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On Tuesday, the "Governing Board of the Southwest Florida Water Management District ":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/about/governingboard/ (District) adopted a FY2015-16 millage rate of 0.3488 mill, 4.6 percent lower than the current fiscal year. For the owner of a $150,000 home with a $50,000 homestead exemption, the District tax would be $34.88 a year, or about $2.91 per month. The fiscal year runs from Oct. 1, 2015, through Sept. 30, 2016. The total FY2015-16 proposed… Read more

On Wednesday, the Legislative Budget Commission approved the Florida Department of Environmental Protection's (DEP) proposed $69 million in springs projects leveraged by the $30 million Governor Scott secured in the "It's Your Money Tax Cut Budget" to bring the total invested in springs projects to more than $100 million in the last two years. Four springs in the Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) will see the benefit of this project plan, including… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) is seeking public input about the order in which minimum flows and levels (MFLs) for lakes, wetlands, rivers, streams and aquifers in the District will be determined. Legislation requires the District to review and, if necessary, revise the schedule each year.A minimum flow or level is the limit at which further water withdrawals will cause significant harm to the water resources or environment. The District… Read more

Who:Representatives from the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Land Resources Department, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Hernando County Planning Department, Hernando County Audubon Society and volunteersWhat:As part of the 15th Annual National Public Lands Day, the District’s Land Resources Department is coordinating a volunteer work day at the Weekiwachee Preserve, which is located along the Hernando County Coast, west of the… Read more

With the citrus industry facing challenges due to hurricanes, greening and the lowest annual production since World War II, the Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) is working to improve services and business processes for citrus industry customers. That’s why District Executive Director Brian Armstrong formed the Citrus Task Force, an initiative to solicit feedback from citrus industry customers on their interactions with the District’s… Read more

Who: Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) staff, Sen. Mike Bennett, Rep. Michael Grant, local elected officials, Department of Environmental Protection staff, Charlotte Harbor Environmental Center staff, Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program staffWhat: The District will host an event in the Charlotte Harbor watershed to celebrate 20 years since the Florida Legislature passed the Surface Water Improvement and Management… Read more

Who: Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) staff, state and City of Winter Haven elected officials and staffWhat: The District will host an event on the Winter Haven Chain of Lakes to celebrate 20 years since the Florida Legislature passed the Surface Water Improvement and Management (SWIM) Act. The District will provide a tour starting at Lake Hartridge Nature Park and heading south to Lake Howard. The tour will cover… Read more

The "Southwest Florida Water Management District ":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/ (District), Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and NOAA's National Weather Service will host a public information meeting about Lake Panasoffkee on Thursday, October 24, from 6 to 8 p.m. The meeting will take place at the Lake Panasoffkee Recreation Center, located at 1582 County Rd. 459 in Lake Panasoffkee.The District will present information about the lake levels and the… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) will be holding a feral hog management hunt on the Lower Hillsborough Wilderness Preserve in Hillsborough County Nov. 13-15.  The property will be closed to the public from dusk until dawn during the hunts. Normal daytime operations in the park will not be affected. Only permitted hunters will be… Read more

Tara Poulton has joined the Southwest Florida Water Management District as a Government Affairs program manager. Poulton will serve as a liaison between the District and the constituents of Sarasota, Manatee, Charlotte and DeSoto counties. She will work closely with county governments, municipalities and utilities staff.Prior to joining the District, Poulton was the communications manager at the Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, a department of Manatee County… Read more

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection and District have approved five springs restoration projects in Citrus, Hernando and Marion counties. These projects will receive more than $13.4 million in state funding from Governor Rick Scott’s 2015-16 “Keep Florida Working” budget. This funding is expected to leverage over $7 million in matching funds.  These five selected projects will benefit Homosassa, Kings Bay, Rainbow and Weeki Wachee springs. “I would… Read more

A project funded by the Southwest Florida Water Management District and Aqua Utilities Florida, Inc. will bring reclaimed water to the Corporate Park in Lakewood Ranch.The Lakewood Ranch Reuse Transmission Project includes the construction of 3,900 linear feet of 12-inch reclaimed water transmission main line and upgrading an existing pump station.This project will provide approximately 570,000 gallons of reclaimed water per day for irrigation. This reclaimed water, along… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board Tuesday approved the purchase of two parcels of environmentally sensitive land in the Annutteliga Hammock area of Hernando County.The first parcel of land is located on the north side of Centralia Road. The 4.43-acre parcel is being purchased for $35,994.The second parcel of land is also located on the north side of Centralia Road and is 1 mile east of Lalani Lane at the north end of Bareva road in the Royal… Read more

District prepares for Hurricane FrancesBartow Service Office to closeThe Southwest Florida Water Management District is preparing for the possible landfall of Hurricane Frances in Florida. The Districts Bartow Service Office will be closed on Friday, September 3, 2004, and the Peace River Basin Board meeting, scheduled for Friday, has been cancelled. The meeting has tentatively been rescheduled for Friday, September 10, 2004, at the Districts Bartow Service Office. All… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Alston Tract, which is part of the Upper Hillsborough, will be reserved Nov. 4-6 for an event that allows disabled hunters the opportunity to experience the outdoors. The property will be closed to the public during this time.The hunt, which is organized by the National Wild Turkey Federation/Wheelin’ Sportsmen, is one of more than 24 events the group holds throughout Florida each year. Other outings include… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Serenova Tract will be reserved Oct. 21-23for an event that allows disabled hunters the opportunity to experience the outdoors. The property will be closed to the public during this time.The hunt, which is organized by the National Wild Turkey Federation/Wheelin’ Sportsmen, is one of more than 24 events the group holds throughout Florida each year. Other outings include fishing events, recreational shooting, and other… Read more

Homosassa Springs has been a tourist attraction since the early 1900s and is now located within a state park that features a fishbowl observatory and manatee rehabilitation. About the SpringsThe Homosassa River is a first-magnitude spring system originating in western Citrus County. Homosassa Springs is at the headwaters of this short, slow moving tidal river, which flows 8 miles from the headsprings to where it meets the Gulf of America.Many springs make up the… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Serenova Tract will be closed to the public Oct. 22-24. The District is limiting access to the property to prepare for an event that allows disabled hunters the opportunity to experience the outdoors.The hunt, which is organized by the National Wild Turkey Federation/Wheelin’ Sportsmen, is one of more than 24 events the group holds throughout Florida each year. Other outings include fishing events, recreational… Read more

h3. *_Improperly Applied Fertilizers Are Harmful to Our Water Bodies_*The "Southwest Florida Water Management District(Southwest Florida Water Management District)":/ kicked off a new multi-media public service advertising campaign this week to educate residents on how to fertilize their lawns appropriately.Recent studies have shown that rising nitrate levels in many local water bodies can be traced to fertilizer. Nitrate is a form of nitrogen that is found in inorganic… Read more

Governor Charlie Crist recently appointed Burton Eno and Alan Grubman to the "Southwest Florida Water Management District's(Southwest Florida Water Management District)":/ "Withlacoochee River Basin Board(Withlacoochee River Basin Board)":/about/basinboards/withlacoochee.php.Eno is from Dunnellon in Marion County. He is a retired University of Central Florida professor, and has been appointed to succeed John "Jack" Dennis, for a term beginning Sept. 15, 2010, and ending… Read more