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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… Read more

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… Read more

_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… Read more

Water Quality DataWater quality data are categorized under two major resource types — groundwater and surface water.Groundwater Quality Data provide information on existing groundwater quality conditions and water quality trends within the District’s groundwater resources, including springs. They also improve the District’s understanding of groundwater quality concerns, support development of watershed management priorities and plans, and… Read more

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… Read more

 Left: Jim W. Veal, Sr., George L. Buhmeyer and Phyllis Hanson-Moffitt unveiled the plaque that recognizes Evan A. “Billy” Merritt, David C. Hanson and the other Lake Panasoffkee Restoration Council members. Right: Attendees set off on a lake tour following the ceremony. District Board members and staff, as well as members of the Lake Panasoffkee Restoration Council, recently celebrated the completion of a ten-year project to restore Lake Panasoffkee. The… Read more

Starkey Ranch in Pasco County is home to the state’s first community welcome center to be certified Florida Water Star℠. The welcome center is a visitor’s first stop to get information on the new 2,400-acre master-planned community. Being certified Florida Water Star℠ means it features a water-efficient landscape, irrigation, appliances and plumbing fixtures.  For example, the welcome center has low-flow toilets, high-efficiency faucets and an ENERGY STAR… Read more

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 irrigation system and operate it… Read more

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 irrigation system and operate it… Read more

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 irrigation system and operate it… Read more

Gardeners will have the opportunity to learn some new gardening techniques at a Florida-Friendly Native Plant Landscaping Workshop being held this Saturday, Feb. 11 at South Florida Community College (SFCC), Hardee Campus.The free workshop is a cooperative effort among the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Peace River Basin Board, Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program (CHNEP), SFCC, and WGCU Public Media.Workshop participants will learn how to solve… Read more

The 11th Annual Marion County Master Gardeners’ Spring Festival is the place where gardeners will have the opportunity to learn about water conservation in several ways. The festival is being held March 12 and 13 at the Marion County Extension Service Office in Ocala.Gardeners can learn about water conservation through micro-irrigation and rain barrel workshops. Other workshop topics include weed control, pest control, types of fertilizer, native plants, and how to… Read more

Proving you don’t have to give up luxury for efficiency, Marc Rutenberg Homes recently earned the Florida Water Star residential certification for its Castaway III model home in Palm Harbor. The Florida Water Star certification is given to residential and commercial buildings that meet certain criteria for water   efficiency. The Castaway III is a 4,552-square-foot model home that boasts a Florida-Friendly landscape where 90 percent of the plants are… Read more

Beginning next week, residents around Kings Bay will receive a special mail delivery that will show them just how easy it is to keep their bay beautiful.The Southwest Florida Water Management District is providing information about proper fertilizing techniques and septic tank maintenance to Kings Bay residents as part of its “Know Where It Flows” educational campaign.Nutrients from fertilizers and septic tanks can seep into the ground, which discharge into and… Read more

_Media photo/video opportunity on Saturday, July 20, from 9:00-9:30 a.m._The "Southwest Florida Water Management District":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/ (District) is partnering with the Rotary Clubs of Spring Hill Central and Brooksville to remove Lyngbya algae from the waters of Weeki Wachee Springs. This coordinated effort will take place on Saturday, July 20 from 7:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. at the Weeki Wachee Springs State Park, located at the intersection of State Road 50… Read more

Who: Southwest Florida Water Management District Governing and Basin Board members and staff; City of Dunedin and Pinellas County elected officials and staff; Carl Krave, Pocket Neighborhoods, Inc. president; Tampa Bay Builders Association and the Greater Tampa Bay Association of RealtorsWhat: The District is launching its Florida Water StarSM Gold (FWSG) certification program for builders and developers. The program encourages water efficiency in household appliances,… Read more

table(webalert). |*Who:*|The Southwest Florida Water Management District||*What:*|A day of educational speakers, booths and tours at Rainbow Springs State Park to promote Florida springs awareness.Events include a basin bus tour, headsprings snorkel tour and ranger guided hike.||*When:*|Saturday, Sept. 22, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.||*Where:*|Rainbow Springs State Park, 19158 SW 81st Place Road, Dunnellon, FL 3443||*How Much:*|Park admission is $2 per person, children 6 and under are… Read more

For Zakk Simpkins, a tradesworker in the Operations & Land Management Bureau, life hasn’t been easy. He grew up in a rough neighborhood in Lake Panasoffkee, FL and was abandoned by his dad at a young age. At 7, Simpkins spent a short time in foster care where he was abused by his caretakers. But it wasn’t until Mother’s Day 2011 when things went from bad to worse. That day, his mom died after an extended illness, leaving him orphaned and homeless at 14 years old.… Read more

table(webalert). |*Who:*|Southwest Florida Water Management District and Greencastle of Bayonet Point.||*What:*|Greencastle of Bayonet Point, a Port Richey apartment complex, recently became the first in Pasco County to be certified under the "Florida Water Star℠":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/conservation/florida_water_star/ Community standard.The tour will feature the changes that helped cut the community's monthly water bill in half, which saved them nearly $1,000 a month… Read more