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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 … Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) has released as much water out of Lake Tarpon as possible, however anticipated storm surge from Hurricane Helene is expected to overtop the structure. The District cannot prevent saltwater from the storm surge from entering the freshwater lake. Additionally, water cannot be released from the lake until the storm surge recedes. Once the water levels from the storm surge fall below the lake level, water discharge… Read more

All Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) offices will be closed Wednesday, Sept. 28, and Thursday, Sept. 29, due to potential impacts from Hurricane Ian. The District will continue to monitor the progress of Hurricane Ian to determine if future closings are necessary. The District is monitoring storm forecasts associated with Hurricane Ian throughout its 16-county region. In response to recent heavy rainfall, District staff have been closely monitoring… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Governing Board will hold its monthly meeting Tuesday, Sept. 20, at 3 p.m. at the Tampa Service Office, located at 7601 U.S. Highway 301 North. A public hearing on the FY2023 budget is scheduled for 5:01 p.m. at the Tampa Service Office. To view the Governing Board meeting and the public hearing on the FY2023… Read more

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… Read more

_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… Read more

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… Read more

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… Read more

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… Read more

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… Read more

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… Read more

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,… Read more

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… Read more

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… Read more

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… Read more

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… Read more

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… Read more

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.… Read more

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… Read more

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… Read more