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 Overview The Southwest Florida Water Management District is currently developing new minimum flow standards for the Upper Peace River. Minimum flows are limits established by the District’s governing board for surface water courses and are intended to prevent significant harm to the water resources or ecology of an area that may be caused by water withdrawals.  The Upper Peace River, which is the northernmost section of…

This reclaimed water project reduces groundwater pumping and wastewater nutrient loading in the Crystal River/Kings Bay springshed. Project Overview The project provides highly treated wastewater, known as reclaimed water, from the City of Crystal River to the Duke Energy power plant in Citrus County. Infrastructure was built to transport all reclaimed water from the City of Crystal River’s wastewater sprayfield to the Duke Energy power generation complex, located west…

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 Three Sisters Springs Wetland Treatment Project is helping improve the quality of stormwater before it enters Kings Bay. Project OverviewThe Southwest Florida Water Management District constructed a wetland area on the Three Sisters Springs property to treat stormwater runoff and improve the quality of stormwater before it enters Kings Bay. The Three Sisters property is co-owned by the District and the City of Crystal River. It is managed by the U.S. Fish and…

Don’t allow your water bill to drain additional money from your restaurant’s profits. Many water-saving tips take little effort or expense, while some require a financial investment that often pays back over time. Regardless of your restaurant’s size, there are simple low-cost steps to save water and money.Educate Your Staff and GuestsConservation at your restaurant starts with you, but management can’t do it alone. It is important to share best management practices with…

Controller SettingsSet your irrigation controller to water wisely. Be sure to check your local water restrictions for irrigation start times and watering days.

• Irrigation Start Time: Only one start time is needed to initiate watering all irrigation zones. Check your local…

 The Annutteliga Hammock is an important area for groundwater recharge into Florida's primary drinking water source, the Floridan aquifer system. Situated in the Brooksville Ridge, which runs from northern Citrus County down into central Pasco County, the lands are slightly higher in elevation than the adjacent coastal or central portions of the state. The area within the Brooksville Ridge typically has well-drained soils, karst limerock outcroppings and is dominated by…

On Tuesday, the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s (District) Governing Board adopted a $256.2 million budget for fiscal year (FY) 2026, including $114.3 million in Cooperative Funding Initiatives and District grants for water resources projects.The budget reflects the District’s commitment to protect Florida’s water resources and to improve Florida’s economic vitality. Some of the key initiatives in the District’s FY2026 budget include:

• $102.9 million for…

In 2001, the District purchased the property surrounding the first-magnitude Weeki Wachee Spring from the City of St. Petersburg. The acquisition was in support of former Governor Bush's "Springs Initiative," under which strategies were established for the protection and restoration of Florida's springs, including placing them in public ownership. On November 1, 2008, the District entered into a lease agreement with the Florida Parks Service for their management of the…

Learn how you can help Protect the Chassahowitzka River » Purchased in the early 1990s, this property is part of a large greenway of public lands that protects the Chassahowitzka Swamp ecosystem and wildlife resources. The Chassahowitzka River's headwaters, several tributaries and springs are within this tract and are known locally for their great sportfishing and…

 The Weekiwachee Preserve is part of a regional system of conservation lands that extend up to Crystal River Buffer Preserve, preserving the southernmost coastal hardwood hammock in western Florida. The preserve provides a rich mosaic of habitats including several miles of Weeki Wachee River frontage, portions of the Mud River, dense hardwood swamps, freshwater and saltwater marshes, and pine-covered sandhills. The preserve is best known for its Florida black bear…

 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…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Governing Board will hold its monthly meeting Tuesday, Nov. 18 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…

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 Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) will hold a public workshop at 5:30 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 10, to review and solicit public feedback on the draft 2025 Sarasota Bay Surface Water Improvement and Management (SWIM) plan. The meeting will take place at the Bay Preserve Carriage House, located at 353 Palmetto Ave. in Osprey.In 1987 the Florida Legislature created the SWIM Act to protect, restore and maintain Florida's highly threatened surface water…

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…

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 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,…

 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 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…