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When you reset those clocks this weekend for the start of Daylight Saving Time, don’t forget to check the timers on your irrigation system controllers.  Sunday is when we reset the clocks forward one hour. The time change is also a good time to make sure irrigation   system timers are set correctly to ensure that the systems operate consistently with current water restrictions. Under the District’s current year-round water conservation measures,…

When you reset those clocks this weekend for the start of Daylight Saving Time, don’t forget to check the timers on your irrigation system controllers.  Sunday is when we reset the clocks forward one hour. The time change is also a good time to make sure irrigation   system timers are set correctly to ensure that the systems operate consistently with current water restrictions. Under the District’s current year-round water conservation measures,…

Sixty-nine Hillsborough County teachers are among the record number of educators who applied for and received Splash! mini-grants through the Southwest Florida Water Management District.This year the District awarded Splash! mini-grants to 209 educators totaling more than $413,000. That’s 72 more grant recipients than last year.Mary Margaret Hull, lead communications coordinator, attributes the increase in awardees to an increase in promotion among the District’…

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…

All Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) offices will close at noon Tuesday, Oct. 8 and will remain closed Wednesday, Oct. 9 and Thursday Oct. 10 due to potential impacts from Hurricane Milton. The District anticipates reopening offices Friday, Oct. 11, but will continue to monitor the progress of Hurricane Milton to determine if future closings are necessary.District structure operations staff will continue to monitor water levels and operate all of…

Polk County students at 11 schools will study the issues surrounding our freshwater resources thanks to "Splash! school grants":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/education/schoolgrants/ from the Southwest Florida Water Management District.The Polk County awardees are:* Herbert Maysonet, *Auburndale High*, was awarded $2,930. Students will learn to collect and test water samples from local ponds. They will explore various pollutants and learn how water is treated to eliminate…

Funds Available Individuals and groups concerned about water-related issues in their communities can apply for a Southwest Florida Water Management District community education grant. Grant recipients can receive up to $5,000 funding for projects involving water-related issues. The projects are to take place between March 15 and June 30, 2004. Grant applications are due Oct. 17, 2003. To receive an application package, call 1-800-423-1476, ext. 4756 or visit the…

Residents have a new resource for water conservation.The District has launched the new Water 101 website where residents can get water conservation tips for both inside and outside their home.  Whether someone is new to the area or lived in Florida for decades, the site offers a variety of ways residents can save both water and money. The site is divided into easy…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) will close all District-managed campgrounds and properties to include trails and day use areas throughout its 16-county region Monday, Aug. 28, at 3 p.m. in anticipation of impacts from Tropical Storm Idalia. Additionally, the District is in the process of cancelling all existing camping reservations through Friday, Sept. 1.For the most updated information, please visit the District’s website at …

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) will close all campgrounds throughout its 16-county region to help reduce the spread of the coronavirus, also known as COVID-19. Beginning Wednesday, March 18, at 1 p.m., all District campgrounds and campsites will be closed for 30 days. Recreational day use activities will still be allowed at this time. The health of our staff and stakeholders is our main priority. Call 1-800-423-1476 or visit …

Attention-Grabbing Exhibit A unique exhibit aimed at getting the word out about water conservation will hit the road again in 2004. “The water conservation restroom trailer proved to be an effective tool in getting our message out to a wide variety of people,” said Beth Bartos, communications manager for the District. The District set up the trailer, funded by the Pinellas-Anclote River Basin Board, at five community festivals within the basin last year.…

This year District volunteers will take part in the 14th Annual National Public Lands Day, a yearly opportunity for Americans to improve and enhance the public lands they enjoy. The event, which is Saturday, Sept. 29, is the nation’s largest hands-on volunteer effort. District staff and volunteers will be conducting a beach cleanup at the District’s Piney Point Tract, which is located in southern Hillsborough County. For more information and to learn how you can…

From left: Andrea Roshaven, Tampa Water Department; Maritza Rovira-Forino, Governing Board member; Paul Rauch, Wildrose Lawncare Inc. co-owner; Pam Iorio, Tampa mayor; Christine Collins, Wildrose Lawncare Inc. co-owner; Hugh Gramling, Governing Board member; and April Genter, Charles Rutenberg Realty Inc. The wind and rain didn’t deter enthusiastic gardeners from attending the third annual Florida Yard Fandango in March. This year the gardening event…

Doug Tharp, Governing Board member, leads his fellow Board members and District staff on a tour of The Villages. During a tour in April, Governing and Basin Board members, as well as members of the Withlacoochee Regional Water Supply Authority, had an opportunity to see firsthand how The Villages is putting water conservation and reuse into practice. The trolley tour was led by Governing Board member Doug Tharp, who resides in The Villages, and Trey Arnett of…

Ted Gates takes a sixth-grade school group on a tour of Gator Sink. Ted Gates, District professional geologist, recently led Polk County’s Southwest Middle School sixth-grade teachers and students on a field trip to observe a sinkhole firsthand at Gator Sink. Gates was given the opportunity to work with the school after joining the District’s Youth Education Team. Youth Education staff formed the Youth Education Team to provide training and instruction for…

The "Southwest Florida Water Management District":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/ (District) has launched a contest on the social media site Instagram to raise awareness of springs throughout the District. Springs sites are a popular hot spot with both local residents and tourists during the summer months and especially holiday weekends. This summer, whether you are tubing, kayaking, swimming or just relaxing near one of the many springs in our District, you can share those…

A new law signed by Gov. Charlie Crist promotes the installation of Florida-friendly landscaping. The law states that homeowners associations (HOAs) may not prohibit a homeowner from applying Florida-friendly landscaping to their property or create any requirement or limitation in conflict with state law.Florida-friendly landscaping emphasizes nine easy-to-accomplish principles that, when practiced, can have a significant positive impact on yards and the environment. The…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District has developed online tools to help residents find ways to continue saving water beyond Water Conservation Month. While the "Southwest Florida Water Management District(Southwest Florida Water Management District)":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us advocates "water conservation(Water conservation)":/conservation/ year-round, an extra effort is being made to promote conservation throughout April. Governments and water management…

Florida Communities Trust (FCT), the state’s premier program for helping local communities preserve parks and recreational space, is accepting grant applications until May 7, 2008. An expected $66 million in Florida Forever funds will be available to local governments and nonprofit environmental organizations to acquire land for green space, conservation and recreation purposes. This is the program’s eighth year of being funded. The FCT is administered by the…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) will close all District-managed campgrounds and properties to include trails and day use areas throughout its 16-county region at 3 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 11, in anticipation of impacts from Hurricane Eta. The District will plan to reopen the campgrounds at 8 a.m. Friday, Nov. 13, unless otherwise indicated. For the most updated information, please visit the District’s website at…