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The Southwest Florida Water Management District is seeking public input about proposed minimum flows for the upper segment of the Braden River. The Upper Braden River is the portion of the river from Linger Lodge to Lorraine Road.A minimum flow or level is the limit at which further water withdrawals will cause significant harm to the water resources and/or environment. The District Governing Board sets these limits as part of achieving a balance between meeting human…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board Tuesday approved the purchase of a perpetual conservation easement for a 652-acre parcel of land located near the Myakka River State Park, contingent upon cooperative funding with the United States Department of Agriculture, Natural Resource Conservation Service (USDA-NRCS) Farm and Ranchland Protection Program (FRPP.)The transaction includes the property owner, the Myakkahatchee Ranch, LLC., making a 25 percent…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board today approved a project to reduce groundwater pumping up to 1,358,400 gallons per day (gpd) at a Charlotte County citrus grove.The Facilitating Agricultural Resource Management Systems (FARMS) program is a cost-share reimbursement program that conserves water and protects water quality.The FARMS project, proposed by Ben Hill Griffin, Inc., C & S Grove, is located within the Shell Creek Watershed in…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board today approved a project to reduce groundwater pumping up to 1,076,100 gallons per day (gpd) at a Highlands County citrus grove.The Facilitating Agricultural Resource Management Systems (FARMS) program is a cost-share reimbursement program that conserves water and protects water quality.The FARMS project, proposed by Turner Groves Limited Partnership-Hickory Grove, has an existing water use permit that…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Governing Board will hold its monthly meeting Tuesday, July 22 at 9 a.m. at the Tampa Service Office, located at 7601 U.S. Highway 301 North. To view the Governing Board meeting online, click on the live video stream link. The video stream link becomes active and the live…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board Tuesday approved a project to reduce groundwater pumping up to 200,000 gallons per day (gpd) at a Manatee County citrus grove.The Facilitating Agricultural Resource Management Systems (FARMS) program is a cost-share reimbursement program that conserves water and protects water quality.The FARMS project, proposed by CFI USA, Inc., is located upstream from Lake Manatee on its 332-acre citrus grove. Lake Manatee is…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District's (District) Sarasota Office will be closed tomorrow, Friday, October 7th in conjunction with Governor Rick Scott's order to close state offices in the area due to Hurricane Matthew. Earlier today, the decision was made to close the Brooksville and Tampa offices due to anticipated sustained tropical storm force winds associated with hurricane. The decision to close the Bartow and Lake Hancock offices was made yesterday. All…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District is searching for an organization to manage and maintain an environmental education center on the District’s Flying Eagle Preserve in Citrus County.The property was purchased from the Boy Scouts of America in December 2004. The entire parcel is 4,964 acres.The environmental education center is a 580-acre parcel that features a 2,100-square foot administration building, nine camping areas that accommodate 10 tents and include…

Representatives from the Pinellas County Highway Department were honored today with a Water Stewardship Award from the Southwest Florida Water Management’s Pinellas-Anclote River Basin Board.The board chose the Pinellas County Highway Department’s “McMullen Booth Road at Curlew regional Mitigation Facility” project because the former spoil site is in Pinellas County adjacent to the Lake Tarpon Outfall Canal. Although the project is permitted for…

Volunteers are a valuable resource for the District, which is why several groups and one individual who take part in the District’s Land Resources Volunteer Program were recognized at the Governing Board’s August and September meetings. The Flatlanders, Southcreek Equestrians, Florida Trail Association, Withlapopka Community Volunteers, West Central Florida Council of the Boy Scouts of America and Kyle DeVary were presented with the President’s Volunteer Service Award — a…

The "Southwest Florida Water Management District(Southwest Florida Water Management District)":/ is gathering information to improve identification of flooding risks for six Marion County watersheds.This information is being developed as part of the *Blichton*, *Martel*, *SR 200* and *Cotton Plant 1, 2 and 3* watershed management plans. The plans were cooperatively funded by the District and Marion County.The District is holding an open house in Marion County to present…

The "Southwest Florida Water Management District(Southwest Florida Water Management District)":/ is inviting the public to comment on proposed minimum levels for Crystal Lake and North Lake Wales, both located within the city of Lake Wales, at a public workshop on Thursday, Oct. 14. The workshop will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Lake Wales City Commission Chambers, 201 W. Central Ave., Lake Wales.The state Legislature requires the District to set "minimum flows and levels…

Who: Representatives from the Southwest Florida Water Management District and the City of InvernessWhat: The city is holding a groundbreaking ceremony to celebrate the start of construction on a reclaimed water transmission line. This $2 million project is being funded by the District’s Withlacoochee River Basin Board and the city.When: Monday, Feb. 4, 5 p.m.Where: The Inverness Wastewater Treatment Plant, located at 3900 S. Florida Ave., Inverness.Why: The District and the…

The Florida House of Representatives and Senate each adopted a resolution last week declaring April 14 through April 21 Peace River Watershed Awareness Week.The Senate resolution was sponsored by Sen. J.D. Alexander. Sens. Michael Bennett, Lisa Carlton and Rhonda Storms co-sponsored the resolution.The House resolution was sponsored by Rep. Michael Grant. Reps. Frank Attkisson, Marty Bowen, Seth McKeel and Dennis Ross co-sponsored the resolution.“We’re pleased that our…

Above: Jerry and Pam Rice on vacation with their grandchildren. Right: Rice joined the District’s Governing Board in March 2003. The District’s new Governing Board chair knew early in life that his future lay in the citrus industry. Born in Avon Park and raised in Polk County, Talmadge G. “Jerry” Rice began his career at an early age. “I started working when I was very young. My dad worked in the citrus groves. My mom worked in the packinghouse. I did a…

Governing Board member Wendy J. Griffin. From the lot they parked on to the prairie landscape they walked by, guests were surrounded by the messages of water conservation. Archbold Biological Station recently unveiled its new education exhibits and signs during a dedication ceremony. The facility, located in Highlands County, is a not-for-profit independent research institution in central Florida. The station is dedicated to long-term ecological research…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) will close all District-managed campgrounds and properties to include trails and day use areas throughout its 16-county region Saturday, Aug. 3, at 11 a.m., in anticipation of impacts from Potential Tropical Cyclone 4.Additionally, the District is in the process of canceling all existing camping reservations through Tuesday, Aug. 6.For the most updated information, please visit the District’s website at …

h2. District's Cooperative Funding Initiative to Continue In order to increase efficiency of operations and reduce costs, the "Southwest Florida Water Management District's(Southwest Florida Water Management District)":/ "Governing Board(Governing Board)":/about/governingboard approved a resolution today to merge the budgets of "the District's eight Basin Boards(Basin Boards)":/about/basinboards/ into the Governing Board, while keeping a reduced "Cooperative Funding…

According to the National Weather Service, parts of the Tampa Bay area are expected to have near to below-freezing temperatures beginning tonight and lasting throughout the week. The Southwest Florida Water Management District advises residents who live near Plant City and Dover who have well pumps without automatic cutoff switches to turn off the pumps before temperatures dip.During a freeze or near-freezing…

From left: Kevin Stover, 33 years, Field Technician Supervisor, Resource Data & Restoration. Richard Gant, 34 years, Field Technician Supervisor, Resource Projects. Kevin Love, 35 years, Manager, Land Resources. Mike Holtkamp, 35 years, Director, Operations, Maintenance & Construction Division Five Staff Members Share Memories at a Roundtable Interview How would you describe the District when you first started working here? …