Search Content

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) manages lands under its stewardship for the protection of water resources and natural systems through the application of effective, efficient and fiscally responsible land management practices. The purposes and attributes for which the lands were acquired provide the foundation for designating the appropriate land use and management strategies on the lands. As stewards of more than 343,000 acres of land within the 16…

Why does the District surplus land?The District’s Governing Board policy 610-4 requires an assessment of District lands every two years for potential surplus opportunities. The objective of the assessment is to identify and sell lands that no longer meet the original acquisition purposes of providing substantive water resource benefits. Proceeds from the sale of land may only be used to purchase lands meeting the Districts land acquisition goals or debt service associated…

As Subtropical Storm Nicole approaches Florida, the District’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) is monitoring the storm for potential emergency operations. It is important for staff to stay informed as the storm could potentially bring tropical storm force wind gusts and significant rainfall as early as Wednesday. We will make every effort to communicate information to employees in the following ways:

• Internal Communications Emails: …

The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s (District) Flying Eagle Nature Center in Citrus County will be temporarily closed to the public for feral hog hunts Jan. 13-15.Only permitted hunters will be allowed on the property during these dates. All 20 permits for these hunts have been sold.Flying Eagle Nature Center is located at 12650 East Boy Scout Road in Inverness.This activity is one of a series of feral hog hunts being held on District lands to control the…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s (District) Edward W. Chance Reserve — Gilley Creek in Manatee County will be temporarily closed to the public for feral hog hunts Jan. 13-15.Only permitted hunters will be allowed on the property during these dates. All 12 permits for these hunts have been sold.The Edward W. Chance Reserve - Gilley Creek Tract is located at 22310 CR 675 in Parrish.This activity is one of a series of feral hog hunts being held on District…

The initiative was designed to better understand the dynamics of the river and watershed, identify how alterations have affected the system, and evaluate alternatives to better manage the water resources. STATUS UPDATE: A peer review of the Withlacoochee River Model was completed in 2020. This peer review concluded that the model results and conclusions are accurate and can be relied upon for resource management and understanding of this complex river…

As Tropical Storm Ian approaches Florida, the District’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) has activated to Level 2 and has begun preparing for potential emergency operations. It is important for staff to stay informed as the storm could potentially bring tropical storm force winds and heavy rainfall as early as Wednesday. Staff with District vehicles should begin to top off fuel daily in anticipation of the storm. We will make every effort to communicate information…

Water utilities can reduce per capita water use and maintain revenues by using water-conserving rate structures. Your water management district can provide information and tools to help utilities accomplish these goals.Why Use Rates to Conserve?In many areas of Florida, water supplies are stressed as growth fuels new demand for water. To ensure a sustainable water supply, utilities are tapping alternative sources including conservation. The pricing of water is one way to…

Joshua Gamblin of Arcadia is the Ranch Manager of Stolen Saddle Ranch.Gamblin was appointed to the Governing Board in August 2024. His term expires March 1, 2028.Previously, he served as the land manager, wildlife biologist, and private land burn team coordinator for the Tall Timbers Research Station and Land Conservancy.Gamblin earned his bachelor’s degree in natural resource management in wildlife from Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College and his master’s degree in forest…

The Homosassa River is another spring fed river beginning at Homosassa Springs. This short, slow-moving tidal river flows eight miles from the headsprings to where it meets the Gulf of America in Citrus County.The river is a mixture of fresh water from the headsprings and salt water from the Gulf of America. The tidal influence makes the river home to both freshwater and saltwater fish. Some of the freshwater fish you'll find in the Homosassa River include Bluegill,…

 A tributary is a small stream or river that flows into a larger one. The Peace River is fed by many tributaries.Saddle CreekIn the northern portion of the watershed, Upper Saddle Creek originates in the Green Swamp and flows into Lake Hancock, the largest lake in the watershed. Lower Saddle Creek drains out of Lake Hancock before it meets Peace Creek and forms the Peace River northeast of Bartow.  Peace CreekPeace Creek originates near Lake Hamilton and passes…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s (District) Chito Branch Reserve in Hillsborough County will be temporarily closed to the public for feral hog hunts Jan. 6-8, 2026.Only permitted hunters will be allowed on the property during these dates. All 10 permits for these hunts have been sold.Chito Branch Reserve is located at 11254 Browning Road in Lithia.This activity is one of a series of feral hog hunts being held on District lands to control the damage being…

Please Note: feral hog hunt permits are NO LONGER TRANSFERABLE.The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) considers feral hogs an invasive exotic species. Hogs negatively impact wetlands and other habitats by “rooting” up the soil while searching for food. They prey on native wildlife, compete with native species for food and transmit diseases to other wildlife, livestock and humans. Additionally, hogs may facilitate the spread of exotic plant species by…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s (District) Alston Tract at Upper Hillsborough Preserve in Pasco County will be temporarily closed to the public for feral hog hunts Jan. 6-8, 2026.Only permitted hunters will be allowed on the property during these dates. All 11 permits for these hunts have been sold.Alston Tract is located at 42144 Deems Road in Zephyrhills.This activity is one of a series of feral hog hunts being held on District lands to control the damage…

 The area is an ideal place where visitors, from school groups to master birders, can visit and explore some of central Florida’s flora and fauna found in a natural state that has had little modification by man. The area contains a variety of different habitat types with a wide diversity of plant life. These types include, but are not limited to, sandhills, flatwoods, oak hammocks, river swamp and cypress ponds. The characteristic cypress ponds that dot the landscape…

The District’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) is at Level 2 activation and EOC staff are closely monitoring Invest 97L. It is forecasted to become a tropical depression over the weekend and early next week over the eastern Gulf of America near the Florida Peninsula. Though still developing, the storm has the potential to bring significant rainfall to our area.We will notify staff of any potential storm preparations or office closures as more information becomes available…

This Statement of Agency Organization and Operation (“Statement”) is issued and maintained as required by Sections 120.53 and 120.54, Florida Statutes (“F.S.”) and Chapter 28-101, Florida Administrative Code (“F.A.C.”). This Statement is intended to assist the public in understanding how the Southwest Florida Water Management District operates, how it is organized, and how to do business or interact with the District.Introduction: What is the Southwest…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Governing Board will hold its monthly meeting Tuesday, Jan. 27 at 9 a.m. at the Tampa Service Office, located at 7601 U.S. Highway 301 North. To view the Governing Board meeting online, click on the live video stream link. The video stream link becomes active and the live video feed begins…

Regular irrigation maintenance is important to reduce water waste and help create a healthy environment for your landscape. Look for Broken or Misdirected Sprinkler Heads Sprinkler heads can accidently be knocked during lawn maintenance or from a passerby. Look for these signs of a broken or misdirected sprinkler head.

• Water is shooting into the air or not spraying correctly. 
• Water is pooling around the base of a sprinkler head. 
• …

An efficient irrigation system is designed to deliver the appropriate amount of water to match the needs of turfgrass and plant beds. Irrigation ZonesAn in-ground irrigation system typically waters the landscape in sections instead of all at once. These different sections are referred to as “irrigation zones.” Properly designed irrigation zones are important for three key reasons:

1. Not all plants within the landscape need the same amount of water.
2. …