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Setting prescribed fires in controlled settings can reduce the risk of wildfires burning out of control, as many Floridians witnessed during the state's wildfire emergency in early spring. That's why the Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) will be conducting prescribed burns November through March 2018 at Weekiwachee Preserve in Pasco County. Weekiwachee Preserve is located north of Hudson, west of U.S. Highway 19 and includes the Aripeka Sandhills (…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District's Governing Board will hold its monthly meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 26 at 3 p.m. at the Tampa Service Office, located at 7601 U.S. Highway 301 North. A public hearing on the tentative FY2018 budget is scheduled for 5:01 p.m. The final budget hearing will take place on Saturday, Sept. 30 at 9:30 a.m., also at the Tampa Service Office. Both budget meetings were rescheduled due to Hurricane Irma. To view the Governing Board…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District is proud to announce the recipients of the 2006 Community Education Grant Program. The grants, which are up to $5,000 each, will help fund projects that provide communities the opportunity to learn about water resources.This year the District awarded 34 grants Districtwide for a total of $151,278. Of those 34 grants awarded, five were awarded to groups in Pinellas County.The overall goal of the Community Education Grant…

Setting prescribed fires in controlled settings can reduce the risk of wildfires burning out of control, as many Floridians witnessed during the state’s wildfire emergency in 2017. That’s why the Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) will be conducting prescribed burns June through September on the Deep Creek Preserve in DeSoto County. Deep Creek Preserve is located in…

The Land Management Section of the Southwest Florida Water ManagementDistrict (District) will be conducting prescribed burns during the months of March, April, May and June on the Deep Creek Preserve in Desoto County. The Deep Creek Preserve is located northeast of Port Charlotte, west of King's Highway and north of Deep Creek Estates. Approximately 370 acres will be burned, in small, manageable units. According to Will VanGelder, the District's land management manager,…

About 20 Eckerd College students recently got an up-close look at one of the structures that helps protect the Tampa area from flooding. The students toured Structure 161 on the Harney Canal. They also met with several District staff about water management issues. The visit was part of the Eckerd course “Value of Florida Water.”  “The four-week course explores all issues pertaining to water,” said Megan Cook, course instructor. “This is a great opportunity for…

The Land Management Section of the "Southwest Florida Water ManagementDistrict":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/ (District) will be conducting prescribed burns during the months of October, November, and December on the Deep Creek Preserve in Desoto County. The Deep Creek Preserve is located northeast of Port Charlotte, west of King's Highway and north of Deep Creek Estates. Approximately 190 acres will be burned, in small, manageable units. According to Will VanGelder, the…

Tammy Antoine, Employee Committee president, and Maureen McNiff, customer relationships manager, present the Shining Star award to Donna Brooks, senior administrative assistant (center). For Donna Brooks, multitasking is more than a catchy phrase, it’s a way of life for this busy mom and community volunteer. This Shining Star has been with the District for more than 15 years and works in the Information Resources Department as a senior…

The Land Management Section of the "Southwest Florida Water Management District ":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/ (District) will be conducting prescribed burns during the months of July, August, and September at the Flatwoods Park portion of the Lower Hillsborough Flood Detention Area in Hillsborough County. This property is located in the northeast portion of the county near the City of Thonotosassa. Approximately 350 acres are scheduled to be burned in small, manageable…

The Land Management Section of the "Southwest Florida Water ManagementDistrict (District)":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/ will be conducting prescribed burns during the months of July, August, and September on the Deep Creek Preserve in Desoto County. The Deep Creek Preserve is located northeast of Port Charlotte, west of King's Highway and north of Deep Creek Estates. Approximately 480 acres will be burned, in small, manageable units. According to Will VanGelder, the…

Northeast of the recently-restored Lake Panasoffkee, a wetland forest of freshwater marshes rises to the pine flatwoods and scrub oaks of upland sandhills to form the vast floodplain forest of the District’s Lake Panasoffkee property. The 9,911-acre property was acquired by the District to preserve the floodplain forest. Thick marsh vegetation prevents access to the lake from the property, but the property has a lot to offer. Visitors will find a large pavilion,…

District Approves Budget The Southwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board recently adopted its fiscal year 2012–13 (FY2012–13) millage rate and budget. The Governing Board adopted a FY2012–13 millage rate of 0.3928 mill, which is the same as the current fiscal year. FY2012–13 will run from Oct. 1, 2012, through Sept. 30, 2013. With taxable property values declining by 2.9 percent, this rate will result in a $3 million reduction in ad valorem property tax…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) Governing Board declared April Springs Protection Awareness Month during its March meeting. The Governing Board also emphasized that springs are vital to the environment, economy, citizens and visitors of the state. The District, in partnership with various stakeholders, is committed to implementing studies, projects and programs to conserve and improve the ecological balance of these spring systems,…

The "Land Management Section of the Southwest Florida Water ManagementDistrict":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/documents/plans/landusemgmt/ (District) will be conducting prescribed burns during the months of January, February, and March on the Deep Creek Preserve in Desoto County. The Deep Creek Preserve is located northeast of Port Charlotte, west of King's Highway and north of Deep Creek Estates. Approximately 250 acres will be burned, in small, manageable units.…

The "Land Management Section of the Southwest Florida Water ManagementDistrict ":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/documents/plans/landusemgmt/ (District) will be conducting prescribed burns during the months of November and December on the Coker Prairie Tract of the Edward W. Chance Preserve in Manatee County. The property is located south of State Road 64, seven miles east of CR 675 and six miles west of Wauchula Road. Approximately 50 acres will be burned in small, manageable…

The "Land Management Section of the Southwest Florida Water ManagementDistrict":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/documents/plans/landusemgmt/ (District) will be conducting prescribed burns during the months of November and December on the Deep Creek Preserve in Desoto County. The Deep Creek Preserve is located northeast of Port Charlotte, west of King's Highway and north of Deep Creek Estates. Approximately 350 acres will be burned in small, manageable units. According to…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) awarded $108,937 in grants to 51 educators within the District as part of the Splash! school grant program. The program provides up to $3,000 per school to enhance student knowledge of freshwater resources in grades K-12.Splash! grants encourage hands-on student learning through STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) activities as well as engagement of the greater school community through awareness…

The "Land Management Section of the Southwest Florida Water Management District ":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/documents/plans/landusemgmt/ (District) will be conducting prescribed burns during the months of October, November, and December on the Lower Hillsborough Flood Detention Area (including Flatwoods Park) and the Chito Branch Reserve in Hillsborough County. These properties are located in the central and southern areas of the county, respectively. Approximately 1,500…

The Land Management Section of the "Southwest Florida Water Management District ":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/(District) will be conducting prescribed burns during the months of June, July, and August on the following properties in eastern Manatee County: Southfork, Edward W. Chance Reserve at Gilley Creek, Edward W. Chance Reserve at Coker Prairie, and Flatford Swamp. Approximately 700 acres are scheduled to be burned in small, manageable units. According to Will…

The Land Management Section of the "Southwest Florida Water Management District ":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/ (District) will be conducting prescribed burns during the months of June, July, and August on the Lower Hillsborough Flood Detention Area and the Chito Branch Reserve in Hillsborough County. These properties are located in the central and southern areas of the county, respectively. Approximately 2,000 acres are scheduled to be burned in small, manageable units.…