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Paddlers have a chance to be part of history and join the members of the Florida Wildlife Corridor Expedition on their excursion along the Rainbow River. The District is hosting a Trail Mixer in partnership with the Expedition 9 a.m. Jan. 24 at Rainbow…

Above, plantings at the Tampa office are beyond the building eaves, requiring less irrigation.  Below, fixture supply lines are required to be reinforced. As in most District offices, water-saving fixtures are used.  The Tampa Service Office campus has the first water management district building to be certified under the Florida Water StarSM commercial standard. It’s also only the second government building in the state to be certified…

When you reset those clocks this weekend for the start of Daylight Saving Time, don’t forget to check the timers on your irrigation system controllers.  Sunday is when we reset the clocks forward 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 current water restrictions. Under the District’s current year-round water conservation measures,…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Governing Board last week adopted interim rules for water use permits in the Central Florida Coordination Area.The Coordination Area has limited traditional groundwater supplies that will not be adequate to meet all future demands, necessitating the need to develop alternative water supplies.The rules are part of the Action Plan that coordinates efforts among the Southwest Florida, South Florida and St. Johns River…

More and more community associations are asking the District and the county Extension agents with the Florida Yards & Neighborhoods program for help with their landscape and irrigation concerns. Some of the common problems Extension agents see include excessive watering and fertilizing as well as overpruning and improperly maintained irrigation systems. By taking a proactive approach to learn about efficient irrigating techniques and Florida-friendly landscaping,…

When you reset those clocks this weekend for the start of Daylight Saving Time, don’t forget to check the timers on your irrigation system controllers.  Sunday is when we reset the clocks forward 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 current water restrictions. Under the District’s current year-round water conservation measures,…

When you reset those clocks this weekend for the start of Daylight Saving Time, don’t forget to check the timers on your irrigation system controllers.  Sunday is when we reset the clocks forward 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 current water restrictions. Under the District’s current year-round water conservation measures,…

Historical Groundwater and Surface Water Levels, Rainfall and Evapotranspiration DataLast-Recorded Value App »Find the most recent water level or rainfall value for data collection sites.Daily…

  In response to this year’s destructive freeze, the District is taking proactive measures to prepare for similar events in the future. From January 3–13, 2010, for the first time in recorded history, temperatures in eastern Hillsborough County dropped below 34 degrees for 11 consecutive days. As a result, area farmers pumped nearly one billion gallons of groundwater per night to protect their crops. This combined pumping dropped the aquifer level 60 feet,…

Governor Ron DeSantis appointed James Holton, Dustin Rowland and Robert Stern to the Southwest Florida Water Management District's Governing Board. Holton, of St. Petersburg, is the president and owner of JWH Properties, Inc., MHH Enterprises, Inc. and James W. Holton, P.A. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Stanford University and his master's degree and juris doctor from Boston University. Holton represents Pinellas County. Rowland, of Dade City, is the president…

May 2025Q: What is a water control structure?A: The primary purpose of the District’s water control structures is to manage the flow of water. Water control structures vary greatly in size and are used for multiple purposes. The District’s water control structures can be classified into three main categories: flood control, salinity barriers, and water conservation structures. These structures allow the District to provide…

The Florida Senate has confirmed the appointments of Southwest Florida Water Management District Executive Director Robert Beltran and seven Governing Board members. H. Paul Senft, Jr., representing Polk County, was first appointed to the Governing Board in 2008 and reappointed in 2012 by Governor Rick Scott. His term expires in March of 2019.Jeffery M. Adams, representing Pinellas County, was first appointed to the Governing Board in 2010 and reappointed by Governor Rick…

State Sen. Michael Bennett and Rep. Nancy Detert recently presented a $1 million check to the Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) in support of the Facilitating Agricultural Resource Management Systems (FARMS) program.The FARMS program is a cost-share reimbursement program that conserves water and protects water quality.Through accurate and efficient irrigation utilizing the latest technology, farmers are able to save water and fuel, said David Brown,…

Who:Representatives from the Southwest Florida Water Management District; Doris Heitzmann, Florida Yards & Neighborhoods homeowners association outreach coordinator with the Pinellas County Extension office, members of the condominium association’s (COA) landscape committee and the Royal Stewart Arms property managerWhat:Royal Stewart Arms is an example of an COA that puts the “Skip a Week” of irrigation concept into action. In addition to only…

Two Hernando County projects were awarded Community Education Grants from the Southwest Florida Water Management District. 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 49 grants Districtwide for a total of $171,444. This is the 10th year Community Education Grants have been available.The overall goal of the Community Education Grant Program is to…

The "Southwest Florida Water Management District(Southwest Florida Water Management District)":/ is celebrating February as Florida Hiking Trails Month by inviting the public to "Get Outside!" and explore the more than 850 miles of hiking trails on District lands.The District has organized two "Get Outside!" guided hikes in February. District employees will guide three hikes at each property, with a maximum of 15 people on each hike. Hikers are encouraged to pre-register…

Who: Southwest Florida Water Management District staffWhat: The District is installing approximately 3,000 aquatic plants along the Weeki Wachee River headspring.When: Thursday, April 9, 10 a.m.Where: Weeki Wachee Springs State Park, 6131 Commercial Way, Spring HillWhy: This is the final phase of a restoration project that also involved removing sediments, Lyngbya algae and other invasive vegetation to help improve the water quality.As part of the project, approximately 101…

Above left: This series of pictures shows the dredging machine, the pipe through the lake that carried dredged material to the spoil site and the spoil site. Above right: Anglers enjoy Lake Panasoffkee. The recently completed Lake Panasoffkee restoration project is being hailed as a huge success by Lake Panasoffkee residents and anglers. The $26.9 million, ten-year project restored Lake Panasoffkee’s historic fish bedding areas and lake shoreline by removing…

MAITLAND, Fla., Oct. 10, 2017 – The Central Florida Water Initiative (CFWI) estimates central Florida will need an additional 250 million gallons of water per day by 2035 to meet the demands of a growing population. An update on the CFWI's work to meet that demand through increased water conservation and alternative water sources was presented today to the St. Johns River Water Management District's Governing Board. "Water conservation is the least expensive way to help…

Long Distance Assistance As of Friday morning, August 13, Hurricane Charley was still projected to strike the Tampa Bay area. That’s when Garry Flood’s supervisor, Dale Ravencraft, asked him to travel to Tallahassee and serve in Florida’s State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC). “I had to leave my wife and two teenage kids here in order to help out,” said Flood. “It was a hard situation, but I just had to pray that they would be safe while I went to help other…