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Virginia Frissell, a science resource teacher at the Twin Lakes Elementary School in Tampa, will be presented with the Districtwide Water Steward of the Year Award at the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Governing Board’s meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 28. The meeting will be held at the District’s Bartow Service Office, located at 170 Century Boulevard.The District’s Governing Board chose Frissell’s “Water Everywhere Put It First…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) is gathering information to improve identification of flood prone areas in Manatee County. The District will provide virtual outreach now through Sept. 20 at WaterMatters.org/Floodplain for the public to view preliminary data for flood prone areas within the Pearce Drain/Gap Creek Watershed…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District's (District) Governing Board voted to decrease property taxes by adopting a proposed rolled-back millage rate of 0.2669 mill for the fiscal year 2021 budget. The millage rate is more than 4.7% lower than the current fiscal year adopted millage rate of 0.2801 mill, a savings to taxpayers of approximately $6 million. For the owner of a $150,000 home with a $50,000 homestead exemption, the District tax would be $26.69 a…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) is gathering information to improve identification of flood prone areas in Highlands County. The District will provide a virtual public comment now through Sept. 30, at WaterMatters.org/Floodplain for the public to view preliminary data for flood prone areas within the Jack Creek…

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 at Annuteliga Hammock and Weekiwachee Preserve in Hernando County. Annuteliga Hammock…

The public is invited to share ideas concerning potential water resources restoration projects when the Citrus/Hernando Waterways Restoration Council and the Hernando County Task Force meet on Oct. 20.The Citrus/Hernando Waterways Restoration Council will meet at 3 p.m. in Conference Rooms A & B, 1st Floor, at the Southwest Florida Water Management District Headquarters, 2379 Broad Street, Brooksville. The Hernando County Task Force will meet in the same location at 3:…

We’re halfway through Water Conservation Month, and the Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) encourages citizens to do their part to save water in and around their homes. While we shelter at home to stay safe, here’s more water saving tips to lower your monthly water bill and save hundreds of gallons of water:

• Ensure rain sensors are operating properly. Irrigating during or after significant rainfall is a major cause of outdoor…

Emergency Operations Center at Level 1 ActivationSouthwest Florida Water Management District (District) officials have raised the activation level of the District’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) to Level 1 as they continue to monitor Hurricane Milton. The EOC provides direction regarding District activities during an emergency weather event. The District is evaluating potential impacts from the storm that could occur throughout its 16-county region.…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) is releasing as much water out of Lake Tarpon as possible, however anticipated storm surge from Hurricane Milton is expected to overtop the structure. Hurricane Milton is also forecasted to bring heavy rainfall to the region, which Hurricane Helene did not. The storm surge combined with the excessive rain could cause catastrophic flooding all around the lake and the outfall canal. Residents who live in and around…

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 July through September at the Green Swamp Wilderness Preserve, which includes, the Green Swamp East Tract in Polk,…

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 July through September at Annutteliga Hammock and Weekiwachee Preserve in Hernando County. Annutteliga Hammock is…

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 February and March at Annuteliga Hammock and Weekiwachee Preserve in Hernando County. Annuteliga Hammock is located east of U.S. Highway 19, north of Centralia Road and south of the county…

A monthly graph of rainfall as a 12-month departure from mean shows deficits lasting longer than surpluses in recent history. As the annual observance of April as Water Conservation Month approaches, water resources in west-central Florida are still feeling the effects of the extended drought. The District’s entire 16-county area has been under a Phase I water shortage alert since last fall. A Phase I alert is intended to raise the public’s awareness of dry…

The success of a series of hog hunts held on District lands last winter and spring to reduce the wild hog population has land managers planning to hold hog hunts again this fall and winter. Beginning at 9 a.m. on Oct. 12, prospective hunters can purchase permits for these hunts on the District’s web site at WaterMatters.org/hoghunts/.…

The District purchased Boat Spring located near the Gulf of Mexico at the Hernando and Pasco County line. The purchase is part of the District’s ongoing effort to protect water resources. The spring is part of the Hammock Creek spring system, a second-magnitude system. It includes Boat, Magnolia, and Aripeka 1 and 2 springs, which all flow into Hammock Creek that connects with the Gulf of Mexico. The property also includes the spring run from Magnolia Spring. The District…

The "Southwest Florida Water Management District":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/ (District) has closed on the purchase of Boat Spring, which is part of the headwaters of Hammock Creek spring system, located in the historic community of Aripeka, on the Gulf of Mexico at the Hernando and Pasco County line. The Hammock Creek spring system includes Boat, Magnolia, Aripeka 1 and 2 springs which all flow into Hammock Creek that connects with the Gulf of Mexico. The acquisition…

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 from November through March on the Starkey, Conner and Cypress Creek Preserves in Pasco County. These properties are located in central and west Pasco County near Land O' Lakes and New Port Richey. Approximately 1,200 acres will be burned in small, manageable units. The District will also…

The District purchased Boat Spring located near the Gulf of Mexico at the Hernando and Pasco County line. The purchase is part of the District’s ongoing effort to protect water resources. The spring is part of the Hammock Creek spring system, a second-magnitude system. It includes Boat, Magnolia, and Aripeka 1 and 2 springs, which all flow into Hammock Creek that connects with the Gulf of Mexico. The property also includes the spring run from Magnolia Spring. The District…

The District reminds residents that qualifying water and energy-efficient appliances will be tax free Sept. 19-21. The 2014 Sales Tax Holiday is good on the purchase of qualifying ENERGY STAR® and WaterSense® products up to $1,500. Each person in our region uses an average of 104 gallons of water each day. The average household can use 30 percent less water and save about $170 per year by installing water-efficient fixtures and appliances, according to the U.S.…

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 April, May and June on both the Deer Prairie Creek Preserve and neighboring Schewe Tract. Deer Prairie Creek Preserve, which is jointly owned and managed by the District and Sarasota County, is located between Interstate 75 and US Highway 41. The Schewe Tract, which is located north and south of…