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At its July 25 meeting, the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Manasota Basin Board adopted a fiscal year 2008 (FY2008) millage rate of 0.1484 mill, which is .0116 less than the current fiscal year. This reduction is in accordance with the tax reduction mandated by the Florida Legislature.The FY2008 millage rate has been set equal to 97 percent of the rolled-back rate in compliance with House Bill 1B, the tax reform legislation signed into law by Gov.… Read more

At its June 7 meeting, the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Northwest Hillsborough Basin Board adopted a proposed fiscal year 2008 (FY2008) millage rate of 0.268 mill, which is the same as the current fiscal year.Further, in the event that a tax reduction is mandated by the Legislature during its special session later this month, the Basin Board has authorized the Executive Director, with the concurrence of the Basin Board chair ex officio, to recalculate its… Read more

Above-normal rainfall during the summer rainy season has brought significant improvement to water resources not seen in more than seven years in the Southwest Florida Water Management District's region.Many of the District's lakes, rivers and aquifers have recovered after a four-year drought which started in 2005. Rainfall totals from the four-month rainy season show above normal averages across the District."This summer was a drought breaker for us," said Granville Kinsman… Read more

The "Southwest Florida Water Management District":http://www.watermatters.org is encouraging residents to fix leaks and install inexpensive water-saving devices in conjunction with Water Conservation Month.The District is kicking off its "Fix It for Less" campaign that encourages homeowners to make changes in three areas of the home – the bathroom, kitchen and laundry room – to save water and money.The campaign features a new website at "WaterMatters.org/FixItForLess/":http… Read more

A project in Sumter County to distribute 200 water conservation kits was recently awarded a Community Education Grant from the "Southwest Florida Water Management ":http://www.watermatters.orgDistrict.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 help fund projects that provide communities an opportunity to learn about… Read more

A project in Charlotte County to educate residents about water quality issues and water resources 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 have been available. These grants currently help fund projects that provide communities an opportunity to learn about water… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) will keep District-managed recreation lands open for individual and small group day use in its 16-county region to provide the public with a place to get outside and exercise. However, all campgrounds and campsites remain closed. (Please note, some lands are managed in partnership with other agencies. Please visit the individual property’s webpage to see if it is managed by another agency, and check property… Read more

Who: The Tarpon Springs chapter of Scubanauts International and their adult supervisors, Citrus County Parks and Recreation Department, volunteers from the Southwest Florida Water Management District, Boy Scout Troop 302 from InvernessWhat: District staff will volunteer with the Tarpon Springs Scubanauts during an underwater cleanup of the Chassahowitzka RiverWhen:Sunday, May 31, 9 a.m.Where:The youth dive group, lead by adult supervisors, will remove trash and light debris… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District is urging residents to skip their next watering day if they’ve received at least a half-inch to three-quarters of an inch of rain today.Outdoor water use can account for up to fifty percent of residential water use and skipping a week of irrigation will help conserve our limited drinking water supplies.All 16 counties within the District are feeling the effects of the three-year drought.“Even if it is your assigned… Read more

Southwest Florida Water Management District staff members are reaching out to community groups to answer questions about the ongoing drought, the tightened watering restrictions in the Tampa Bay area, and how residents can help.“The District is making every effort to make the public aware of the serious situation we are in,” said Robyn Felix, media relations manager. “We are urging everyone to do their part to conserve water.”After two years of… Read more

A reclaimed water project funded by the Southwest Florida Water Management District and Dade City is expected to offset about 300,000 gallons of potable water per day.This project will provide approximately 500,000 gallons per day (gpd) of reclaimed water to the Little Everglades Ranch for irrigating the race track area and sod farm as part of a 20-year service agreement between the city and the ranch.The project includes the design and construction of approximately 15,000… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) Thursday washonored by the Pasco-Hernando Jobs and Education Partnership Regional Board, Inc. as one of the best places to work in Hernando County for the second year in a row.“It is a privilege for the District to be honored two years in a row,” said Pam Baldwin, SPHR, District senior human resources generalist. “I appreciate the Jobs and Education Partnership recognizing the District’s… Read more

A project funded by the Southwest Florida Water Management District and the City of Oldsmar will bring reclaimed water to up to 200 residents who live near the downtown area.The project includes the design and construction of more than 13,000 linear feet of reclaimed water distribution lines and the installation of an automated system that will regulate the supply of reclaimed water, allowing for more efficient use and enabling the expansion of reclaimed water service.This… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District and Manatee County are offering residents a financial incentive to save water by replacing high-volume toilets and showerheads with low-volume models.As part of the program, Manatee County customers can apply for a rebate of up to $100 when they replace high-volume toilets with low-flow models. The application must be approved prior to purchasing and installing the new low-volume toilet to receive a rebate. Up to 600 single-… Read more

A project funded by the Southwest Florida Water Management District and the City of Clearwater will bring reclaimed water to residents who live in the Skycrest area of Clearwater.The project includes the design and construction of a high-service pump station, more than 63,500 linear feet of reclaimed water transmission lines, distribution piping, and a five-million-gallon storage tank.This project will interconnect reclaimed water supplies from the city’s three waste… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board today approved a project to reduce groundwater pumping up to 178,000 gallons per day (gpd) at a Hillsborough County nursery. The Facilitating Agricultural Resource Management Systems (FARMS) program is a cost-share reimbursement program that conserves water and protects water quality. The FARMS project, proposed by Holmberg Farms, Inc., is located in central Hillsborough County. Fishhawk Creek flows through the… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District recently signed an agreement with Polk County Utilities for a project to create 10 million gallons of storage capacity at the county’s Northeast Regional Waste Water Treatment Facility. The expanded storage capacity will increase the reliability of the reclaimed water system to meet customers’ needs. Using reclaimed water reduces the need to use potable water for irrigation.The Polk County Utilities Northeast… Read more

A project funded by the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Pinellas-Anclote River Basin Board and Clearwater will make the city’s reclaimed water system more efficient, allowing more customers to connect.The Clearwater Reclaimed Water System Meter Retrofit Project consists of retrofitting approximately 3,300 existing Clearwater reclaimed water connections with individual meters and their related equipment. Retrofitting the meters will allow the city… Read more

A shallow well rebate program funded by the Southwest Florida Water Management District and Manatee County will conserve potable water by converting existing irrigation systems to shallow well systems, which draw water from the surficial or intermediate aquifers.The program will provide rebates to homeowners and business owners who currently use potable water for irrigation and live in western unincorporated Manatee County or the cities of Anna Maria, Bradenton Beach and… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District will be conducting “controlled, prescribed burns” during the months of October through December on the District’s Deer Prairie Creek property. The property is located north and south of I-75 between mile markers 186 and 190. The property’s southern border is U.S. 41 between Myakka River and the North Port. The scheduled, managed burns are a part of routine maintenance of lands managed by the District… Read more