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The Southwest Florida Water Management District will be treating water hyacinth and water lettuce on portions of the Withlaccochee River Sept. 25-28.The section of the river being treated is located between County Road 476 and State Road 48 in Citrus, Hernando and Sumter counties.Treatment involves the spot application of the aquatic herbicide Reward to scattered infestations. Treatment areas will be posted with warning signs displaying treatment dates and applicable… Read more

New Leadership Look up “energy” in the dictionary and more than likely there’ll be a picture of David Moore. Sightings of the District’s new executive director have been reported in every District department and in multiple cities, often simultaneously. Moore is seemingly everywhere, sharing an endless enthusiasm and boundless energy that he uses to address every task, big and small. “Life is too short and time too precious to waste,” Moore said. Moore’s energy… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District will be treating water hyacinth and water lettuce on portions of Lake Tarpon July 31 through Aug. 3.Scattered infestations of these plants will be treated within shoreline areas and canals on Lake Tarpon.Treatment in the canals involves spot application of the aquatic herbicide Rodeo, which requires no water use restrictions. Treatment along the shoreline involves the spot application of the aquatic herbicide Reward. Treatment… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District, in cooperation with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, will treat hydrilla along the western shoreline (Outlet River side) of Lake Panasoffkee.Approximately 200 acres of the 4,000-acre Lake Panasoffkee will be treated May 30 though June 2. Treatment involves the application of the aquatic herbicide Aquathol K by helicopter.Maps indicating the treatment… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District, St. Johns River Water Management District and South Florida Water Management District have scheduled a virtual joint public meeting Sept. 1 at 10 a.m. to solicit stakeholder input on each District’s annual update of their priority list and schedule for the establishment of minimum flows and water levels as well as water reservations. To join the virtual meeting, please pre-register at the following link:… Read more

The "Southwest Florida Water Management District(Southwest Florida Water Management District)":http://watermatters.org will be treating water hyacinth and water lettuce on "Shell and Prairie creeks(Prairie-Shell Creek)":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/recreation/areas/prairie_shell_creek.html during the week of March 8–12. District workers will treat portions of the creeks upstream of the Henderson Dam. Workers will apply the aquatic herbicide Reward to scattered infestations… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District will be treating water hyacinths and water lettuce on portions of the Withlaccochee River June 13-16.Two sections of the river will be treated. The first site is located between County Road 581 to State Road 200 in Citrus, Marion and Sumter counties. The second site is located between County Road 48 and the Panasoffkkee Outlet River in Citrus and Sumter counties.Treatment involves the spot application of the aquatic herbicide… Read more

Bartow, Fla., July 11, 2017 — Drilling more than half a mile below ground to find new sources of water in the Lower Florida aquifer (LFA). Finding new ways to reuse reclaimed water. Combining stormwater and reclaimed water to build a sustainable supply. These are some of the innovative projects the Central Florida Water Initiative (CFWI) is developing to meet the growing water needs of the five-county Central Florida region while also… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board Tuesday approved the purchase of a 5,484-acre parcel of land in Citrus County. This acquisition will be added to the 11,454 acres that the District either owns or holds an interest within the Flying Eagle project.The property, commonly known as the McGregor Smith Scout Reservation,is located south of S.R. 44 in Citrus County, approximately 6 miles east of the City of Inverness.The land is being purchased for $… Read more

The "Southwest Florida Water Management District's Alston Tract(Upper Hillsborough Preserve Alston Tract)":/recreation/areas/uh-alston_tract.html, which is part of the "Upper Hillsborough Preserve(Upper Hillsborough Preserve)":/recreation/areas/upper_hillsborough_preserve.html, will be temporarily closed to the public for hog hunts Jan. 11–13.Only permitted hunters will be allowed on the property during these dates. All of the permits for these hunts have been sold.The "… Read more

The District’s Governing Board voted Tuesday for the latest slate of officers for the 2022-2023 term. Governing Board members are unpaid, citizen volunteers who are appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Florida Senate. The Governing Board sets policy for the District, whose mission is to protect water resources, minimize flood risks and ensure the public’s water needs are met. The new officers are:… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s (District)Hálpata Tastanaki Preserve in Marion County will be temporarily closed to the public for feral hog hunts Jan. 23-25.Only permitted hunters will be allowed on the property during these dates. All 25 permits for these hunts have been sold.Hálpata Tastanaki Preserve is located at 15430 SW Highway 484 in Dunnellon.This activity is one of a series of feral hog hunts being held on District lands to control the damage… Read more

The "Southwest Florida Water Management District(Southwest Florida Water Management District)":http://watermatters.org invites the public to a meeting to gather input on the District's land acquisition, management and recreation programs on public lands purchased by the District.The meeting will be on March 16 from 4:30 to 6 p.m. at the District's Sarasota Service Office, 6750 Fruitville Road in Sarasota. District staff will make a brief presentation, then open the floor for… Read more

Due to unfavorable weather conditions, the Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) has rescheduled the treating of the invasive aquatic plant hydrilla on the Rainbow River in Marion County to the week of Feb. 22.District workers will treat scattered infestations on the river from the Rainbow River State Park boundary downstream to the Withlacoochee River.The aquatic herbicide Aquathol Super K will be applied and informational signs will be posted in the… Read more

The "Southwest Florida Water Management District's(Southwest Florida Water Management District)" "Hampton Tract,(Hampton Tract)":/recreation/hoghunt/hampton.php which is part of the "Green Swamp Wilderness Preserve,(Green Swamp Wilderness Preserve)":/recreation/areas/greenswamp.html will be temporarily closed to the public for hog hunts Dec. 13–15.Only permitted hunters will be allowed on the Hampton Tract during these dates. All of the permits for these hunts have been… Read more

The "Southwest Florida Water Management District's Hálpata Tastanaki Preserve(Hálpata Tastanaki Preserve)":/recreation/areas/halpata.html will be temporarily closed to the public for hog hunts Feb. 22–24.Only permitted hunters will be allowed on the property during these dates. All of the permits for these hunts have been sold."Hálpata Tastanaki Preserve(Hálpata Tastanaki Preserve)":/recreation/areas/halpata.html is approximately six miles east of Dunnellon, south of the… Read more

The District recently was recognized for its support of wounded veterans by hosting events on District lands. Florida Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam thanked the District by letter for its participation in events coordinated by Operation Outdoor Freedom. The program started by Putnam in 2011 and run by the Florida Forest Service supports wounded veterans in the state by offering them recreational opportunities. The District hosted two alligator hunts and most… Read more

"H. Paul Senft Jr.(H. Paul Senft Jr.)":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/about/governingboard/profiles/paul_senft.html was elected unanimously today by his peers to serve as "Governing Board(Governing Board)":/about/governingboard chair of the "Southwest Florida Water Management District(Southwest Florida Water Management District)":/.Other Governing Board officers selected today include "Hugh M. Gramling(Hugh M. Gramling)":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/about/governingboard/… Read more

With spring break season approaching, the Southwest Florida Water Management District (District), along with other local and state partners, wants to remind Weeki Wachee River visitors about the recreational best practices that will help protect the river and reduce ecological impacts.  A recent ecologically based study found direct links between recreational use on the river and environmental damage. For example, visitors leaving kayaks while on the river have… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District), along with other local and state partners, launched the Chassahowitzka River Education Campaign to inform river visitors about the recreational best practices that will help protect the river and reduce ecological impacts.  Recreational activities can have a direct impact on the health of the river. For example, visitors leaving kayaks while on the river have trampled vegetation and eroded riverbanks.… Read more