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The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) is encouraging residents who irrigate their lawns to take advantage of the summer rainy season and “watch the weather, wait to water.” During the summer months of June, July, August and September, yards need no more than ½ to ¾ inch of water every two to three days. If your lawn has received enough water from rainfall, turn off the irrigation system and turn it back on when needed. The simplest way to…

The "Southwest Florida Water Management District":http://www.watermatters.org is encouraging residents who irrigate their lawns to take advantage of the summer rains and "watch the weather, wait to water."During the summer months of June, July, August and September, yards need no more than 3/4 inch of water every 2 to 3 days. If your lawn has received enough water from rainfall, then you can turn off your irrigation system and turn it back on when needed.The simplest way to…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) is encouraging residents who irrigate their lawns to take advantage of the recent rains and upcoming summer wet season, and “watch the weather, wait to water.” During the summer months of June, July, August and September, yards need no more than 3/4 inch of…

A DeSoto County farm is the place to be to learn about water conservation and other environmentally friendly practices this April. Members of the public are invited to tour Natures Way Aquatic Farm April 27-28 from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. and April 29 from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m.Natures Way Aquatic Farm, which is located at 4899 N.W. Highway 72 in Arcadia, is an 11.5-acre environmentally friendly farm that raises edible and ornamental fish, water garden plants, wetlands…

Volunteers gather at the Mayor’s Beautification Program’s 22nd Annual Hillsborough River & Waterways Cleanup. District staff, Governing Board members and their families and friends were among the 1,300 volunteers at this year’s Mayor’s Beautification Program’s 22nd Annual Hillsborough River & Waterways Cleanup. The annual event is one of Tampa’s largest volunteer activities. Each year volunteers scour dozens of shoreline locations along the…

Level 3 Activation – MONITORING ONLYEither a specific situation has been detected that must be monitored or a general state of monitoring exists, as during the hurricane season. The District’s Incident Commander and key Emergency Operations Organization staff monitor the situation during normal business hours and under normal operating conditions.Level 2 Activation – PARTIAL ACTIVATIONA situation expands to a point whereby the District may be adversely affected…

As more than 1,000 people move to Florida each day, it’s more important than ever to protect the natural resources that make our state so special. One small action – how you fertilize your lawn – can have a big impact on water quality in your neighborhood and beyond.That’s why the Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) launched Fertilizing 101, a seasonal campaign based on UF/IFAS fertilizing best practices. It’s designed to help…

January 2023 Q: What is vegetation management? A: Vegetation management is the targeted control of nuisance and invasive exotic vegetation. These operations are conducted on both District-owned lands and on District-managed public waterbodies. This includes the control of both aquatic vegetation, growing in or near water, and terrestrial vegetation, growing on land. Q: Why is vegetation management important…

Defining Moment In an effort to make conservation more “user-friendly,” the Governing Board has adopted the term “Florida-friendly” to use in the District’s landscape management outreach and education projects. Florida-friendly will replace the terms “Xeriscape™” and “water-wise.” Why the change? Two reasons: concept and consistency. While Xeriscape landscapes are defined as landscaping that conserves water and protects the environment, some people still…

Your Questions Answered June 2020 We're often asked about the water resources in our area and what we do to manage and improve their water quality. Southwest Florida Water Management District Chief Water Quality Scientist Chris Anastasiou explains what water quality really means and the District’s role in managing the region’s water quality. Q: What is water quality? A: Water quality is a broad term…

April 2023 Q:  What is a spring? A:  A spring occurs when groundwater that is under pressure flows through natural cracks in the aquifer and creates a natural opening in the ground. The pressure causes the water to flow from the aquifer to the earth’s surface. Our groundwater is the result of seasonal rainfall that soaks into the ground and into the aquifer. Springs can occur as an individual vent but more often as…

The District encourages residents who irrigate their lawns to take advantage of the summer rains and “watch the weather, wait to water.”  During the summer months of June, July, August and September, yards need no more than 3/4 inch of water every two to three days. If your lawn has received enough water from rainfall, then you can turn off your irrigation system and turn it back on when needed. The simplest way to determine if your yard needs water is to look for…

Your Questions Answered July 2021 Floridians use nearly 6.4 billion gallons of water per day. With an estimated 1,000 people moving to the state daily, residents are projected to use an additional 1 billion gallons per day by 2040. That’s why exploring potable reuse, or recycled water, is one way we can help ensure there is plenty of water to meet the demand. Southwest Florida Water Management District Water Supply Manager Jay Hoecker outlines…

The District encourages residents who irrigate their lawns to take advantage of the summer rains and “watch the weather, wait to water.” During the summer months of June, July, August and September, yards need no more than 3/4 inch of water every two to three days. If your lawn has received enough water from rainfall, then you can turn off your irrigation system and turn it back on when needed. The simplest way to determine if your yard needs water is to look for these…

The District encourages residents who irrigate their lawns to take advantage of the summer rains and “watch the weather, wait to water.” During the summer months of June, July, August and September, yards need no more than 3/4 inch of water every two to three days. If your lawn has received enough water from rainfall, then you can turn off your irrigation system and turn it back on when needed. The simplest way to determine if your yard needs water is to look for these…

Your Questions Answered  April 2022 Q:  What is a spring? A:  A spring occurs when groundwater that is under pressure flows through natural cracks in the aquifer and creates a natural opening in the ground. The pressure causes the water to flow from the aquifer to the earth’s surface. Our groundwater is the result of seasonal rainfall that soaks into the ground and into the aquifer. Springs can occur as an…

The District encourages residents who irrigate their lawns to take advantage of the summer rains and “watch the weather, wait to water.” During the summer months of June, July, August and September, yards need no more than 3/4 inch of water every two to three days. If your lawn has received enough water from rainfall, then you can turn off your irrigation system and turn it back on when needed. The simplest way to determine if your yard needs water is to look for these…

October 2023Q: What kind of recreation opportunities does the District offer?A: There are thousands of acres of recreational lands throughout the District and access to most of them is free to visitors. If you are into biking, birding, boating, camping, canoeing and paddling, equestrian activities, fishing, hiking or hunting, there’s something for everyone on the nearly 70 properties. Several District properties offer picnic facilities, and…

Your Questions Answered  April 2020 April is Springs Protection Awareness Month, and the Southwest Florida Water Management District is committed to protecting the more than 200 springs within the District. To raise awareness about the importance of these natural treasures, Springs Scientist Dr. Madison Trowbridge answers some commonly asked questions about our springs. Q:  What is a spring? A:  A spring occurs when…

Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio is planning to proclaim March 10 “Florida-friendly Landscaping Day.”This proclamation will take place in the Mayor’s office on Monday, Feb. 5 at 2:30 p.m. It is being made in conjunction with the Florida Yard Fandango, a Florida-friendly gardening event being held March 10, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.This is the second year homeowners and gardening enthusiasts are invited to “play in the dirt” at the Museum of Science and…