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h2. Grant Program Can Help Fund Water Resources Education ProjectsCommunity members who want to help protect the water resources in their area may apply online for a Community Education Grant from the "Southwest Florida Water Management District(Southwest Florida Water Management District)":/.The overall goal of the Community Education Grant program is to actively engage and educate adults about water conservation, protection and preservation. The program is intended to…

The "Southwest Florida Water Management District(Southwest Florida Water Management District)":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us will be conducting "controlled, prescribed burns" during February and March on the District's Lower Hillsborough Wilderness Preserve in Hillsborough County, including "Flatwoods Park(Lower Hillsborough Wilderness Preserve Flatwoods Park)":/recreation/areas/lh-flatwoods.html and the "Oak Ridge Equestrian Area(Lower Hillsborough Wilderness Preserve Oak…

The "Southwest Florida Water Management District(Southwest Florida Water Management District)":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us will be conducting "controlled, prescribed burns" during June, July, August and September on the District's "Chito Branch Reserve(Chito Branch Reserve)":/recreation/areas/chito_branch_reserve.html in Hillsborough County.The Chito Branch Reserve is located near Lithia, approximately 10 miles south of Plant City. Approximately 400 acres of land will be…

*Overwatering in winter can encourage pests and disease*The Southwest Florida Water Management District recently launched a new campaign to encourage residents who irrigate their lawns to "Skip a Week" 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. In fact, one-half to three-quarters of an inch of water every 10–14 days is sufficient…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District is asking outdoor enthusiasts to take extra precautions to prevent wildfires when visiting District lands.The region is experiencing the effects of a three-year drought and October through May is Florida’s dry season. In addition, several freezes over the past month have made grasses and other light vegetation extremely dry and volatile.The District is asking campers and other outdoor enthusiasts to take the following…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District and Pasco County are holding a workshop for developers, engineers and the general public to review and comment on a watershed management plan for the Anclote River watershed, which is located west of the Suncoast Parkway.The workshop is being held at the Land O’ Lakes Public Library on Wednesday, Aug. 22 from 4 until 7 p.m. The library is located at 2818 Collier Parkway in Land O’ Lakes.A watershed is an area of land that…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District is teaming up with the United States Geological Survey and the American Ground Water Trust to offer a free, two-day Ground Water Institute for teachers in the Peace River watershed.The Ground Water Institute is June 5 and 6 at the Turner Agric-Civic Center in Arcadia and is open to educators from schools and organizations in Charlotte, DeSoto, Hardee, Highlands and Polk counties, specifically middle and high school teachers.The…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District is searching for an organization to manage and maintain an environmental education center on the District’s Flying Eagle Preserve in Citrus County.The property was purchased from the Boy Scouts of America in December 2004. The entire parcel is 4,964 acres.The environmental education center is a 580-acre parcel that features a 2,100-square foot administration building, nine camping areas that accommodate 10 tents and include…

Did you know a family of four could save up to 30,000 gallons of water a year just by fixing leaks and replacing old plumbing fixtures with water conserving fixtures?This is just one of the water conservation tips offered by the Southwest Florida Water Management District this April, which has been designated as Water Conservation Month.The average resident living within our 16-county District uses 124 gallons of water each day and if you haven’t thought about…

A groundwater reuse and conservation project funded by the Southwest Florida Water Management District and the Lowry Park Zoo will save approximately 38,000 gallons of groundwater a day.The Zoo uses 38,000 gallons of groundwater each day to fill the Zoos animal exhibition water features, such as the hippo pool and the pond at the lion exhibit. At the end of the day, the water is discharged into a retention pond on Zoo grounds and eventually flows into the Hillsborough River…

h2. One-day-per-week watering limit remainsEditor's note: Contact Robyn Felix at Robyn.Felix@WaterMatters.org to receive a color map via email.The Southwest Florida Water Management District's Governing Board voted today to ease water restrictions for Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties. The Board voted to lift the Modified Phase III (or Extreme) restrictions for the Tampa Bay area because Tampa Bay Water has made substantial progress in reducing its groundwater…

The "Southwest Florida Water Management District(Southwest Florida Water Management District)":http://watermatters.org is reminding residents to check the timers on their irrigation system controllers this weekend, which is the beginning of Daylight Savings Time. Saturday night is when we will turn our clocks ahead one hour. The time change is also a good time to make sure your irrigation system timer is set correctly to ensure that your system operates consistently with…

With spring break season approaching, the Southwest Florida Water Management District (District), along with other local and state partners, wants to remind Chassahowitzka River visitors about the recreational best practices that will help protect the river and reduce ecological impacts. Recreational activities can have a direct impact on the health of the river. For example, visitors leaving kayaks while on the river have trampled vegetation and eroded riverbanks. Also…

With spring break season approaching, the Southwest Florida Water Management District (District), along with other local and state partners, wants to remind Weeki Wachee River visitors about the recreational best practices that will help protect the river and reduce ecological impacts.  An ecologically based study found direct links between recreational use on the river and environmental damage. For example, visitors leaving kayaks while on the river have trampled…

Multiple District staff members have earned a new a certification, which will save time, money and resources.  Eleven employees in the Environmental Resource Permit Bureau are now Certified Wetland Evaluators (CWE) through the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).  CWE is a new certification program DEP put in place after assuming a federal permitting program from the United States Army Corps of Engineers. Under this program, certified…

Many of the tips the District promotes for Water Conservation Month can be found in use at its own campuses.For example, District-owned offices in Tampa and Brooksville have water-efficient toilets, water monitoring systems and rain sensors and follow Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ guidelines.Each campus is equipped with low-flow toilets, urinals and faucets. Typically, the low flow toilets save three or more gallons a flush compared to older models. The low-flow bathroom…

For decades, the District’s five advisory committees have played an important role in providing input on water management programs, projects and related issues. The diverse committees are made up of volunteers from different industries who serve as liaisons between the District and their organizations. At quarterly meetings, committee members are presented with items of interest from District staff, and other subject matter experts, that relate to their industries. They…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) awarded $107,969 in grants to 58 educators within the District as part of the Splash! school grant program. The program provides up to $3,000 per school to enhance student knowledge of freshwater resources in grades K-12. Splash! grants encourage hands-on student learning through STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) activities as well as engagement of the greater school community through…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) awarded $107,969 in grants to 58 educators within the District as part of the Splash! school grant program. The program provides up to $3,000 per school to enhance student knowledge of freshwater resources in grades K-12. Splash! grants encourage hands-on student learning through STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) activities as well as engagement of the greater school community through…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) is gathering information to improve identification of flood prone areas in Citrus County. Residents living in the North Citrus Withlacoochee River watershed are invited to attend an open house June 29 at 4 p.m. at the Coastal Region Library, located at 8619 W. Crystal Street in Crystal River. District representatives will present preliminary data for flood prone areas, explain the basis behind the…