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The Florida black bear is the largest native land mammal in Florida. It is shy and secretive, hiding in dense vegetation and rarely seen in the wild. The Florida black bear has a shiny, black coat of long fur and a light brown nose and snout. Some black bears have white diamond-shaped patterns on their chests. The black bear has a short tail that is almost always hidden by its long fur, and long, sharp claws that help the bear climb trees or dig for food.
Bears are… Read more
Homeowners and gardening enthusiasts are invited to play in the dirt at the Florida Yard Fandango. This Florida-friendly gardening event is being held at the Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI) on May 6, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.The Florida-friendly workshop is partially funded by a $5,000 Community Education Grant from the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Northwest Hillsborough Basin Board.The goal of this event is promote Florida-friendly landscaping and lawn… Read more
Homeowners and gardening enthusiasts are invited to “play in the dirt” at this year’s Florida Yard Fandango March 10, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.This is the second year the Florida-friendly gardening event is being held at the Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI.)The goal of the Fandango is to promote Florida-friendly landscaping and lawn maintenance because it is beautiful and saves water, time and energy. Participants will enjoy touring the butterfly gardens and… Read more
The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Brooksville office has been certified by the Hernando County Florida Yards and Neighborhoods (FYN) Program as a Florida-friendly yard.The Florida-friendly yard certification recognizes landscapes that save water, reduce the use of fertilizer and pesticides, as well as reduce runoff and provide native habitat for birds, butterflies and other wildlife.Work to obtain the certification began about two years ago when Jeff… Read more
Many homes use about half of their water outside! That’s a lot of good water going to the grass. Here are some ways you can avoid wasting water in your yard:
Wait until wilt
Don’t water your grass or plants if they don’t need it. Too much water can wash away plant food and make it easier for pests to attack. A lawn doesn’t need to be watered much in the winter when it’s cool, or during the summer when it rains a lot.
Don’t water in the rain (singing is OK)
If… Read more
What Is Stormwater Runoff?
In Florida, stormwater runoff occurs after a rainfall. Stormwater flows over impervious (unable to penetrate) surfaces like driveways, sidewalks, streets, parking lots and roofs and is unable to percolate (filter or seep) into the ground. This unfiltered water reaches our neighborhood streams, ponds, lakes, bays, wetlands and oceans and can eventually make its way into our groundwater (water beneath the earth's surface).
Why Is Stormwater… Read more
January 2025Q: Why should homeowners skip a week of irrigation in the winter?A: According to research by the University of Florida, grass only needs one-half to three-quarters of an inch of water every 10–14 days in the winter. That means you can skip a week of irrigation in the cooler months. In fact, if your lawn has received any significant rainfall, you can turn off your irrigation system and operate it manually as needed. It’s important… Read more
Edward W. Chance 1942–2006
The District lost a friend and a staunch advocate for the water resources when Governing Board member Ed Chance died on June 26, the day before the June Board meeting.
Governing Board members and staff opened the meeting the next day with remembrances of Chance, a well-loved colleague with a gift for storytelling and passion for fairness.
“Ed was a special friend to all of us,” said Governing Board Chair Jerry Rice. “Our… Read more
Mangroves are crucial to the health of the Charlotte Harbor estuary.
They stabilize shorelines, prevent erosion during storms and provide perches for nesting seabirds. But their greatest contribution occurs when they shed their leaves, which sink and rot, supplying nutrients to a huge variety of microscopic creatures and forging links in a multitude of food chains. Falling at an average rate of 3.5 tons per acre, mangrove leaf litter sustains fungi, bacteria, protozoans… Read more
Homeowners and gardening enthusiasts are invited to “play in the dirt” at the third annual Florida Yard Fandango March 8-9 at the Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI.)The goal of the Fandango is to promote Florida-friendly landscaping and lawn maintenance because it is beautiful and saves water, time and energy.This year the gardening event has grown to two days. The first day features gardening classes and a plant auction. Participants have the opportunity to… Read more
The District uses a variety of tools to protect our springs but it takes a community effort by all of us. There is no single solution to protecting Florida springs. The District uses a variety of tools to help protect them. But it takes the work of all of us to protect these resources. There are various ways you can help when visiting a spring and even at home. How to responsibly enjoy a spring:
- Stay in the vessel when possible.
- If you have to…
What does Florida Water StarSM mean for me?
- Saves an estimated $530 on annual utility bills
- Reduces water and energy use
- Creates peace of mind due to additional home inspections
- Increases resale through higher quality landscape designs and irrigation systems
Project OverviewIt removed accumulated sediments from targeted areas of the river to re-establish historic river depths where these sediments had covered natural habitats. Sedimentation alters the river channel structure, reducing passage for manatees and other animals. It can also smother beneficial submerged aquatic vegetation and other important habitats. Accumulated sediments were removed using hand-dredging, which includes divers vacuuming sediments… Read more
The Southwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board members opened their meeting today with remembrances of Board member Ed Chance who died on Monday.In his opening invocation, District General Counsel Bill Bilenky noted that Chance was "driven by a love for us and the people we serve" and that he is now "free of pain and singing gospels with the angels.""Ed was a special friend to all of us," said Governing Board Chair Jerry Rice. "Our District, our state and… Read more
Water plays an important role in our lives. Because we live in a state surrounded by so much water, we often forget about the importance of conservation.
All of us can become better at saving water. Have your class pledge to save at least 10 gallons of water per day by using the pledge to the right and we will send you a free conservation challenge kit!
Each kit includes a class set of:
- Water Conservation pledge cards
- "Save Water We Do!"…
Glossary »
Aquifer
An aquifer is an area underground that holds water in the gaps between rock, sand or gravel, sort of like an underground lake or stream.
Aquitard
An aquitard is an underground layer that water can’t move through easily. An aquitard, which might be something like solid rock or fine clay, can trap water in separate aquifers or force it to move in different directions.
Condensation
Water changing from a gas into a liquid — this is how water vapor turns… Read more
Over time, the springs’ water quality and amount of water they discharge have been threatened by both human activities and natural factors. The challenges facing our springs include:
- Increases in nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus due to development in springsheds, excessive fertilizer use and failing septic tanks. Excess nitrate levels in water can be harmful to aquatic insects, amphibians and fish. If algae have an…
Sometimes pollution is easy to see. Garbage and oily chemicals make water look nasty, but pollution can also be invisible. So how do you know if a pond, lake or river is healthy? Scientists test the water to help them find out — and so can you.
With a water testing kit and some help from an adult, you’ll be able to test TEMPERATURE, TURBIDITY… Read more
You can save water, time and money by taking steps now to make your yard Florida-friendly.
A properly maintained Florida-friendly yard can help homeowners conserve water and reduce pollution of water resources. A Florida-friendly yard can be beautiful and an asset to the environment, conserving water, protecting natural resources and preserving Florida’s unique beauty.
January
The University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Extension… Read more
During cooler months in fall and winter, your lawn doesn’t need watering every week. It’s the best time to train your yard to need less water! So only water your lawn every other week and only if it needs it. Too much irrigation…
- Makes your lawn less able to survive droughts
- Encourages pests and disease
- Wastes water
- Grass doesn’t need as much water in the cooler months
- Apply 1/2" to 3/4" of water …