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Sheri Glastonbury from Laurel Oaks Academy is among the record number of educators who applied for and received Splash! mini-grants through the Southwest Florida Water Management District.This year the District awarded Splash! mini-grants to 209 educators totaling more than $413,000. That’s 72 more grant recipients than last year.Glastonbury will receive $3,000. Students will take field trips to the Peace River and the Everglades, establish a water-conserving garden… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) invites the public to a workshop on Tuesday, May 8 at 5:30 p.m. at the Jimmie B. Keel Regional Library located at 2902 W. Bearss Ave. in Tampa. The purpose of the workshop is to allow for public comment on the proposed minimum and guidance levels for Dosson and Sunshine lakes in Hillsborough County. During the workshop, District staff will present the technical basis for the proposed minimum levels for Dosson and… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District approved today an additional $2 million to complete an existing project that will maximize the use of reclaimed water resources in Pasco County.The Pasco County Wet Weather Reclaimed Water Reservoir project involves constructing a reservoir on 35 acres next to the Land O’ Lakes wastewater treatment facility. The reservoir will have the capacity to store up to 100 million gallons of reclaimed water.An extensive geological… Read more

Two Highlands County projects expected to reach nearly 6,000 residents 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

The Southwest Florida Water Management District is seeking public input about proposed minimum flows and levels (MFL) for Lake Annie, Lake Bonnie, Dinner Lake, Lake Lee, Lake Mabel, Lake Starr and Venus Lake in Polk County.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 water needs… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District is inviting residents who live near Lake Hancock to an open house concerning the Lake Hancock Lake Level Modification Project. The open house is being held Tuesday, Aug. 21, at the District’s Bartow Service Office from 3 until 7 p.m.Residents who own property within the Lake Hancock area that may be impacted if the project is implemented are encouraged to attend so they can discuss the project with District staff.The Lake… Read more

A project funded by the Southwest Florida Water Management Districts Pinellas-Anclote River Basin Board and the City of Clearwater will improve water quality, reduce erosion and increase flood protection along the Stevensons Creek Watershed.The watershed encompasses an area of approximately 10 square miles in western Pinellas that includes the cities of Dunedin and Clearwater.This multi-year project will allow the implementation of the Best Management Practices (BMPs)… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District is urging residents to conserve water. Despite receiving heavy rain over the holiday weekend, the region remains well below normal annual rainfall.Florida receives an average of 52 inches of rainfall per year, with 60 percent of that annual rainfall is from June through September.When reporting rainfall, the District is divided into three regions: north (Citrus, Hernando, Lake, Levy, Marion and Sumter counties), central (… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board Tuesday approved a project to reduce groundwater pumping up to 365,000 gallons per day (gpd) at two Manatee County farms.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 the owner of 4-Star Tomato Long Creek Farm and Clay Gully Tree Farm, will voluntarily reduce actual… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Governing Board will hold its monthly meeting on Monday, Nov. 26 at the Quorum Hotel Westshore. The hotel is located at 700 N. Westshore Blvd in Tampa.The meeting will begin at 9 a.m. and will include discussion about extending and possibly tightening the current one-day-per-week watering restrictions, which are scheduled to expire on Nov. 30.The Governing Board typically meets on Tuesdays. This month the meeting is… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District is seeking public input about proposed minimum flows and levels (MFL) for Lakes Allen, Harvey and Virginia in Hillsborough County.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 water needs and those of Florida’s natural systems… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District is seeking public input about proposed minimum flows and levels (MFL) for Lake Bonnie and Lake Parker in Polk County.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 water needs and those of Florida’s natural systems. Minimum lake… Read more

The "Southwest Florida Water Management District's Governing Board":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/about/governingboard/ will hold its monthly meeting on Tuesday, May 19 at 9 a.m. at the Tampa Service Office, located at 7601 U.S. Highway 301 North. To view the Governing Board meeting online, visit "Watermatters.org":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/ and click on the "Live Video Stream" link. The video stream link becomes active and the live video feed begins approximately 15… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District and Pinellas County are looking for industrial, commercial and institutional (ICI) businesses to participate in a pilot program to help them conserve water and save money.The ICI pilot project involves offering rebates to ICI customers within Pinellas Countys retail and wholesale water service areas who demonstrate they have taken steps to save water such as installing water-conserving equipment, appliances or devices. Water… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District's Governing Board will hold its monthly meeting on Tuesday, April 25 at 10 a.m. at the Lake Eva Banquet Hall, located at 799 Johns Avenue in Haines City. To view the Governing Board meeting online, visit Watermatters.org and click on the "Live Video Stream" link. The video stream link becomes active and the live video feed begins approximately 15 minutes before the scheduled meeting time.The meeting agenda and meeting materials… Read more

District prepares for Hurricane FrancesBoat Lock at Wysong-Coogler Structure on Withlacoochee River ClosedIn preparation for Hurricane Frances, the Southwest Florida Water Management District is closing the boat ramp on the Wysong-Coogler Adjustable Water Conservation Structure (AWCS).The boat ramp on the Withlacoochee River will be temporarily closed to navigation Saturday, Sept. 4 and Sunday, Sept. 5 due to the storm. The closure may extend through Monday, depending on… Read more

Board Elects New Officers During the spring election, the Governing Board chose four people to provide the Board’s leadership during the next year. Watson L. Haynes, II was elected chair. Haynes was appointed to the Governing Board in March 1999 and previously served as the Governing Board’s vice chair and treasurer. Haynes is the first African-American to be elected to serve a full-term as Governing Board chair. He thanked the Governing Board members for their… Read more

Talkin' Turkey The District and the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF)/Wheelin’ Sportsmen continued their successful partnership by holding a turkey hunt in March at the District’s Green Swamp Wilderness Preserve in Polk County. The Wheelin’ Sportsmen is dedicated to providing all people with disabilities the opportunity to enjoy the great outdoors. The group organizes hunting and fishing events, recreational shooting and other outdoor activities. More than 20… Read more

A love of nature led to Bob and Sharon Blanchard’s decision to work with the District on two perpetual conservation easements for the Little Everglades Ranch. “So many people move here for the beauty and wildlife, so it is sad to see all the rural farmland disappearing,” said Sharon Blanchard. “We truly love this property and wanted to make sure it is preserved for future generations.” District Governing Board members and staff joined the Blanchards in celebrating… Read more

Nine Marion County teachers are among the educators who were awarded Splash! school grants through the "Southwest Florida Water Management District(Southwest Florida Water Management District)":/.This year 206 "Splash! grants(Splash! School Grants)":/education/schoolgrants were awarded to educators across "the District's 16-county region":/data/map.Mary Margaret Hull, lead communications coordinator, attributes the effectiveness of the grant program in Marion County to the… Read more