Search Content

A groundwater reuse and conservation project funded by the Southwest Florida Water Management District and the Lowry Park Zoo will save approximately 38,000 gallons of groundwater a day.The Zoo uses 38,000 gallons of groundwater each day to fill the Zoos animal exhibition water features, such as the hippo pool and the pond at the lion exhibit. At the end of the day, the water is discharged into a retention pond on Zoo grounds and eventually flows into the Hillsborough River…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District recently recognized the Marion County 10th Annual Master Gardener Spring Festival 2004 as an outstanding water resources education program.Approximately 9,000 people attended this Florida-friendly landscaping event, which is organized by the Marion County Florida Yards & Neighborhoods Program. Information on proper plant material, water conservation and water quality materials was distributed. More than 1,000 people also…

The District continues to monitor lake and river levels and manage its water control structures around the clock during this historic flooding event caused by Hurricane Milton.Lake and River Level Update

• Lake water levels in most areas are starting to decline and most structures are discharging at maximum capacity. 
• Upper portions of the Hillsborough River have crested and are beginning to decline while the lower portions are…

Overwatering in winter can encourage pests and diseaseThe Southwest Florida Water Management District is reminding residents who irrigate their lawns to "Skip a Week" or more of watering during the cooler months of December, 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…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District is announcing the recipients of the 2005 Community Education Grant Program. The grants, which are up to $5,000 each, will help fund projects that provide communities the opportunity to learn about water resources.This year the District awarded 29 grants Districtwide for a total of $107,667.The overall goal of the Community Education Grant Program is to actively engage adults in water-related issues pertaining to conservation,…

Volunteer Contribution  Terry Yoder of the Citizen Support Organization, far right, receives an award from District Governing Board Chair Watson L. Haynes II, Governing Board member Janet D. Kovach, and Governing Board Vice Chair Heidi B. McCree. We always feed our volunteers well. If anyone wants to sign up, call me!” That’s one of the selling points Karen Michalak makes when she’s trying to recruit people to join the Pasco County Sheriff’s Mounted…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Governing Board Tuesday declared April “Water Conservation Month.”By proclaiming April to be Water Conservation Month, the District joins the state Legislature, Tampa Bay Water and dozens of local governments in an effort to call attention to the need for water conservation.The District is currently in the middle of a severe water shortage due to a lack of rainfall over the past year. With April falling within Florida’s dry…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District is teaming up with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s (FDEP) Department of Parks and Recreation on a restoration project aimed at cleaning up the Homosassa Springs headspring, located within the Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park, and the Blue Waters area of the Homosassa River.The project will remove 25,000 cubic yards of accumulated sediment, which causes reduced water quality when the sediment is…

The Lake Panasoffkee Restoration Council will meet to discuss the completion of the Lake Panasoffkee Restoration project on Monday, Sept. 8, 5 p.m. at the Lake Panasoffkee Recreation Center’s West Wing, 1532 CR-459, Lake Panasoffkee.During the meeting the council will receive status updates on the lake dredging project, canal cleanup and the sale of shell at the spoil area. The public is also invited to share comments.The Lake Panasoffkee Restoration Council was…

The Lake Panasoffkee Restoration Council will meet to discuss the status of the Lake Panasoffkee Restoration project on Thursday, June 19, 2 p.m. in the Commission Board Room at the Sumter County Government Offices, 910 North Main Street, Bushnell.During the meeting the council will receive status updates on the lake dredging project, canal cleanup and the sale of shell at the spoil area. The public is also invited to share their comments.The Lake Panasoffkee Restoration…

The "Southwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board ":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/about/governingboard/(District) today approved an important water supply plan for Central Florida. The strategy charts a long-term course of more aggressive water conservation, expanded and more efficient water reuse projects and alternative water-supply project options to ensure adequate water supplies for the region through 2035.The plan was developed as part of the "Central…

Brian Townsend, District senior heavy equipment operator (left), and Stephanie Green, senior land management specialist, supported the Florida Division of Forestry at the Santa Fe fire. With less than 24 hours notice, the District was called upon by the Florida Division of Forestry (FDOF) to send staff and equipment to help fight two wildfires outside the District’s 16-county region. District Land Manager Kevin Love received the call from the FDOF on the…

A building at the "Southwest Florida Water Management District's(Southwest Florida Water Management District)":/ "Tampa Service Office(Google map)":http://maps.google.com/maps?oi=map&q=7601+US+301,+Tampa,+FL+33637, is the first water management district building to be certified under the "Florida Water StarSM(Florida Water Star)":/conservation/florida_water_star commercial standard. It's also only the second government building in the state to be certified.Building 2 on…

The District approved an important water supply plan for Central Florida. The strategy charts a long-term course of more aggressive water conservation, expanded and more efficient water reuse projects and alternative water-supply project options to ensure adequate water supplies for the region through 2035. The plan was developed as part of the Central Florida Water Initiative…

A watershed is an area of land that water flows across as it moves toward a common body of water, such as a stream, river, lake or coast.Watershed BasicsWe all live in a watershed and if you live near a spring, you live in a springshed.Watersheds are defined by the way water flows across the land and are shaped by features and elevations on the surface of the land. …

_Friendship Village Apartments bring attention to water conservation_The "Southwest Florida Water Management District":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/ (District) and Florida Home Partnership (FHP) will celebrate the first Florida Water Star℠ certified community in Hillsborough County on Wednesday, November 19th at 10 a.m. The certification event will take place at FHP's Friendship Village Apartments located at 1213 E. 127th Ave., in Tampa. FHP is a nonprofit organization that…

Jarrod Bonnick says being able to participate in the hunt helped his rehabilitation. Hunters and volunteers celebrate the end of a successful day of hunting. A partnership between the District and the Outdoors Without Limits group provided a “soulful boost” to a former employee. Jarrod Bonnick worked as an environmental scientist in the District’s Bartow Service Office before joining the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 2005…

When Wayne Rubow designed his new Citrus County home, he wanted water conservation to be a central concept of the design. Inside, he chose low-flow faucets, showerheads and toilets. He installed water-efficient appliances like a dishwasher and washing machine. Outside, his landscape has no grass and no irrigation, instead opting for plants that require little water. "Water is a very important aspect of our conservation," Rubow said. "I just wanted to give…

A light rain greeted about 100 children from the Boys & Girls Club of Hernando County as they arrived at the Weekiwachee Preserve, but the sprinkles didn’t dampen their excitement. The children were there to learn about water resources through fun, hands-on exercises and explorations. This is the third year District staff from several departments worked together to plan the popular field trip. The children, who ranged in age from kindergarten to fifth grade, rotated…

Just in time for National Public Lands Day, the District is launching its “Get Outside!” campaign on September 26 to promote the District’s lands to the public. “Get Outside!” is a communications campaign based on research that focuses on what would make people more likely to get outside on District lands. The goal of the campaign is to promote the value of ecosystem protection through recreation on conservation lands. The District has…