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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…

Basin Board: Manasota Basin Board Term: First appointed March 26, 2001. Currently in her third term, which expires March 1, 2010 Occupation: Land Planner Current residence: Manatee County Hometown: Saginaw, Michigan Reason you applied to be a Basin Board member: Opportunity to get involved in one of the most important planning issues…

Dozens of students between the ages of 9 and 18 explored District offices in April as part of the annual “Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day.” This is the tenth year the District has participated in the nationwide event. Students spent the day learning about activities at the District and daily tasks of their parents, guardians, relatives or friends. In Brooksville, the children participated in two hands-on water resources exercises and toured six departments before…

Hog hunters from Hernando County (left to right) Wade Jenkins, Jason Bibeau and Chris Bibeau. District land managers say a series of hog hunts held on District lands this winter and spring helped reduce the wild hog population. Hundreds of hogs were removed from seven different tracts of land throughout the District. The District opened the land for hunting because wild hogs cause extensive damage to the natural habitats. Wild hogs, which are not native to…

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…

table(webalert). |Who:|DeSoto and Charlotte county residents, and representatives from the Southwest Florida Water Management District and the DeSoto County Extension office.||*What:*|The District is holding a free family-friendly event at the Deep Creek Preserve in southern DeSoto County. The 2,000-acre tract features recreational opportunities such as hiking, camping, fishing, picnicking and equestrian use.The event includes activities such as guided nature hikes, children…

Florida-friendly landscaping techniques will be featured along with storm-ready home design in an upcoming television episode of “Bob Vila’s Home Again.” The episode focuses on rebuilding a Punta Gorda Isles home destroyed during Hurricane Charley. Vila and his construction crew teamed up with FLASH, the Federal Alliance for Safe Homes, to rebuild the home. They invited Angela Polo, Sarasota Florida Yards & Neighborhoods Builder/Developer Coordinator, to assist in…

table(webalert). |Who:|Teams competing include Business Network International, Cornerstone Solutions Group, the Rag Tag Industry Team, the Luke Brothers, Pay it Forward Farm, Raymow, Tampa Bay Landscaping and the Southwest Florida Water Management District.Station leaders include Jim Davis, The Villages Florida Yards and Neighborhoods coordinator, at the Right Plant Right Place station; Kathleen Patterson, Marion County Florida Yards and Neighborhoods coordinator, at the…

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:…

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…

The Mini-FARMS Program promotes agricultural water quality and water quantity best management practices (BMPs) and provides overall water resource benefits to agriculture properties. The Mini-FARMS Program works with and provides a mechanism for enrollment in the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) adopted agricultural BMPs program, through a Notice of Intent (NOI) to implement BMPs. Through the Mini-FARMS Program, the District will reimburse…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) has launched the new WaterMatters.org website featuring a new recreation reservation system.  The new design is cleaner and more organized, while offering the following features:

• Mobile Friendly: The new site provides a simple design that is compatible with tablets and phones, which make up…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District recently recognized two Sumter County projects as outstanding school, community grant or volunteer programs that focus on water resources education. A total of 52 projects were recognized during the October 7 Reflect, Connect, Celebrate Water Resources Education Conference at the Brooker Creek Preserve Environmental Education Center in Tarpon Springs.To select the awardees, District staff reviewed grants applied for by teachers…

Environmental Concern An Oldsmar Boy Scout was recently honored by the Pinellas-Anclote River Basin Board for his work on a project at the Brooker Creek Preserve. Mark Brandon of Troop 64 of Oldsmar designed and created self-guided tour material for one of the nature trails in the preserve. Mark found out about the need for trail markers at Brooker Creek through his mom, Sue Brandon, who volunteers at the Preserve. Mark is a Life Scout, one step below an Eagle…

  Basin Board: Alafia River Basin Board Term: March 5, 2002 to March 1, 2008 Occupation: Real estate broker Town of Residence: Brandon Hometown: Tampa Reason you applied to be a Basin Board member: Having been a Hillsborough County commissioner for two terms, I am aware of the importance of balancing a finite quantity of water…

Inverness Mayor Ron Plaisted will proclaim this Saturday, Oct. 23 as "Inverness Get Outside! Day," kicking off the "Southwest Florida Water Management District's(Southwest Florida Water Management District)":/ "Get Outside!" event at "Potts Preserve(Potts Preserve)":/recreation/areas/potts.html.Citrus, Marion and Sumter county residents are invited to attend the *free event* from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event will include *guided nature hikes*, a *native animal presentation*,…

March 2025Q: Why does fertilizing my lawn responsibly matter?A: More than 1,000 new residents move to Florida daily, many of whom take pride in maintaining beautiful lawns along with long-time Floridians. However, fertilizers contain nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus, which, in excess amounts, can harm Florida’s natural water systems. Excess nutrients from fertilizers can wash into lakes, rivers, springs, estuaries and other water…

NOTICE: Effective July 1, 2014, a person may not lobby a water management district in Florida until such person has registered as a lobbyist with that district by filing a registration form.Pursuant to Section 112.3261, Florida Statutes, starting July 1, 2014, a person may not lobby a…