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Hillsborough County projects receive Community Education Grants »
Ten Hillsborough County projects that will reach up to 64,500 people were awarded Community Education Grants from the Southwest Florida Water Management District. These grants provide up to $5,000 to help fund projects that provide communities an opportunity to learn about water resources.This year the District awarded 38 grants Districtwide for a total of $136,598. This is the 11th year Community Education Grants have been available.The overall goal of the Community… Read more
Office of Agricultural Water Policy »
The Office of Agricultural Water Policy is a nonregulatory division of the Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services (FDACS).Staff located at service offices of the Southwest Florida Water Management District work with the local agriculture community to promote best management practices (BMPs). They also work closely with the water management districts, USDA-NRCS, soil and water conservation districts, and UF-IFAS to aid in implementation of BMPs to improve… Read more
Hydrologic Conditions »
Your Questions Answered  March 2022 Q:  Is there a rainy season and dry season in central Florida? A:  Yes, rainfall is seasonal. Our rainy season is a four-month period from June through September, with average rainfall of about 7.8 inches each month. About 60 percent of our average annual rainfall is received during that time. The higher rainfall results in rising water levels in wells, lakes, rivers and springs… Read more
Minimum Flows and Minimum Water Levels Frequently Asked Questions »
What are minimum flows and minimum water levels (MFLs)?In short, an MFL sets a limit on how much water can be withdrawn from various water resources to prevent significant harm occurring to those resources or the ecology of the area.What does “significant harm” mean?The Florida legislature did not define the term ‘significant harm.’ However, the District has developed criteria for significant harm to various types of water resources. The… Read more
Minimum Flows and Levels (MFLs) »
Florida law requires establishment of minimum flows and levels of water bodies to prevent significant harm associated with water withdrawals.Program overviewFlorida law (Chapter 373.042, Florida Statutes) requires the state water management… Read more
Polk Regional Water Cooperative »
July 2023Q: Why is water supply a challenge in Polk County?A: Polk County lies wholly within the Central Florida Water Initiative (CFWI) and the majority of the county also lies within the District’s Southern Water Use Caution Area, where groundwater withdrawals have caused adverse impacts to lakes, wetlands and natural systems. The District identified that Polk County was reaching sustainable limits of traditional groundwater supplies… Read more
Facilitating Agricultural Resource Management Systems (FARMS) – Your Questions Answered »
August 2023Q: What is FARMS?A: The Facilitating Agricultural Resource Management Systems, or FARMS program for short, is designed to serve as an incentive to the agricultural community to promote water quantity, water quality and natural systems BMPs to conserve groundwater use and promote resource sustainability. The program is an agricultural cost-share reimbursement program that reduces groundwater withdrawals from the Upper Floridan… Read more
Water Quality Monitoring Program »
Your Questions Answered February 2022 Q: What is water quality and why is it important? A: Water quality is a description of the condition of water. Water quality can refer to the chemical, physical and biological condition of water, including the suitability of the water to be used for a specific purpose like drinking, recreation or support of wildlife. The quality of our water is important because it has a direct impact on people… Read more
Timber Harvest Solicitations »
The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) manages lands under its stewardship for the protection of water resources and natural systems through the application of effective, efficient and fiscally responsible land management practices. The purposes and attributes for which the lands were acquired provide the foundation for designating the appropriate land use and management strategies on the lands. As stewards of more than 343,000 acres of land within the 16… Read more
Emergency and Non-Emergency Orders »
The Governing Board has the statutory authority to issue emergency and non-emergency orders to apprise the public of the need to protect water supplies for: public health, safety and welfare; health of animals or aquatic life; a public water supply; or other reasonable uses.The executive director has the statutory authority to issue emergency orders when immediate action is necessary. Emergency orders are subsequently presented to the… Read more
District Continues to Support Governor’s Green Initiative »
The Bartow Service Office is one of the three District offices to earn a Florida Yard certification for using Florida-friendly landscaping. Since Gov. Charlie Crist announced his green initiative in 2007, the District has taken significant steps toward reducing its carbon footprint. Through the Environmental Stewardship Initiative, the District examines its entire operation for opportunities to achieve greater efficiencies and further reduce its carbon… Read more
Help Your Yard Recover From the Freeze »
Recent cold weather has taken a toll on Florida plant life and may have damaged area sprinkler systems too. The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) has a few simple steps that residents can use to help their plants, lawns and irrigation systems recover from freezing temperatures. Wait to Water and Prune The need for watering decreases dramatically with cooler temperatures. Overwatering in the winter can encourage pests and disease in… Read more
All District Offices Open Tuesday, Sept. 3 »
All District offices will be open on Tuesday, Sept. 3. Please check the Staff Emergency Line at 1-866-788-4083 again in the morning in the event of an unexpected change in the Hurricane Dorian forecast.
Web Site full of Florida-friendly landscaping tips »
Homeowners planning to spruce up their yards have a new tool to use, but it’s not a tool found in the garage. This tool is the web site FloridaYards.orgThe web site features a Florida-friendly plant database, which includes hundreds of color photographs of plants, shrubs and trees. The web site also has pictures of Florida-friendly landscaping in yards throughout the state and an interactive yard tool to help homeowners plan their landscapes.“FloridaYards.org… Read more
Watch the Weather, Wait to Water »
The "Southwest Florida Water Management District(Southwest Florida Water Management District)":/ is encouraging residents who irrigate their lawns to take advantage of the summer rains and "watch the weather, wait to water."During the summer months of June, July, August and September, yards need no more than 3/4 inch of water every 2 to 3 days. If your lawn has received enough water from rainfall, then you can turn off your irrigation system and turn it back on when needed.… Read more
District Proclaims April Water Conservation Month »
The Southwest Florida Water Management District "Governing Board(Governing Board)":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/about/governingboard today proclaimed April as Water Conservation Month. Each year the "District(Southwest Florida Water Management District)":http://watermatters.org designates April as Water Conservation Month because April is traditionally one of the driest months of the year and typically marks the peak demand season for public water suppliers. Many residents… Read more
April Is Water Conservation Month »
Conservation Takes Center Stage April in Florida… It’s an ideal time to enjoy a little fun in the sun and to remind Floridians about the importance of water conservation. The state Legislature designated April as Water Conservation Month because April is in the dry season, typically the time when water needs are most acute and temperatures begin to climb. Although Florida receives an average of 52 inches of rainfall per year, 60 percent of that annual rainfall is… Read more
Hurricane Elsa Employee Preparation »
As Hurricane Elsa approaches, the District’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) is monitoring the storm. It is important for staff to stay informed as the storm could potentially impact our region next week. We will make every effort to communicate information to employees in the following ways:
  • Internal Communications Emails: Employees should monitor their emails for updates.
  • Emergency Telephone Hotline:… Read more
2021 Hurricane Season – District Employee Preparation »
The Atlantic basin hurricane season occurs June 1st through November 30th. During this time, there   is a heightened risk of severe rain events, high winds, flooding and storm damage. Many employees have designated roles, performing various functions, within the Emergency Operations Organization (EOO) during emergency incidents. All employees may be called upon to support those functions during any particular event. The EOO chart (page 3) identifies the roles of… Read more
Hurricane Dorian Employee Preparation »
As Hurricane Dorian approaches, the District’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) has begun preparing for potential emergency operations. It is important for staff to stay informed as the storm’s projected path is expected to affect our region over the holiday weekend. We will make every effort to communicate information to employees in the following ways:
  • Internal Communications Emails: Employees should monitor their emails… Read more