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h2. Overwatering in Winter Can Encourage Pests and DiseaseThe "Southwest Florida Water Management District(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…

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.…

Information on how residents can conserve water during the drought will be a focal point at this year’s Marion County Master Gardeners’ Spring Festival being held March 8 – 9 at the Marion County Extension Service Office in Ocala. The office is located at 2232 N.E. Jacksonville Rd.The restroom trailer features the District’s new “Reduce Your Use” water conservation campaign and Florida-friendly landscaping tips through displays and free…

Homebuilders in the District will soon have an edge over their competitors through a new certification program that will bring “gold” to “green” homebuilding practices. The District’s Florida Water Star℠ Gold (FWSG) certification program, launching this January, will certify and recognize builders who incorporate water-saving efforts into new homes. The program is a points-based certification that addresses indoor, irrigation and landscape conservation components…

A Sumter County home was certified in July as "Florida Water StarSM Gold(Florida Water Star Gold)":/conservation/florida_water_star_gold by the "Southwest Florida Water Management District(Southwest Florida Water Management District)":/.The home, a private residence located in Sumterville about a mile from Lake Sumter Community College, is Sumter County's first Florida Water StarSM home. The homeowners retrofitted the house with water efficient appliances and fixtures, and…

When the Friendship Village Apartments recently were built in north Tampa, Carlene Dillard jumped at the chance to live there. “It is so nice and I’m just so happy here,” she said.  The new affordable housing for low and moderate-income residents was built by the Florida Home Partnership and is Hillsborough County’s first Florida Water Star℠ community. That means the entire complex met the requirements of the Florida Water Star℠ certification program by…

  The Florida Ground Water Association (FGWA) recently presented an award to Tony Gilboy, the District’s well construction regulation manager, for his outstanding service to the association. The award was presented to Gilboy at the recent FGWA Convention and Trade Show in Orlando. “To be recognized at such a large convention was an extraordinary experience,” said Gilboy. Gilboy was honored for his outstanding contributions to the well industry. His…

A Sarasota home was certified on Aug. 16 as "Florida Water StarSM Gold(Florida Water Star Gold)":/conservation/florida_water_star_gold by the "Southwest Florida Water Management District(Southwest Florida Water Management District)":/.The home, built by Michael K. Walker & Associates, is located in Sarasota's Harbor Acres subdivision. It is equipped with water efficient appliances and fixtures, and no high volume irrigation system. "Florida-Friendly Landscaping™(Florida-…

The Florida Greenways and Trails Council has agreed to include three Southwest Florida Water Management District properties in the state’s designated system of greenways and trails.The properties include the 18,000-acre Starkey Wilderness Preserve in Pasco County, the 16,000-acre Lower Hillsborough Flood Detention Area in Hillsborough County and the 31-mile segment of the Florida National Scenic Trail that goes through the Green Swamp Wilderness Preserve.The goal of…

Jay Yingling, senior economist, Planning Department A District employee with more than 23 years of experience in water resource economics has taken the helm of the Florida Section of the American Water Resources Association (AWRA). Jay Yingling, a senior economist in the District’s Planning Department, was elected president of the Florida Section last year. “I became involved with the AWRA Florida Section because I was looking for an…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District honored two projects that focus on water resources education in DeSoto and Hardee counties. A total of 26 projects were recognized Wednesday during the “Partners in Watershed Education Conference” at the Crowne Plaza Tampa East Hotel.

• Maran Hilgendorf serves as the Charlotte Harbor Environmental Center communications manager. She has also coordinated Florida-friendly landscaping workshops for DeSoto and…

table(webalert). |Who:|The Hernando County Housing Authority and the Southwest Florida Water Management District.||*What:*|Ribbon cutting ceremony for Magnolia Gardens, the first community in Florida to be certified under the Florida Water Star℠ standard.The 55 and older community will receive a plaque for completing the voluntary certification program for builders, developers and homeowners, which encourages water efficiency.The 60-unit apartment community met the…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District recently recognized two Pasco 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 teachers…

Did you know that outdoor water use can account for up to 50 percent of water consumed by households?While the "Southwest Florida Water Management District(Southwest Florida Water Management District)":http://watermatters.org advocates "water conservation(Water conservation)":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/conservation/ year-round, an extra effort is being made to promote conservation throughout April. Governments and water management districts throughout the state have…

The "Southwest Florida Water Management District(Southwest Florida Water Management District)":/ is celebrating "Florida Arbor Day(Florida Arbor Day)":http://www.arborday.org/states/?state=FL by inviting volunteers to the District's "Lake Panasoffkee property(Lake Panasoffkee property)":/recreation/areas/lakepanasoffkee.html in Sumter County to plant trees on Friday, Jan. 21, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.The District is planting several hundred trees, including live oaks and long…