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Back row from left: David Moore, District executive director; Tammy Antoine, Employee Committee chair; Toi Basso, Employee Committee financial secretary; Judy Whitehead, Governing Board chair; Chan Springstead, Planning representative; Front row from left: Pam Baldwin, Human Resources representative; Jason LaRoche, Resource, Conservation and Data representative; and Michele Cacioppo, Human Resources representative, during the Employee Appreciation Day.… Read more

Members of the Boys & Girls Club of Hernando County embarked on a field trip to the District’s Serenova Tract in Pasco County in August. This was the fourth annual District-sponsored field trip for the club, but their first visit to the Serenova property. Approximately 100 children and counselors made the trip this year to learn about water… Read more

Top left: One of Morris’ favorite creatures at the aquarium is Tako, a Pacific octopus. Top right: Lisann Morris, senior professional engineer, volunteers her time at The Florida Aquarium, feeding the fish and animals. Above: Morris and her friend, Doris Linney, celebrate completing the 60-mile breast cancer walk. With more than 500 volunteer hours recorded, it’s no surprise that Lisann Morris was awarded the District’s Shining Star… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District recently recognized four Sarasota County projects as outstanding school, community grant or volunteer programs that focus on water resources education. A total of 52 projects were recognized during the October 7 Reflect, Connect, Celebrate Water Resources Education Conference at the Brooker Creek Preserve Environmental Education Center in Tarpon Springs.To select the awardees, District staff reviewed grants applied for by… Read more

The "Southwest Florida Water Management District(Southwest Florida Water Management District)":/ is inviting the public to an open house about Lake Panasoffkee on Tuesday, Dec. 7. The workshop will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. at "Lake Panasoffkee Recreation Park(Lake Panasoffkee Recreation Park)":http://sumtercountyfl.gov/index.aspx?NID=207, 1582 CR 459, Lake Panasoffkee.The District is holding the open house to discuss the success of the restoration project as well as current… Read more

The "Southwest Florida Water Management District(Southwest Florida Water Management District)":/ is inviting area landscaping professionals to compete for the title of "Ruling Water Champion" at the District's second Landscape Challenge competition, from 8 a.m. to noon Thursday, March 17 at the District's headquarters, 2379 Broad Street in Brooksville.Teams of landscape maintenance professionals will compete by demonstrating landscape management practices that protect our… Read more

Six local organizations and individuals were recently recognized for their work to further water conservation.  The awards were given as part of the 10th anniversary celebration of the Florida Water Star℠ program. The voluntary certification program encourages water efficiency in appliances, plumbing fixtures, irrigation systems and landscapes.  The six awards… Read more

WFLA-TV meteorologist Brooks Garner interviews Rebecca Valone, project manager for the Tampa Port Authority, about McKay Bay. When the District’s Surface Water Improvement and Management (SWIM) Program began looking into the possibility of restoring the 56-acre McKay Bay Dredge Hole, there was only one problem. The project would need enough clean fill material to fill two football stadiums. However, as SWIM staff began talking to the program’s local partners,… Read more

Above: Magnolia Gardens, a project of the Hernando County Housing Authority, recently met the requirements of the Florida Water StarSM program. Top right: Governing Board member Judy Whitehead presents the Florida Water StarSM certification to Magnolia Gardens for meeting the requirements of the program. A Brooksville apartment complex is the first in Florida to be certified under the Florida Water StarSMCommunity standard. Magnolia Gardens, a… Read more

Two Tampa area home builders were honored for their use of water-wise landscaping.John Cannon Homes was presented with the Water-Wise Landscape Recognition Award Thursday at the annual Tampa Bay Home Builders Association Spring Parade of Homes banquet. Homes by John C Fowke received the Honorable Mention award.The winning design can be seen at John Cannon Homes Bondi model, 3129 Christophers Watch Lane in the Little Harbor Community in Ruskin. The design, landscaping and… Read more

A Ruskin community recently celebrated the grand opening of a new clubhouse and playground, but its Florida Water Star℠ (FWS) homes are another reason leaders are celebrating.  Bayou Pass Village 4 recently held a dedication of its newest facilities. The community is the product of the Florida Home Partnership, a nonprofit organization that strives to create affordable housing for low income families. Bayou Pass homes achieve FWS certification. FWS is a… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) is reminding residents to check the timers on their irrigation system controllers this weekend, which is the end of daylight saving time.Saturday night is when we will turn our clocks back one hour. The time change is also a good time to make sure irrigation system timers are set correctly to ensure that the systems operate consistently with… Read more

Sebring Homeowners Get Irrigation Recommendations The District’s Peace River Basin Board partnered with the Highlands Soil and Water Conservation District to help homeowners improve the efficiency of their irrigation systems. The pilot project brought a mobile irrigation lab to homeowners residing in the city of Sebring. The lab is evaluating residential irrigation systems and developing customized recommendations on irrigation equipment, management… Read more

The Marion County Spring Festival will be more “Florida-friendly” because of the addition of a water conservation restroom station. The Southwest Florida Water Management District is bringing the water conservation restroom station to the event, which is being held Mar. 11-12 at the Extension Service Office in Marion County.This festival, which is expected to attract approximately 15,000 people, includes workshops, exhibits, and a plant sale. Workshop topics… Read more

Florida Communities Trust (FCT), the state’s premier program for helping local communities preserve parks and recreational space, is accepting grant applications until May 7, 2008. An expected $66 million in Florida Forever funds will be available to local governments and nonprofit environmental organizations to acquire land for green space, conservation and recreation purposes. This is the program’s eighth year of being funded. The FCT is administered by the… Read more

_The Extended Order Allows Extra Lawn Watering Day, If Needed_The "Southwest Florida Water Management District's Governing Board ":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/about/governingboard/voted today to extend the Phase II Water Shortage in the Tampa Bay; however, the extended order will allow up to two watering days per week. In December 2013, the Governing Board enacted Phase II restrictions for lawn watering throughout Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties, which allowed… Read more

With the cooler temperatures this week, the District is reminding residents who irrigate their lawns to “Skip a Week” or more of watering during the cooler months of January and February. According to research by the University of Florida, grass doesn’t need to be watered as often during the cooler months. One-half to three-quarters of an inch of water every 10–14 days is sufficient. In fact, if your lawn has received any significant rainfall, then you can turn off your… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District honored Chris Dewey for his work as the Florida Yards & Neighborhoods Builders/Developers Outreach coordinator in Pasco County at a ceremony that recognized outstanding water resources education programs and projects. A total of 27 projects were recognized during the “Partners in Watershed Education Conference” at the Lake Mirror Complex in Lakeland.Dewey has created a unique and beneficial working… Read more