Search Content

The Southwest Florida Water Management District's (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. Earlier this month, the District launched an education campaign to help protect the Weeki Wachee River in Hernando County, which begins at the world-famous springs. The Weeki Wachee River education…

A project in Highlands County to educate residents about Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ was recently awarded a Community Education Grant from the "Southwest Florida Water Management District":http://www.watermatters.org.Twelve grants were awarded Districtwide this year for a total of $50,319. This is the 15th year "Community Education Grants":http://www.WaterMatters.org/CommunityGrants have been available. These grants currently help fund projects that provide communities an…

h2. District Seeking Public Input on Proposals for Four PropertiesThe Southwest Florida Water Management District recently completed an evaluation of eight District-managed lands to determine if additional hunting opportunities are available. Draft proposals for four of these lands will be presented at a public meeting on Thursday, Jan. 5. The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. at the Lecanto Government Building, 3600 West Sovereign Path, Suite 166, Lecanto. The draft proposals…

Dedication Celebrates Restoration A real time machine converted land back to a beautiful mosaic of habitats…” That’s what Ann Paul, Tampa Bay Regional Coordinator of Audubon of Florida, calls the completion of a restoration project in southeastern Hillsborough County. Paul and many other special guests joined the Southwest Florida Water Management District and Hillsborough County in a recent celebration of the completion of the Fred & Idah Schultz Preserve.…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District is providing children the opportunity to participate in one of two free youth hog hunts at the District’s Edward W. Chance Reserve’s Gilley Creek Tract in Manatee County.The hog hunts are scheduled for Oct.17-18 and Oct. 24-25. All youth hunters must be accompanied by at least one adult. During both hunts, participants will use blinds. Dogs will not be used in either hunt.Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World, Orlando and…

Governor Charlie Crist recently reappointed William Bunch and appointed Candy Nathe to two Southwest Florida Water Management District Basin Boards.William Bunch is the owner of Oysters Restaurant and lives in Crystal River. He was reappointed to the Coastal Rivers Basin Board. Bunch was first appointed to the Board 2001. His current term ends March 1, 2011. The Coastal Rivers Basin Board area includes the coastal regions of Citrus, Hernando and Pasco counties.Candy Nathe…

Who: Webster Elementary School teachers and studentsWhat: Save-A-Drop Day celebrates a year of studying the water cycle, watersheds and water conservation. Students will participate in a variety of hands-on environmental educational activities, including watershed model demonstrations and outdoor stations relating to appreciating our water and the plants and animals that depend on it. Students will also take the water conservation pledge.When: Tuesday, April 28, outdoor…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) is offering six easy ways to prepare for your holiday meals and parties without running up your water bill. During the holidays, water plays a role in everything from food preparation to the cleanup process. Here’s how to incorporate water conservation into your holiday preparations:

• Defrost frozen foods in the refrigerator or the microwave instead of running hot water over them.
• …

Emergency Operations Center at Level 2 activation Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) officials are monitoring Hurricane Eta and have raised the activation level of the District’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) to Level 2 as of 9:30 a.m. The EOC provides direction regarding District activities before, during, and after an emergency event. The District is continuing to monitor potential impacts from the storm that could occur throughout…

The public is invited to attend a meeting to learn about a proposed pump test at the Morris Bridge Sink.The meeting is Tuesday, Feb. 10, 6 p.m. at the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Tampa Service Office, which is located at 7601 U.S. Highway 301 North in Tampa.The pump test will take place later this month or in early March and will last 30 days. However, given the severity of the current drought, Tampa Bay Water, the region’s wholesale water…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board Monday approved the renewal and consolidation of five water use permits (WUP) for Hernando County Utilities’ east service area.The consolidated permit includes an increase of 2,791,817 gallons of water per day (gpd) based on projected population growth in the east service area, which is expected to reach approximately 25,000 residents by the year 2014. The new permitted annual average day quantity for the…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District will be conducting “controlled, prescribed burns” during the rest of January through March on the Jack Creek property in Highlands County.The Jack Creek property is located in the Leisure Lakes area, which is approximately one mile west of U.S Highway 27, three miles south of State Road 66 and six miles northwest of Lake Placid. There is the potential to burn more than 150 acres of land in small, manageable units.…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District honored Cheryl Moffat for her outstanding water resources education project, “Water Pollution, Conservation and Wetland Importance.” A total of 26 projects were recognized Wednesday during the “Partners in Watershed Education Conference” at the Crowne Plaza Tampa East Hotel.Moffat’s 2007–2008 Splash! mini-grant project helped Avon Park High School students determine pollution levels at local…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District honored Alton Cheatham of the Charlotte Harbor Environmental Center for his outstanding water resources education project. A total of 29 projects were recognized Wednesday during the “Partners in Watershed Education Conference” at the Crowne Plaza Tampa East Hotel.Cheatham was recognized for the Charlotte Harbor/Lemon Bay Surface Water Improvement and Management Watershed Education Program. This project educated…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District will be conducting “controlled, prescribed burns” during the remaining days of November and December on the Jack Creek property in Highlands County.The Jack Creek property is located in the Leisure Lakes area, which is approximately one mile west of U.S Highway 27, three miles south of State Road 66 and six miles northwest of Lake Placid. There is the potential to burn more than 150 acres of land in small,…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District will be conducting “controlled, prescribed burns” during the July and August on the Jack Creek property in Highlands County.The Jack Creek property is located in the Leisure Lakes area, which is approximately one mile west of U.S Highway 27, three miles south of State Road 66 and six miles northwest of Lake Placid. There is the potential to burn more than 250 acres of land in small, manageable units.The scheduled,…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Governing Board Tuesday approved a land management plan for the Chito Branch Reserve in southeastern Hillsborough County that will provide a variety of recreational opportunities for the public.The District purchased the 5,515-acre reserve in 2001, in cooperation with Tampa Bay Water for the primary purpose of building the 16-billion-gallon C.W. “Bill” Young Reservoir to collect and store drinking water.…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District will be conducting “controlled, prescribed burns” during the remaining days of April and May on the Deep Creek property.The property is located along the Charlotte and DeSoto County line, with most of the property in DeSoto County. The parcel is east of Kings Highway, also known as County Road 769, west of the Peace River and north of Deep Creek Estates.Approximately 400 acres of land will be burned in small,…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District will be conducting “controlled, prescribed burns” during the remaining days of April and May on the Jack Creek property in Highlands County.The Jack Creek property is located in the Leisure Lakes area, which is approximately one mile west of U.S Highway 27, three miles south of State Road 66 and six miles northwest of Lake Placid. There is the potential to burn more than 250 acres of land in small, manageable units…

A project funded by the Southwest Florida Water Management District and the City of New Port Richey will expand the availability of reclaimed water to nearly 500 residents.The project includes the construction of approximately 26,800 feet of reclaimed water distribution lines in the neighborhoods north of Main Street and east of U.S. Highway 19.This project will provide approximately 217,200 gallons per day (gpd) of reclaimed water for irrigation to approximately 483 homes…