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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 8,083-acre Lake Marion Creek Management Area is located on the Polk-Osceola county line east of Haines City off CR 580. Polk County, South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) and the District acquired the lands within the area, which protect important headwater areas of Lake Marion and Reedy creeks. Water from these creeks is an important source of fresh water for the Kissimmee River, the Everglades and Florida Bay. The…

Septic tanks contribute up to 40% of the current nitrogen pollution in the District's five first-magnitude springs. If you have a septic system, it’s important to have the system inspected regularly and maintained as necessary.How do septic tanks impact springs?Wastewater from traditional or damaged septic tanks can leach into the ground, causing nitrates to enter the aquifer. When this happens, the nitrates eventually reach the spring, which results in…

This property was acquired to protect and preserve natural water resources and the water quality of the Withlacoochee River, Gum Slough and associated tributaries. The Withlacoochee River, Gum Slough and Gum Springs Run are located adjacent to the property and were designated Outstanding Florida Waters in 1989. Gum Slough is a four-mile-long spring run that flows into the Withlacoochee River. The water in Gum Slough comes from several springs, which makes it…

 The Chito Branch Reserve is a unique natural sanctuary situated in the heart of rapidly developing southeastern Hillsborough County. As part of the greater Alafia River Corridor of public conservation lands, its natural habitats provide a haven for native Florida wildlife and plant life, many becoming increasingly rare in the region. Outdoor enthusiasts can observe fox squirrels,…

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…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) created the Water Conservation Hotel and Motel Program (Water CHAMP℠) to reduce high water use in the hospitality industry. Water CHAMP has more than 350 participants throughout the 16-county District. Participants receive an environmental self-audit checklist, printed materials for a towel and linen reuse program, staff training materials, and publicity through Water CHAMP’s website and other promotional efforts.An…

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…

While the Weekiwachee Preserve is open, the District would like to remind visitors to stay out of areas affected by the wildfire. This includes no volunteer efforts to pick up trash or other items in these areas currently. There are still hot spots that could pose a danger to the public. We appreciate the public's cooperation. The Weekiwachee Preserve is part of a regional system of conservation lands that extend up to Crystal River Buffer Preserve, preserving the…

Governor Ron DeSantis appointed James “Jim” Turner and reappointed Paul “Jack” Bispham, John Hall, and Nancy Watkins to the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Governing Board. Turner represents Charlotte and Sarasota counties, Bispham represents Manatee County, Hall represents Polk County and Watkins represents Hillsborough and Pinellas counties.Turner, of Sarasota, is Senior Counsel at Williams Parker Law Firm. Turner earned his bachelor’s degree in management…

 This property is well known by the locals for having good scrub for the area. Several Florida scrub-jay families reside within the property. The mesic flatwoods and tidal marsh system provide a unique natural habitat.

The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s (District) Governing Board declared April Water Conservation Month at its March 24 meeting. April is historically one of the driest months of the year and water conservation is crucial due to ongoing extreme drought conditions throughout the region.All residents remain under one-day-per-week watering restrictions…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s (District) Governing Board approved the purchase of Kirkland Ranch in Pasco County. This 940-acre parcel is located in Wesley Chapel and has been primarily used for cattle grazing and tree farming. The Kirkland family has owned this property since 1956. The Kirkland Ranch property is approximately 59% uplands and 41% wetlands. The areas surrounding the property are predominately residential single-family homes and are…

 The Gilley Creek Tract protects the main branch of Gilley Creek, which is one of the main tributaries of the Manatee River. The creek flows into Lake Manatee, which serves as the primary drinking water source for Manatee County.Formerly a cattle ranch and farm with row crops that had been converted to pasture, hardwood hammocks are still found along the creek channels and wetlands. Undisturbed areas of native habitats thrive in a natural condition, with regular…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Governing Board will hold its monthly meeting Tuesday, Feb. 24 at 9 a.m. at District Headquarters, located at 2379 Broad Street in Brooksville. 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 approximately 15 minutes before the scheduled meeting…

 The Brooker Creek Preserve, managed by Pinellas County, is a valuable island of natural lands in an ever-increasing urban area. Pinellas County gave this property a special protection status and seeks to promote public awareness of the need to protect vital watersheds and natural areas in Florida. The property is a mixture of cypress and bottomland swamps, freshwater marshes and pine and oak hardwood forests.

 The property was acquired for protection of the area's groundwater recharge, as well as important surface water features and wetland habitats. The preserve's wetlands play a role in both the Tsala Apopka Chain of Lakes and the Withlacoochee River systems, part of the Floridan aquifer's recharge/discharge system. Additionally, the site provides habitat to wildlife, including a small population of threatened Florida scrub-jays.

Michael Sole, secretary of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, applauds Dr. David York as he receives a “Lifetime Achievement Award” from David Moore, District executive director. This spring the District proudly presented its first-ever “Lifetime Achievement Award” to Dr. David York for his leadership, vision and contributions to reclaimed water and sustainable water resources in Florida. York has been the state’s only Florida Department of…

 Jointly acquired between the District and the state to protect the water resources of Tampa Bay, the Terra Ceia Preserve State Park is managed by the Florida State Parks system. The lands are mostly uplands of maritime hammocks and mangrove fringe forests. Various wetland communities such as freshwater creeks, freshwater marshes, karst tidal ponds and estuarine marshes are interspersed within the preserve.

A joint acquisition effort between the District and the state, the preserve consists of various noncontiguous parcels that partially surround the Charlotte Harbor estuary and its major tributaries. All lands are managed as a state park. The preserve is regionally important because it provides protection to the Gasparilla…