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As the Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) continues its efforts to protect the Weeki Wachee River, the public should be aware they may see District staff and contractors working in and along the river, including the portion deemed a springs protection zone. …

_Water Reuse Workshop to start at 9:00 a.m._The Southwest Florida Water Management District's Governing Board will hold its monthly meeting on Tuesday, October 25 at 11 a.m. The meeting will immediately follow an information workshop on reuse. Both meetings will take place at the District's Headquarters, located at 2379 Broad Street in Brooksville. To view the Governing Board meeting and workshop online, visit Watermatters.org and click on the "Live Video Stream" link. The…

Hunters can apply online beginning Oct. 11 for permits to hunt wild hogs on District properties. Properties in Pasco, Marion and Polk counties will open for scheduled wild hog hunts, with the first hunt planned for November and the last hunt in March. Starting 9 a.m. on Oct. 11, online permit registration for the 2010–2011 hog hunts will be available on a first-come, first-served basis at …

The Southwest Florida Water Management District is seeking public input about the order in which minimum flows and levels (MFLs) for lakes, rivers, streams and aquifers in the District will be determined.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 the delicate balance between meeting human water needs and…

The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) is inviting greenhouse, nursery, foliage, strawberry and vegetable growers to attend a free tour and workshop promoting the use of recycled and reclaimed water in the horticulture industry.The workshop is April 29 from noon – 4 p.m. at the UF/IFAS Gulf Coast Research and Education Center, 14625 County Road 672, Wimauma. This regional workshop will feature presentations from industry and…

A Southwest Florida Water Management District project will help a Hillsborough County farm reduce groundwater pumping.The project involves the use of an integrated irrigation system at Balaban Farms, LLC, located in the Hillsborough River watershed. The property drains predominantly to the west, where surface water enters Flint Creek and flows into the Hillsborough River. Hillsborough County is part of a designated water use caution area because it is experiencing…

Basin Board Members Tour River  District staff and Governing Board and Basin Board members tour the Withlacoochee River. Members of the District’s Withlacoochee River Basin Board recently toured the lower Withlacoochee River from Inglis to the mouth of the river. The lower Withlacoochee River has undergone significant alteration with the construction of the Inglis Dam and the Western Terminus of the Cross Florida Barge Canal. The basin board provided…

WhoThird- and fourth-grade Wildwood Elementary School students; Louise Ross, Director of Elementary Education for the Sumter County School Board; and Southwest Florida Water Management District Youth Education staffWhatDistrict Youth Education staff will visit a third- and fourth-grade class at Wildwood Elementary School to observe water education projects funded through its Splash! mini-grant program.Ms. Benachoice Caruthers third-grade students will demonstrate their…

A Southwest Florida Water Management District project will help a Highlands County citrus grower reduce groundwater pumping.The project involves installing an integrated irrigation system that includes soil moisture sensors connected to automated value controllers at Alpine Grove, which is owned by Running W Citrus, Limited Partnership.Soil moisture sensors increase irrigation efficiency by only irrigating when water is needed.According to the Alpine Grove water use permit,…

New Governing Board Member Sworn In New Governing Board member Pat Symons is getting used to her role at the District. Gov. Jeb Bush appointed Symons in March. Patsy C. Symons of Arcadia is owner/president of Symons Groves, Inc. Symons succeeds Pamela L. Fentress, whose term expired March 1, 2004. Symons also assumed responsibility as co-chair ex officio of the District’s Peace River Basin Board. Ms. Symons says she applied to become a board member…

The North American Lake Management Society (NALMS) recently awarded the Southwest Florida and St. Johns River water management districts with the Technical Merit Award in the area of research for their work on minimum flows and levels (MFLs.)The mission of NALMS is to forge partnerships among citizens, scientists and professionals to foster the management and protection of lakes and reservoirs for today and tomorrow. NALMS produces an international, peer-reviewed scientific…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District is seeking public input about the order in which minimum flows and levels (MFL) for lakes, rivers, streams and aquifers in the District will be determined.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 the delicate balance between meeting human water needs and those…

A cooperative project between the Southwest Florida Water Management District and Hillsborough County will restore more than 160 acres within the county’s 2800-acre Fish Hawk Creek Preserve. Portions of the preserve are adjacent to District-owned lands and are within the Fish Hawk Creek watershed.This project will restore natural vegetation to upland habitat areas within the preserve. In addition to providing habitat for wildlife, the restoration of natural vegetation…

Who:Southwest Florida Water Management District staff, National Wild Turkey Federation/Wheelin’ Sportsmen representatives, disabled hunters and volunteer guidesWhat:The District has partnered with the National Wild Turkey Federation/Wheelin’ Sportsmen to organize this quail hunt, which allows disabled men, women and young adults to experience the outdoors.When:Saturday, Feb. 10, 11 a.m.Where:The hunt will be…

Who:Southwest Florida Water Management District staff, National Wild Turkey Federation/Wheelin’ Sportsmen representatives, disabled hunters and volunteer guidesWhat:The District has partnered with the National Wild Turkey Federation/Wheelin’ Sportsmen to organize this deer hunt, which allows disabled men, women and young adults to experience the outdoors. Participants will use specially equipped crossbows and bows during the hunt.…

Conservation and enforcement of watering restrictions neededThe Southwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board recently gave its executive director authority to declare a water shortage prior to the January 2007 Board meeting if hydrologic conditions continue to worsen.The Board acted because of current dry conditions and the time span between the Nov. 30-Dec. 1 meetings and the next planned meeting on January 30.“We may need to act before…

The "Southwest Florida Water Management District's Governing Board":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/about/governingboard/ will hold its monthly meeting on Tuesday, September 30 at 1 p.m. at the District's Tampa Service Office located at 7601 Highway 301 North.A public hearing on the final FY2015 budget is scheduled for 5:01 p.m.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…

For the second year in a row, the Southwest Florida Water Management District and Pinellas County Parks & Recreation Department will join forces to “Perk Up a Park.”The “Perk Up a Park” cleanup and interpretive sign unveiling will happen Saturday, June 25 at Philippe Park, located in Safety Harbor on Philippe Parkway between Main Street and State Road 580.This event is open to anyone who would like to volunteer. The volunteers will be asked to…

Hotels and motels in Manatee and Sarasota counties now have the opportunity to participate in a successful water conservation program known as Water Conservation Hotel and Motel Program (Water C.H.A.M.P.)As part of the program, the Southwest Florida Water Management District invites hotel and motel owners, operators and management to participate in a “linens and towels reuse program.” The District supplies printed materials for guest rooms and educational…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) has rescheduled the workshop to allow for public comment on the proposed minimum flow for the Pithlachascotee River in Pasco County. The workshop will take place on Thursday, Feb. 15 from 6 – 7:30 p.m.at the New Port Richey Public Library, located at 5939 Main Street in New Port Richey. The Florida Legislature requires the District to set minimum flows and levels for priority water bodies within the District. A…