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Sometimes Florida yards need fertilizer to help keep them healthy, but don't just empty a bag of fertilizer into your spreader without doing your homework. The "Southwest Florida Water Management District(Southwest Florida Water Management District)":/ recommends that you follow the directions on the package when choosing and applying fertilizers. Applying too much fertilizer, too often or at the wrong time can cause water pollution. Use Florida-friendly fertilizing… Read more

Imagine the excitement of boarding an airplane with 15 of your closest friends to jump out at 1,500 feet with only the wind in your face. For Senior Environmental Scientist Jeff Whealton, this is a regular occurrence as a member of the Phantom Airborne Brigade. Since 2015, Jeff has been part of the Zephyrhills-based veterans' organization that conducts static line airborne… Read more

The Marion County Extension Service Office will receive a $5,000 grant from the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s 2006 Community Education Grant Program.The Marion County Extension Service Office was awarded the funds for the Spring Festival 2006. This festival, which is being held March 11-12, is a continuation of the cooperator’s previous efforts. Approximately 16,000 residents will attend this one-day Florida-friendly landscaping festival.… Read more

Hundreds of second-grade students experienced animals, art projects, exhibits and more all while learning the importance of natural resources and careers in science. The students were at the recent Water, Wings and Wild Things Kids Festival organized by Polk County’s Nature Discovery Center. Various vendors set up booths at the outdoor festival, including the District. The event took place at Circle B Bar Reserve, which is a land jointly owned by the Polk County… Read more

A Low Impact Development (LID) workshop will be featured on Sept. 6 during Florida’s 31th Annual Conference on Water Management at the Westin Innisbrook Golf Resort in Tarpon Springs. The conference is being held Sept. 6-8.The LID workshop will provide builders and developers an open forum with government stormwater regulators. The workshop will also allow builders and developers to learn from their contemporaries who have successfully implemented LID practices.Paul… Read more

Two area home builders were recently recognized for their use of water-wise landscaping.Fidelity Homes and Pruett Builders both received the Water-Wise Landscape Recognition Award Friday at the annual Manatee and Sarasota County Home Builders Association Parade of Homes banquet. Fidelity Homes’ Cordoba model won the Manatee County award, while Pruett Builders’ Mar a Lago II model won the Sarasota County award.The Water-Wise Landscape Recognition program is a competition… Read more

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… Read more

Left: Brian Starford, Bartow regulation director, and Mitch Malone, senior field technician, help prepare lunch. Right: Dave Moore, District executive director, serves up his special stew. More than 30 District employees were rewarded for their “spirit” with a special lunch prepared by David Moore, District executive director, and Brian Starford, Bartow regulation director. Moore and Starford were the auctioneers for an annual lunch auction that raises… Read more

District Kudos The District was recently recognized nationally for combining function with environmentally friendly building and landscaping practices at its Sarasota Service Office. The National Commercial Builders Council of the National Association of Home Builders awarded the District the Chairman’s Award for excellence in commercial construction. “This is a very prestigious national award,” said project manager Nick Spirakis. General Services Director Lloyd… Read more

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… Read more

The Agricultural Advisory Committee of the Southwest Florida Water Management District on August 22 passed resolutions honoring the late Edward W. Chance and Dr. James T. Griffiths for their outstanding service in the agricultural community.Chance, who died in June, served on the District’s Governing Board and as Co-Chair of the Manasota Basin Board from 2000 until 2006. He was a member of the Florida Cattlemen’s Association, the Florida Farm Bureau Federation… Read more

The District is in the process of raising the levels of Lake Hancock to meet the minimum flows for the upper Peace River. During the 1990s, the District identified, planned and executed a number of programs and partnerships to implement changes necessary to protect our precious natural resources for future generations. It was a decade of proactive measures to promote the sustainability and growth of our area. Preservation 2000 The 1990s began with… Read more

Water Wise Winners Two homebuilders each walked away with the equivalent of an “Academy Award” for incorporating water conservation landscaping into their designs. The Gibraltar Homes’ Caterina III model received the Water-Wise Landscaping Award in Manatee County and the Lee Wetherington Homes’ Opal model received the top prize for Sarasota County. The winners were each presented with a plaque at the 2004 Parade of Homes Awards Gala of the Home Builders… Read more

Volunteers participating in cleanup. More than 50 District employees, Board members and their friends and families were among the hundreds of volunteers taking part in the 21st Annual Hillsborough River & Waterways Cleanup. This annual event, held in November, is one of Tampa’s largest volunteer activities. Each year, volunteers scour dozens of shoreline locations along the Hillsborough River and connected waterways to pick up litter and remove… Read more

Generous Spirit District staff opened their hearts and wallets during the holiday season to help those less fortunate. This is the tenth year the employee committee has coordinated the District’s efforts for the holiday season’s benevolent activities. The District supports a variety of charitable organizations, but the main goal of the benevolent efforts is to help employees, their families and their friends and neighbors who are in need. Families are recommended… Read more

Caring For Our Communities This fall marks the 9th year of coordinated efforts for the District’s employee committee holiday season benevolent activities. The District supports a variety of charitable organizations during the holiday season, but the main goal of the benevolent efforts is to help employees, their families, and their friends and neighbors who are in need. Families are recommended by anonymous referral forms, then “adopted” by individuals, departments or… Read more

Community leaders in Sarasota County kick off the construction of the Dearborn Street Stormwater Project. Michael Peck, professional engineer with the District, recently helped community leaders in Sarasota County kick off the construction of the Dearborn Street Stormwater Project. The low-impact design (LID) project for the Englewood Community Redevelopment area will incorporate environmentally friendly “green” features such as bioswales, prepared or mixed… Read more

The Tampa Service Office held a recycled art contest to raise money to buy a modified bicycle for a disabled person. District employees made a mark on the community during 2010, helping churches give away food and clothing, giving elementary students jackets and gifts, helping the disabled achieve mobility and sponsoring foster children. Staff members reached out to the community through Districtwide benevolent events, service office auctions and personal… Read more

The District’s new public awareness campaign is encouraging residents who irrigate their lawns to skip a week during the cooler months. According to research by the University of Florida, as temperatures grow cooler, grass doesn’t need to be watered as often. The “Skip a Week” campaign is using radio and print advertisements to encourage reduced outdoor irrigation. The ads highlight the following tips people can use to determine when their grass needs water. Your… Read more