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Frank Gargano was appointed ombudsman of the Southwest Florida Water Management District in November 2023. Gargano responds to public inquiries about District policies and practices. He provides information, answers questions and facilitates dispute resolution when issues arise between the public and staff. Gargano has more than 25 years of experience. Gargano earned his bachelor’s degree in environmental science and policy from the University of South Florida. Gargano…
Brooksville Headquarters2379 Broad StreetBrooksville, FL 34604-6899 (Google map)Phone: (352) 796-72111-800-423-1476 (Florida only)Emergency after-hours: (352) 796-1211Please call for fax numbers.Government Affairs Program Manager:Carrieann Adkins …
As bureau chief of General Services, Dave Dickens oversees the District’s Document Services, Public Records, Fleet Services and Facilities sections.Dave has 12 years of experience managing transportation, facilities and safety programs for water management districts in Florida.He most recently served as the Transportation and Facilities Bureau chief for St. Johns River Water Management District, where he managed budget, procurement, capital projects and contract management.…
Hiking »
Enjoy the beauty of west-central Florida at its best by hiking on miles of natural trails.
Take a Hike
District lands are open for hiking and related activities that can be enjoyed on foot, such as nature study, bird watching, outdoor photography, jogging and backpacking. Most trails are located on old roadbeds and have a natural surface that changes constantly depending on weather and soil conditions…
Moving southwest you will find Crystal River, which is in Citrus County and runs from the town of Crystal River west for seven miles towards the Gulf of America. Crystal River’s headwaters is an area known as Kings Bay, which has more than 70 springs. Crystal River/Kings Bay is the second largest springs group in Florida, the first being Wakulla Springs in northern Florida near Tallahassee.Many of the river's springs are 20 to 30 feet deep, and the water discharging from…
The Weekiwachee Preserve is an area of protected land owned by the Southwest Florida Water Management District (District). Covering over 11,200 acres, the preserve is in Hernando County. It provides a wide array of wildlife habitats, including several miles along the Weeki Wachee River, portions of the Mud River, dense hardwood swamps, freshwater and saltwater marshes and pine-…
Birding »
Whether you are a casual viewer or an avid birder working on your life birding list, bird-watching opportunities abound on all District lands.
Sites with the best bird-watching opportunities are part of the Great Florida Birding Trail and are listed in the column on the right side of this page. Maps of the west coast portion of the trail can be obtained from Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission web site at…
OverviewMinimum flows are limits established by the District’s Governing Board for surface watercourses to prevent significant harm to the water resources or ecology that may result from water withdrawals. Florida Statutes require the development of a recovery strategy when existing flows fall below the applicable minimum flow. The District has established minimum flows for the Lower Hillsborough River to help protect the river’s ecological health and…
As director of the Employee, Outreach and General Services Division, Michelle Weaver oversees the Human Resources Office, Ombudsman Office, Government & Community Affairs Office, Communications & Board Services Bureau and General Services Bureau.Weaver has been…
WUP Introduction
A quick introduction to the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Water Use Permitting (WUP) program and instructions on becoming an online registered user.
What is ePIC
A quick introduction to the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s new Online Water Use Permit Information Center (ePIC).
Intro to ePIC
An instructional video for utilizing the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s new Online…
Highlights
- Lake Panasoffkee is the third largest lake (4,820 acres) in west central Florida
- Designated an Outstanding Florida Water
- Located in Sumter County
- Loss of lake area due to sedimentation
- Loss of desirable habitat for fisheries
- Increased shoreline vegetation and…
In addition to flow from springs, the Withlacoochee River also receives water from several tributaries. The most notable are the Little Withlacoochee River, Gum Slough, Jumper Creek and the Outlet River from Lake Panasoffkee.Several lakes, including Lake Panasoffkee, Tsala Apopka and Lake Rousseau, are also key features that affect river flows. Along with the Withlacoochee and Rainbow rivers, these lakes are all designated Outstanding Florida Waters by the State of Florida.…
As the District’s Inspector General, Brian Werthmiller provides independent, objective analyses and appraisals of programs to help the District’s Governing Board, Executive leadership, and operating management teams assess business risks, evaluate and improve District performance, and prevent and detect fraud and abuse.Werthmiller began his career working at KPMG, one of the Big 4 accounting firms, providing financial audits to a wide range of clients in the public and…
The Peace River watershed is home to an extraordinary assortment of plants and animals. Some are common; some are extremely rare.Coreopsis, the state wildflower, is widespread. Its delicate yellow blooms brighten the riverbanks year-round. The riverbanks are also lined with palmettos, cypress, water locust, sweet gum, cabbage palm and live oak. Some of the trees have dark, muddy skirts. These are the high-water marks of the seasonal floods. Nearing the estuary, red,…
The Water Conservation Hotel and Motel Program, or Water CHAMPSM, is a free towel and linen reuse program that encourages hotel and motel guests to use their towels and linens more than once during their stay.Tourists flock to Florida to enjoy the sandy beaches, scenic lakes and meandering rivers. Water CHAMP lodging facilities protect Florida's water resources by conserving water and reducing pollutants entering the environment.You can help keep Florida…
In 1987 the Florida Legislature created the Surface Water Improvement and Management (SWIM) Act to protect, restore and maintain Florida's highly threatened surface water bodies. Under this act, the state's five water management districts identify a list of priority water bodies within their authority and implement plans to improve them. The District's SWIM Program The Southwest Florida Water Management District's Surface Water Improvement and Management…
Have you ever seen a bald eagle in flight or watched a group of river otters playing in the water? These are just a few of the creatures you may see walking along one of the trails at Oscar Scherer State Park, which offers 1,400 acres for visitors to explore and experience the real Florida.The area includes two special plant upland communities of pine…
As bureau chief of Environmental Resource Permitting (ERP), Dave Kramer is responsible for setting goals and objectives for the bureau, developing and managing the budget and financial decisions, managing direct reports (ERP managers, chief environmental scientists, agricultural team staff) and executing environmental resource permitting and compliance. In addition, Kramer collaborates with other bureaus and divisions, serving as a member of the Senior Staff team,…