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When Wayne Rubow designed his new Citrus County home, he wanted water conservation to be a central concept of the design. Inside, he chose low-flow faucets, showerheads and toilets. He installed water-efficient appliances like a dishwasher and washing machine. Outside, his landscape has no grass and no irrigation, instead opting for plants that require little water. "Water is a very important aspect of our conservation," Rubow said. "I just wanted to give…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board Tuesday adopted the agency’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2006 millage rates and combined budget. The District’s millage rate remains the same as last year for the General Fund. The millage rates for the eight District Basin Boards also remain the same. FY2006 will run from Oct. 1, 2005, through Sept. 30, 2006.Downloadsample projects by…

The "Southwest Florida Water Management District(Southwest Florida Water Management District)":/ is inviting the public to comment on proposed "minimum flows and levels(Minimum Flows and Levels)":/mfl (MFLs) for the upper and middle Withlacoochee River at a public workshop on Wednesday, Nov. 3. The workshop will be held from 6:30 to approximately 9 p.m. at the "District's headquarters(Google map)":http://maps.google.com/maps?oi=map&q=2379+Broad+Street,+Brooksville,+FL+…

At 16 years old, Sandie Will, geohydrologic data manager, set out to pen her first work of fiction – a haunted house story based on her love of horror flicks. Years later, her passion for the paranormal will be printed on the pages of her first published novel, The Caging at Deadwater Manor – a young adult, psychological thriller from Caliburn Press scheduled for release by the end of 2016. The story, inspired by true events, follows Jeannie Kynde, a 14-year-old girl…

Southwest Florida Water Management District employees and Board members, as well as their friends and families, will be among the hundreds of volunteers taking part in this weekend’s 21st Annual Hillsborough River & Waterways Cleanup. The cleanup begins Saturday at 8 a.m. at the Lowry Park Boat Ramp.The annual event is one of Tampa’s largest volunteer activities. Each year volunteers scour dozens of shoreline locations along the Hillsborough River and…

Guest speakers, songs and outdoor activities will be featured at the 7th Annual Marion County Springs Festival, which is being held Saturday, Sept. 20, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Silver River State Park. On Sunday, Sept. 21, several guided hikes and paddling trips are planned.On Saturday a variety of experts will speak about Florida’s aquifer system, as well as Florida’s springs and springs protection. Speakers include Fay Baird, a senior hydrologist with…

Did you know that you can save hundreds of gallons of water per month by only running your washing machine and dishwater when it is full? This simple step, along with the other tips below can reduce your indoor water consumption.While the Southwest Florida Water Management District advocates water conservation year-round, an extra effort is being made to promote conservation throughout April. Governments and water management districts throughout the state have declared…

Visitors of the 13th Annual Marion County Master Gardeners’ Spring Festival will have the opportunity to experience water conservation in action when they stop in and use the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s water conservation restroom station.The festival is being held March 10 and 11 at the Marion County Extension Service Office in Ocala. The office is located at 2232 N.E. Jacksonville Rd.Community festivals allow the District to spread the word…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District is celebrating 10 years of Community Education Grants. The program motivates adults to get involved in education projects that promote water resources protection.The District is once again soliciting applications for grants up to $5,000 to be used for projects that provide adults with an opportunity to learn about water-related issues pertaining to conservation, protection and preservation. Government agencies, private…

Mountain bikers have a new place to pedal. The District opened a new off-road bike trail in Jay B. Starkey Wilderness Park in New Port Richey. The project is in partnership with Pasco County and the Southwest Association of Mountain Bike Pedalers (SWAMP).  In response to public comment received during public meetings on the Pasco County Greenways Master Plan, the County determined a strong demand for off-road bicycling opportunities within the proximity of the…

More than 500 volunteers who spend thousands of hours a year helping the Southwest Florida Water Management District maintain and improve public lands, as well as restore Tampa Bay, were honored this weekend during the District’s Annual Volunteer Appreciation Day.The celebration was held at the District’s Lake Panasoffkee property and featured an awards presentation, exhibits, live music, a picnic lunch and a nature hike.Approximately 450 volunteers are involved with the…

Residents asked to conserve by following their local watering restrictions and checking their irrigation systems and timersThe Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) Governing Board voted today to declare a Phase I Water Shortage due to dry conditions throughout the region. The restrictions apply to all of Citrus, DeSoto, Hardee, Hernando, Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Sarasota and Sumter counties; portions of…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD) is gathering input to better identify flooding risks in the Peace Creek watershed.The District is working with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) on its national effort to update and modernize the FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs). As part of the effort, updates are being made to the floodplain information for the Peace Creek watershed.The District is holding an open house in Polk County to present…

h2. Overwatering in Winter Can Encourage Pests and DiseaseThe "Southwest Florida Water Management District(Southwest Florida Water Management District)":/ is reminding residents who irrigate their lawns to "Skip a Week" or more of watering during the cooler months of December, January and February.According to research by the University of Florida, grass doesn't need to be watered as often during the cooler months. One-half to three-quarters of an inch of water every 10–14…

Two Ocala homes were certified in December as "Florida Water StarSM Silver(Florida Water Star)":/conservation/florida_water_star by the "Southwest Florida Water Management District(Southwest Florida Water Management District)":/.The homes are the first in Marion County to receive the water-saving certification. Located in the Renaissance neighborhood of Ocala's On Top of the World development, they are equipped with water-efficient appliances and fixtures. "Florida-Friendly…

At its June 10 meeting, the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Manasota Basin Board adopted a proposed fiscal year 2010 (FY2010) millage rate of 0.1484 mill, which is the same as the current fiscal year. The Manasota Basin Board area includes Manatee and Sarasota counties.This millage rate, combined with a reduction in taxable property values as estimated by the county property appraisers, will result in an estimated 11.19 percent decrease in ad valorem…

At its June 4 meeting, the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s newly merged Hillsborough River Basin Board adopted a proposed fiscal year 2010 (FY2010) millage rate of 0.2421 mill. The Hillsborough River Basin Board area covers Hillsborough County and portions of Pasco and Polk counties.The Hillsborough River and the Northwest Hillsborough Basin Boards were merged effective Jan. 1, 2009. For FY2009, the Hillsborough River Basin Board adopted a millage rate…

At its June 5 meeting, the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Peace River Basin Board adopted a proposed 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 proposed millage rate combined with a reduction in taxable property values as estimated by the five county property appraisers will result…

At its June 4 meeting, the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Alafia River Basin Board adopted a proposed fiscal year 2010 (FY2010) millage rate of 0.2163 mill, which is the same as the current fiscal year. The Alafia River Basin Board area covers the southern portion of Hillsborough County and the southwestern portion of Polk County.This proposed millage rate combined with a reduction in taxable property values as estimated by the county property…

At its June 5 meeting, the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Alafia River Basin Board adopted a proposed fiscal year 2009 (FY2009) millage rate of 0.2163 mill, which is the same as the current fiscal year. The Alafia River Basin Board area covers the southern portion of Hillsborough County and the southwestern portion of Polk County.This millage rate combined with a reduction in taxable property values as estimated by the county property appraisers will…