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Pinellas County residents will soon be participating in an irrigation study aimed at determining the potential irrigation water savings of soil moisture sensors.Residential lawn and landscape irrigation can account for more than 50 percent of a home’s total water use and according to recent research, many Florida homeowners water their lawns too much. One way to prevent over-irrigation is to add a soil moisture sensor to a time clock controlled irrigation system. These…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District will be conducting “controlled, prescribed burns” during May and June on two District sites in Hillsborough County. The sites are the Alafia Reservoir property and the Lower Hillsborough property.The District’s Alafia Reservoir property is approximately 3 miles southwest of Lithia. Approximately 150 acres of land will be burned in small, manageable units.The Lower Hillsborough property is approximately 4…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District will be conducting “controlled, prescribed burns” during May and June on two District sites in Pasco County. The sites are the Conner Preserve and the Cypress Creek property.The Conner Preserve is approximately 7 miles north of Land O’ Lakes. Approximately 215 acres of land will be burned in small, manageable units.The Cypress Creek property is approximately 3 miles east of Land O’ Lakes. Approximately…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) will hold a virtual public meeting at 4 p.m., Thursday, July 25, to discuss updates to the Green Swamp Wilderness Preserve Land Management Plan.The District adopts land management plans to ensure its public conservation lands are being managed in ways that are consistent with Florida Statutes and the District’s mission. District lands are acquired to preserve and protect water resources and natural systems while…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District will be conducting “controlled, prescribed burns” during March and April on two District sites in Hillsborough County. The sites are the Alafia Reservoir property and the Lower Hillsborough property.The District’s Alafia Reservoir property is approximately 3 miles southwest of Lithia. Approximately 150 acres of land will be burned in small, manageable units.The Lower Hillsborough property is approximately 4…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board Tuesday approved the purchase of two parcels of environmentally sensitive land in the Annutteliga Hammock area of Hernando County.The first parcel of land is located on the north side of Centralia Road. The 4.43-acre parcel is being purchased for $35,994.The second parcel of land is also located on the north side of Centralia Road and is 1 mile east of Lalani Lane at the north end of Bareva road in the Royal…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District recently recognized two Sumter County projects as outstanding school, community grant or volunteer programs that focus on water resources education. A total of 52 projects were recognized during the October 7 Reflect, Connect, Celebrate Water Resources Education Conference at the Brooker Creek Preserve Environmental Education Center in Tarpon Springs.To select the awardees, District staff reviewed grants applied for by teachers…

Groups and individuals interested in applying for a Southwest Florida Water Management District community education grant are invited to attend a grant advisory session for residents who live in the area represented by the District’s Withlacoochee River Basin Board. The area includes portions of Pasco, Sumter, Hernando, Citrus, Marion, and Levy counties.The advisory session will be held Tuesday, Aug. 24, from 9 a.m.- 3 p.m. at the Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District will be conducting “controlled, prescribed burns” during January and February on two District sites in Hillsborough County. The sites are the Alafia Reservoir property and the Lower Hillsborough property.The District’s Alafia Reservoir property is approximately 3 miles southwest of Lithia. Approximately 150 acres of land will be burned in small, manageable units.The Lower Hillsborough property is…

The Central Florida Water Initiative (CFWI) will be holding an interactive webinar about regional water supply planning in central Florida Thursday, Aug. 29 at 1:30 p.m. This District is working collaboratively with the St. Johns River and South Florida water management districts as well as the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and regional utilities to address short- and long-term water supply needs in…

The Dunnellon Homeschool Club will share information it learned about protecting and conserving our water resources with the community at a workshop Thursday, April 23 at 10:30 a.m.The workshop, which is being held at the Dunnellon Public Library meeting room, 20351 Robinson Road. in Dunnellon, will discuss current events impacting our water supply, the aquifer and other natural systems, and water conservation methods, including Florida-friendly landscaping and rain barrels.…

A reclaimed water project funded by the Southwest Florida Water Management District and Plant City will provide approximately 400,000 gallons per day (gpd) to Walden Lake Golf Course, South Florida Baptist Hospital and the Strawberry Festival grounds, which will offset an estimated 300,000 gpd of potable water.This multi-year project includes the design, permitting and construction of approximately 15,000 feet of reclaimed water transmission line extending from the city…

Douglas B. Tharp took his oath of office Tuesday to serve on the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Governing Board.Tharp was appointed by Gov. Charlie Crist to a restructured seat representing Citrus, Lake, Levy and Sumter counties. The Governing Board was previously made up of 11 seats. Last year the State Legislature added two new seats for a total of 13. Tharp was appointed to the seat once held by Judy Whitehead. In April 2008, Whitehead was…

Educators interested in securing grant funding for classroom projects that focus on water quality, natural systems, water conservation, alternative water sources, flood protection or watersheds are encouraged to apply for a Splash! mini-grant through the Southwest Florida Water Management District.The goal of the mini-grant program is to promote hands-on water resources education that teaches students about their local watersheds and the water resources within them. Splash…

Approximately 15 volunteers will get their feet wet this Saturday, May 21, participating in a restoration project organized by the Kings Bay Advisory Group.The volunteers will plant a variety of emergent, or water, plants along the Kings Bay shoreline. The goal of this project is to improve the habitat of the hardened shoreline, which will reduce wave action and lead to better water clarity and quality. By planting approximately 160 native plants, volunteers also hope to…

The District’s Governing Board recognized Cheryl Paradis as one of this year’s springs community partners, while declaring April Springs Protection Awareness Month.  Paradis has served as the director and lead teacher at the Springs Coast Environmental Education Center on the Weeki Wachee River since 2008. Each year, she passionately educates approximately 8,000 Hernando County students, teachers and families about Weeki Wachee Springs and how to protect the…

Lasting Impression Through Learning A unique environmental education program is giving Dunnellon students the opportunity to leave a lasting impression on the community. The students are participating in the Legacy Program, a Southwest Florida Water Management District-funded project that receives matching grant funds from Florida Learn and Serve. The Legacy Program is a hands-on learning experience that allows seventh- and eighth-grade students the opportunity to…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) is seeking public input to determine the priority of minimum flows and levels (MFLs) establishment for lakes, wetlands, rivers, streams and aquifers in the District as well as the establishment of water reservations. Legislation requires the District to review and, if necessary, revise this schedule each year.The District will hold a virtual public meeting Aug. 23 at 5:30 p.m. Members of the public can join the…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) is seeking public input to determine the priority of minimum flows and levels (MFLs) establishment for lakes, wetlands, rivers, streams and aquifers in the District as well as the establishment of water reservations. Legislation requires the District to review and, if necessary, revise this schedule each year. The District will hold a virtual public meeting Aug. 24 at 5 p.m. Members of the public can join the…

Three water management districts — the Southwest Florida, South Florida and St. Johns River — are working together to meet the growing water supply needs of a five-county region in central Florida while also protecting the water and related natural resources. The water management districts approved an action plan for the Central Florida Coordination Area (CFCA), which extends into the three water management districts and includes Orange, Osceola, Seminole and Polk…