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State of Florida Resources Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services The Department's mission is to safeguard the public and support Florida's agricultural economy. …

August 2025Q: What is flooding and why does it occur?A: Flooding is the inundation of water onto normally dry land. It occurs when water bodies such as lakes, rivers, or wetlands rise from excessive rainfall. Although flooding is a natural phenomenon, it can cause substantial damage to homes and businesses, create safety risks, and disrupt everyday life.Q: How does the District help prevent flooding?A: The…

August 2024Q:  What are stormwater ponds and why do we need them?A:  A stormwater pond is designed to collect and manage runoff from rainwater. When rainwater lands on rooftops, parking lots, streets, driveways and other hard surfaces, the rainfall that doesn’t soak into the ground (stormwater runoff) flows into your neighborhood stormwater pond through grates, pipes, shallow swales or ditches. Stormwater ponds are required for…

To make sure that we, as well as future generations, can enjoy quality outdoor experiences, each one of us must share the responsibility of protecting our environment. Rule Changes Effective Oct. 1: The Florida Legislature updated the 40D-9.260 Camping rules during the 2021 legislative session. These rule changes governing camping reservations on District lands will go into effect starting Oct. 1, 2021. Leave No TraceThe District supports the …

The Splash! school grant program provides up to $3,000 per teacher to enhance student knowledge of freshwater resources issues. Public and charter school teachers of grades K through 12 are eligible to apply.Completing Your Grant ApplicationBefore completing a grant application, be prepared with the following:Grant Topic:…

Florida’s coastal ecosystems are among the most diverse in the world. At the heart of these ecosystems is seagrass—a vital underwater plant that supports marine life, improves water quality, protects shorelines and stores carbon.Since 1988, the Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) has mapped seagrass to help guide decisions that protect and sustain our bays, estuaries and coastal waters. But how exactly is seagrass mapped and why is it important? The…

 Dozens of District staff donate blood each time the LifeSouth bloodmobile visits the Brooskville office. I wouldn’t be alive if it weren’t for blood donors” That’s what a District employee told Susan Wood, LifeSouth donor recruiter, during a recent blood drive at the District’s Brooksville Headquarters. The staff member is a six-year leukemia survivor who needed blood transfusions during her treatment. “I hear stories like this all the time,” said…

The word “resiliency” can be described as the ability to recover quickly from disasters and adapt to future conditions. The word also refers to building defenses against the impacts of climate change.  Coastal Florida is vulnerable to impacts from climate change, which may include temperature extremes, intensified storms, increased flooding and sea level rise. West-central Florida has already seen some of these adverse impacts, and projections show the impacts will…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) will hold a virtual public meeting Friday, April 3 at 5:30 p.m. to share information about the Cape Haze Ecosystem Restoration Project in Charlotte County. This project is one of the largest coastal restoration projects the District has undertaken in the region.Members of the public can join the meeting via Microsoft Teams. To…

What is a spring? A spring is a natural opening in the ground where water flows directly from the aquifer to the earth’s surface. The source of this fresh water is from seasonal rainfall that soaks into the ground, which is referred to as groundwater. Springs form when groundwater is under pressure and flows up through an opening called a spring vent, supplying flow to a river or other water body. A spring can occur individually or as a group of many springs. The most…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) will keep District-managed recreation lands open for individual and small group day use in its 16-county region to provide the public with a place to get outside and exercise. However, all campgrounds and campsites remain closed. (Please note, some lands are managed in partnership with other agencies. Please visit the individual property’s webpage to see if it is managed by another agency, and check property…

Twenty Sumter County Advanced Placement high school students recently visited the District to learn about STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) careers. Students learned how to bridge the gap between high school and a successful STEM career. The students visited four stations and learned about GIS & permitting, land management and the District’s chemistry lab. Students used computers to map and model an existing stormwater pond in…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District manages controlled burns on its lands, which are carefully planned burns used to manage forests. These controlled fires reduce wildfire risks by reducing excess vegetation, improving wildlife habitats and promoting new plant growth. The District ensures safety and efficiency in these operations, balancing ecological benefits with public safety. Fire in FloridaFire is one of the dominant forces that shape…

The "Southwest Florida Water Management District's Governing Board":http://www.watermatters.org will hold its monthly meeting on Tuesday, March 27 at 9 a.m. at the District's Sarasota Service Office, 6750 Fruitville Road, Sarasota.The "Governing Board":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/about/governingboard/ holds some of its regular monthly meetings away from the Brooksville headquarters to encourage participation from local citizens.To view the meeting agenda, visit "…

The "Southwest Florida Water Management District's Governing Board":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/about/governingboard/ will hold its monthly meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 29, at 9 a.m. at the Tampa Service Office, 7601 US 301.The Governing Board holds some of its monthly meetings away from District headquarters in Brooksville to encourage participation from local citizens.To view the meeting agenda, visit WaterMatters.org and click on the "Boards, Meetings & Events Calendar…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District's Governing Board will hold its monthly meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 18, at 9 a.m. at the Tampa Service Office, 7601 US 301.The "Governing Board":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/about/governingboard/ holds some of its monthly meetings away from District headquarters to encourage participation from local citizens.To view the meeting agenda, visit WaterMatters.org and click on the "Boards, Meetings & Events Calendar" link. The…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District's "Governing Board":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/about/governingboard/ will hold its monthly meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 27, at 9 a.m. at the Lake Eva Banquet Hall, 799 Johns Avenue, Haines City.The Governing Board holds some of its monthly meetings away from District headquarters to encourage participation from local citizens.To view the meeting agenda, visit "WaterMatters.org":http://www.WaterMatters.org and click on the "…

The "Southwest Florida Water Management District's Governing Board":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/about/governingboard/ will hold its monthly meeting at 10 a.m. Tuesday, June 26 at The Villages Savannah Center, 1545 N. Buena Vista Boulevard.The Governing Board holds some of its regular monthly meetings away from District service offices to encourage participation from local citizens.To view the meeting agenda, visit WaterMatters.org and click on "the "Boards, Meetings &…

h2. District Suggests Six Easy and Fun Resolution Ideas That Help Promote Healthy Water Resources.Are you looking for ideas for a New Year's resolution? The "Southwest Florida Water Management District(Southwest Florida Water Management District)":/ has some suggestions for 2012 resolutions that will promote healthy water resources. This year make a resolution to:* Help promote water conservation and "skip at least every other week of watering your lawn in January and…