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The "Southwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/about/governingboard/ Tuesday adopted its fiscal year 2013-14 (FY2013-14) millage rate and budget.The Governing Board adopted a FY2013-14 millage rate of 0.3818 mill, which is 2.8 percent lower than the current fiscal year. This millage rate is 0.5 percent below the rolled-back millage rate, and will result in a $2.9 million reduction in ad valorem taxes for the District's…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District is now on Pinterest. The social media page, found at "Pinterest.com/SWFWMD ":http://pinterest.com/SWFWMD/ marks the District's continued expansion into the growing world of social media.Pinterest is an information-sharing website designed like a virtual bulletin board. Users can "pin" links to boards, manage themed collections of information and share with others. Pinterest is the third most popular social media site behind…

Who's Who at the District At a time when most people often begin planning for their retirement, Betty Rushton was beginning her career in environmental science. “This is my second career,” said Rushton. “My first was a homemaker.” After raising four sons, Rushton went back to school at age 50 to finish her undergraduate degree in environmental studies at New College in Sarasota. But Rushton didn’t stop there, she continued on until she received her master’s in…

While tropical storm Debby provided increased rainfall to the region, it was not enough to recover from drought conditions. That's why the "Southwest Florida Water Management District's Governing Board":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/about/governingboard/ voted today to extend its "Modified Phase I water shortage order":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/conservation/restrictions/phase1.php for the District's southern and eastern portions.Modified Phase I restrictions were…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District is inviting the public to comment on proposed minimum flows and levels (MFLs) for Gum Slough Spring Run and associated springs in northwestern Sumter County and southwestern Marion County at a public meeting on Wednesday, April 4.The rule development public workshop will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Marion Oaks Community Center, 294 Marion Oaks Lane, Ocala.The state Legislature requires the District to set minimum flows and…

Top: Marianne Korosy conducts her research on migrating birds. Bottom: Mary Barnwell, senior land management specialist, and Clay Black, senior professional engineer, assisted. In the early morning hours volunteers flushed birds out of the brush and into an awaiting net. But the birds didn’t stay in the nets long. They were carefully captured and banded in an effort to assist a University of Central Florida (UCF)…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District will present its frost/freeze management plan and associated draft rules to the public 6:30 p.m. Sept. 14 at the "Hillsborough Community College Trinkle Center(HCC Trinkle Center)":http://www.hccfl.edu/pc/trinkle-center.aspx, 1206 N. Park Road, Plant City.During the 11-day January 2010 freeze event, the combined pumping by Dover/Plant City area farmers dropped the aquifer level 60 feet in some locations, causing 140 sinkholes…

Governor Charlie Crist recently reappointed Terry England and appointed Housh Ghovaee to the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Pinellas-Anclote River Basin Board.England is from Indian Rocks Beach. He is president of England Brothers Construction Company, Inc. and was first appointed to the Board in Aug. 1999. His current term ends March 1, 2012.Ghovaee is from Clearwater. He is chief executive officer of Northside Engineering and was appointed to succeed…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District will be conducting “controlled, prescribed burns” during August and September on the District’s Annuteliga Hammock and Weekiwachee Preserve.The Annuteliga Hammock tract is located in Hernando County, near Royal Highlands and U.S. Hwy. 19. Approximately 100 acres of land will be burned in small, manageable units.The Weekiwachee Preserve is located in Hernando and Pasco counties. Controlled burns will be…

A reclaimed water project funded by the Southwest Florida Water Management District and Marion County will provide approximately 500,000 gallons of water per day (gpd) to the Oak Run Golf Course, which will offset an estimated 375,000 gpd of potable water currently being used for irrigation.This project involves the design, permitting and construction of a reclaimed water storage and transmission system for the golf course. The system will include approximately 13,500 feet…

Community members who want to make a positive impact on the water resources in their area may apply online for a Community Education Grant from the Southwest Florida Water Management District.The goal of the District’s Community Education Grant program is to actively engage adults in water-related issues pertaining to conservation, protection and preservation. Funded by the District’s Basin Boards, the program is intended to motivate communities to get involved…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District recognized Stephanie Dunda, a Phoenix Academy teacher, for her outstanding water resources education program. A total of 26 projects were recognized Wednesday during the “Partners in Watershed Education Conference” at the Crowne Plaza Tampa East Hotel.Dunda’s eighth-grade class studied Florida-friendly gardens and created a hydroponics system for the school after conducting research at Selby Botanical Gardens…

A project funded by the Southwest Florida Water Management District and the City of Clearwater will bring reclaimed water to approximately 500 residents who live in the Chautauqua and Coachman Ridge areas of the city.The project includes the design and construction of more than 59,000 linear feet of reclaimed water transmission lines and distribution piping.The Chautauqua portion of the project will take place south of Enterprise Road, north of Lake Chautauqua, west of…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District approved funding for an additional phase of the Pinellas County Ultra Low-flow Toilet Rebate Program in response to an unexpected increase in consumer demand.The program promotes water conservation by providing toilet rebates of up to $100 for each high-flow toilet or urinal replaced with a low-flow model. The program targets residential and commercial customers of Pinellas County Utilities and the cities of Clearwater,…

The deadline to apply for a Community Education Grant through the Southwest Florida Water Management District is approaching. Grant applications are due Aug. 24, 2007. The grants, which offer funding up to $5,000 each, are designated for projects that motivate adults to get involved in education projects that promote water resources protection.Government agencies, private individuals, educational facilities, business and industry, neighborhoods, homeowner and service…

Who: Southwest Florida Water Management District Governing and Basin Board members, District staff, members of the Withlapopka Civic AssociationWhat: The District and the association are celebrating the dedication of Withlapopka Community Park, which is located within the Flying Eagle Preserve. The park was built as a result of a partnership between the District and the civic association.When: Saturday, March 31, 10 a.m.Where: The park is located at 10357 East Gobbler Drive…

The Southwest Florida Management District’s Governing Board approved funding Tuesday for a project that evaluates alternatives for reducing flooding and improving water quality within the Christina Watershed.The Christina Watershed, located near Mulberry in western Polk County, is approximately 6 square miles and is part of the headwaters to the North Prong of the Alafia River. This area has experienced recurrent flooding for the past ten years and is also…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District and the City of Anna Maria are moving forward on a project that will reduce flooding and improve water quality.The project involves the design, permitting and construction of retention swales, inlet controls structures and baffle structures for three drainage basins.The three drainage basins are the North Bay/Tarpon Basin, the North Shore/Jacaranda Basin, and the South Drive/South Bay Area. Together, these three basins are…

The deadline to apply for a Community Education Grant through the Southwest Florida Water Management District is approaching. Grant applications are due Sept. 15, 2006. The grants, which offer funding up to $5,000 each, are designated for projects that motivate adults to get involved in education projects that promote water resources protection.Government agencies, private individuals, educational facilities, business and industry, neighborhoods, homeowner and service…

A Southwest Florida Water Management District scientist has received a prestigious honor from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).Brandt Henningsen, District senior environmental scientist, was presented with the Excellence in Restoration Award by NOAA’s Restoration Center at the Pinellas County Environmental Fund’s (PCEF) conservation partners meeting in May.The award was created by NOAA to publicly recognize it’s partners who have…