed burns” during July on the District’s Upper Hillsborough property in Pasco County.The Upper Hillsborough property is approximately 3 miles east of Zephyrhills. The scheduled, managed burns are a part of routine maintenance of lands managed by the District. Approximately 300 acres of land will be burned in small, manageable units.According to District Land Manager…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Peace River Basin Board Friday adopted a fiscal year 2009 (FY2009) millage rate of 0.1827 mill, which is the same as the current fiscal year. The Peace River Basin Board area includes Hardee, DeSoto and portions of Polk, Highlands and Charlotte counties.This millage rate combined with a reduction in taxable property values as certified by the county property appraisers, will result in an estimated 10 percent decrease in…

The Alafia River is a major tributary of Tampa Bay. Conservation of the lands along the Alafia River will protect the river, its floodplain and wildlife habitat for future generations. The river’s natural floodplain is a mixture of hardwood swamps and upland hammocks. Trails meander through natural areas as well as areas that were formerly phosphate mine pits, which are mostly revegetated. Jointly purchased by the District and Hillsborough County, the property is managed…

 Situated at the confluence of Dead River and the Hillsborough River, this park is a pleasant place to unwind. Nature lovers appreciate a scenic two-mile trail alongside the Hillsborough River.

Water experts from around the state recently talked innovation as District staff highlighted a variety of projects and programs aimed at recovering and restoring water resources. The District hosted the May Technical Meeting for the Florida Section of the American Water Resources Association (AWRA). The scientific organization’s mission is to promote an…

The RV Griffin Reserve will be closed for an extended period during the construction of the new reservoir. For additional information, please visit the managing partner. Public water supply facilities, agriculture, wildlife habitat conservation and passive recreation characterize the diversity of the working landscape at the RV Griffin Reserve. The reserve offers vistas of pine flatwoods,…

In preparation for Hurricane Dennis, the Southwest Florida Water Management District is removing a large tree and several smaller trees that are blocking the Peace Creek Canal in Bartow. The trees recently fell into the creek because the area is so saturated.The District has budgeted $10,000 to complete the work today. Hess Construction Company is the contractor removing the debris. The company is one of the contractors the District used to remove hurricane-related debris…

Information on upcoming and recent public meetings on the District's Minimum Flows and Levels Program will be consolidated on this page.

Mangroves are crucial to the health of the Charlotte Harbor estuary. They stabilize shorelines, prevent erosion during storms and provide perches for nesting seabirds. But their greatest contribution occurs when they shed their leaves, which sink and rot, supplying nutrients to a huge variety of microscopic creatures and forging links in a multitude of food chains. Falling at an average rate of 3.5 tons per acre, mangrove leaf litter sustains fungi, bacteria, protozoans…