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April is Water Conservation Month. This month is traditionally one of the driest of the year and marks the peak demand season for public water suppliers.  The District especially encourages conservation throughout April on top of year-round conservation. District residents can participate by being mindful of water use in their everyday household activities.  Here are some tips on saving water indoors: 

• Use the home’s water meter to…

ORLANDO, Fla., May 26, 2015 – Two public meetings are scheduled for next week to provide an opportunity for the public to learn about and comment on the "Central Florida Water Initiative ":http://cfwiwater.com/ (CFWI) draft 2035 Water Resources Protection and Water Supply Strategies Plan (Solutions Plan) and minor changes to the draft 2015 Regional Water Supply Plan. The two draft documents will set a path forward for meeting water supply needs in central Florida for the…

About 30 volunteers and District staff recently spent an evening cleaning invasive algae out of Weeki Wachee Springs in Hernando County.  The volunteer event was a coordinated effort by the District, the state park and local rotary clubs to remove an algae known as Lyngbya. This event was part of a long-term maintenance plan for a District restoration project completed in 2009 designed to help keep the spring and river healthy. While not all…

Left: Governing Board Members Sallie Parks, seated, and Ron Oakley, standing to her left, review the project map. Right: Manny Lopez, left, a senior environmental scientist, and Oakley examine lead shot deposits. District staff and Board members recently toured Sawgrass Lake in Pinellas County to view the site of an upcoming restoration project. The restoration project…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) recognizes May 13-19 as Water Reuse Week to focus the public on the benefits of expanding this important water resource. The District’s Governing Board signed a resolution proclaiming Water Reuse Week at its April…

The District will move forward with an evaluation of recreation on District lands. The District’s Recreation Ad Hoc Committee, made up of four Governing Board members, approved Thursday moving forward with the evaluation process to determine if current recreational opportunities on District lands are consistent with regional and state trends. The District’s…

The "Southwest Florida Water Management District":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/ (District) will hold a Recreation Ad Hoc Committee meeting Thursday, May 30, at 9:30 a.m. The meeting will take place at the Tampa Service Office, located at 7601 U.S. Highway 301.The Recreation Ad Hoc Committee, made up of four Governing Board members, will provide guidance and review future staff recommendations. Staff will be evaluating the District's lands to determine whether the current…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District is gathering input to improve the identification of flooding risks in the Braden River watershed in Manatee County.The District is serving as a cooperating technical partner for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) on its national effort to update and modernize the FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs). Most of the current FIRMs are 10 to 30 years old and outdated because of natural and physical changes caused by…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District's Governing Board voted on Tuesday to expand hunting opportunities at two District-managed lands. Hunting opportunities will be expanded on these District properties: * Areas of the Green Swamp Wilderness Preserve located west of CR 471 in Pasco County that are not already designated as wildlife management areas will be developed to provide hunting opportunities for youths and the disabled.* The Lower Hillsborough Flood…

Sometimes Florida yards need fertilizer to help keep them healthy, but applying the wrong kind can cause water pollution. You can use "Florida-friendly fertilizing(Florida-Friendly Fertilizing)":/yards/fertilizing practices to help protect water quality while having a beautiful lawn.Most home lawn fertilizers contain some slow-release nitrogen. It takes a little longer for your yard to benefit from slow-release nitrogen, but the effects will last longer. Many of these…

h3. 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" 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 days is…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District is reminding residents that they do not need to water their lawns because of the recent rain.Your lawn only needs one-half to three-quarters of an inch of water.Most of the District received several inches of rain within the last week and more rain is forecasted for this week, so residents can skip their irrigation day.Outdoor water use can account for up to fifty percent of residential water use. Skipping a week of irrigation…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District is unveiling a new online tool to help students and teachers determine how much water they can conserve at home and pledge to make a difference.The District’s Youth Education Section launched the new web-based water conservation challenge for schools in anticipation of water conservation month, which begins in April. Each year the state, water management districts, and local governments recognize April as water…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District is offering Community Education Grants to members of the community who want to make a positive impact on the water resources in their area.The goal of the District’s Community Education Grant Program is to actively engage adults in water-related issues pertaining to conservation, protection and preservation. Funded by the District’s Basin Boards, the program is intended to motivate communities to get involved in…

Did you know that outdoor water use can account for up to 50 percent of water consumed by households?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 April Water Conservation Month because the month typically marks the start of the peak demand season for public water suppliers.…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District is encouraging residents to turn off their irrigation systems after this weekend’s rain.Outdoor water use can account for up to fifty percent of residential water use.“Many homeowners have a rain sensor shut-off device, which can be programmed to shut off an irrigation system when half an inch of rain has fallen,” said Sylvia Durell, Florida-friendly landscaping project manager. “Those homeowners who don’t have one should…

Want to know if we’re catching up on the drought? How does the current drought compare to the historic drought of 2000-2001?A new Southwest Florida Water Management District web page provides information on long-term rainfall and river flows in west-central Florida.Color-coded charts and maps compare current rainfall and river flows to historical levels, illustrating the degree to which levels deviate from normal over the 16-county District.The District developed the…

A “Weekend in My Watershed” workshop may give participants a new perspective of their watershed.The workshop, which is sponsored by the Florida Lake Management Society, the Southwest Florida Water Management District and Pinellas County, will be held June 24 and 25 at the Brooker Creek Preserve.Participants will explore the preserve and attend formal training and demonstrations at the Brooker Creek Preserve Environmental Education Center. Workshop topics include…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District is announcing the recipients of the 2005 Community Education Grant Program. The grants, which are up to $5,000 each, will help fund projects that provide communities the opportunity to learn about water resources.This year the District awarded 29 grants Districtwide for a total of $107,667.The overall goal of the Community Education Grant Program is to actively engage adults in water-related issues pertaining to conservation,…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District is inviting the public to come out and “Make a Splash” at a special event focusing on the Brooker Creek watershed on Saturday, Oct. 23 at the Kash N’ Karry located at the corner of Gunn Highway and Van Dyke Road. The event is being held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.This Make a Splash with Projec – Water Education for Teachers) event allows kids of all ages to learn about water through hands-on activities that…