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 Clockwise from top left:1: This marked plant indicates beetles were placed on it so the rancher does not tamper with it. 2: One tropical soda apple fruit can contain hundreds of seeds. 3: Mike Terry, District plant management crew leader, and Dr. Julio Medal prepare to release TSA leaf-eating beetles. 4: The small beetles come from Medal’s cages in Gainesville. 5: This is an example of what a TSA plant looks like after the beetles are through with it.…

According to the National Weather Service, parts of the Tampa Bay area may see freezing temperatures during early morning hours on Friday. This has prompted the "Southwest Florida Water Management District(Southwest Florida Water Management District)":http://watermatters.org to advise residents who live near Plant City and Dover to switch off the pumps on their wells Thursday night and leave the pumps off until the temperatures warm up in the morning. Temperatures are…

The "Southwest Florida Water Management District(Southwest Florida Water Management District)":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us will be conducting "controlled, prescribed burns" during May and June on both the Deer Prairie Creek Preserve and neighboring Schewe Tract."Deer Prairie Creek Preserve(Myakka River - Deer Prairie Creek Preserve)":/recreation/areas/myakka-deerprairie.html, which is jointly owned and managed by the District and Sarasota County, lies between Interstate 75…

Four Hillsborough County projects expected to reach up to 73,000 people were awarded Community Education Grants from the "Southwest Florida Water Management District(Southwest Florida Water Management District)":/.This year the District approved 29 grants Districtwide for a total of $120,471. This is the 14th year "Community Education Grants(Community Education Grant program)":/business/communitygrants have been available. These grants offer reimbursement up to $5,000 to…

The "Southwest Florida Water Management District(Southwest Florida Water Management District)":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us and the "City of St. Petersburg(St. Petersburg)":http://www.stpete.org are offering city water customers a free sprinkler system checkup.City of St. Petersburg water customers who have an operating in-ground sprinkler system with a timer are eligible for the free program. Customers who irrigate with reclaimed, well or drinking water can apply for the…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) is collecting public comment on the proposed minimum and guidance levels for Cypress, Garden and Halfmoon lakes in Hillsborough County. In accordance with the directive in the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s Emergency Order to conduct all public meetings electronically, the District will provide virtual outreach now through Sept. 8 at…

Left to right, Lakeland Senior High School Assistant Principal Ann Everett, Principal Tracy Collins, Florida Department of Environmental Protection Environmental Specialist Charles Cook, and District Senior Geologist/Engineer Joe Oros display a “Tapestry of Time and Terrain” geologic map of the United States that Cook and Oros presented to the school as part of the Maps in Schools project.    Maps in Schools is a program of the Southeastern Geological…

h2. May 7-15 is National Travel and Tourism WeekAre you planning a 'staycation' to avoid the cost of rising fuel prices? You can enjoy the area's natural beauty and still make a difference in preserving its natural resources, thanks to conservation programs developed by the "Southwest Florida Water Management District(Southwest Florida Water Management District)":/."National Travel and Tourism Week is May 7-15":http://www.ustravel.org/marketing/national-travel-and-tourism-…

Nature enthusiasts who visit the District’s Potts Preserve from late July through October should keep an eye out for a rare orchid first discovered on this Citrus County land. Joel DeAngelis, a District senior land management specialist, discovered the orchid in October growing in the open grassland of Potts Preserve. DeAngelis brought Paul M. Brown, a research associate with the University of Florida Herbarium, to the site in November. “When Paul saw it, he…

Why a Septic-to-Sewer Conversion Program is Key to Protecting our Springs Guest Editorial The Springs Coast is one of the most vibrant and dynamic regions in Florida, providing both economic and ecological benefit to the communities that call it home. The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) is the leading scientific agency on springs in the region with the mission of improving and restoring these natural treasures. Over the years,…

Left: Joel DeAngelis, senior land management specialist, shows volunteers Porgy Smith and Ellen Puckett how to remove the invasive plants. Top right: Samantha DeVary, volunteer, shows how small some of the invasive plants can be. Bottom right: Joel DeAngelis shows volunteers the area where they will be removing invasive plants. An invasive plant species, green wandering jew, was beginning to get a foothold at the District’s Panasoffkee Outlet property in Sumter…

The "Southwest Florida Water Management District ":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/ (District) is gathering information to improve identification of flood prone areas in Pasco County's Pithlachascotee River/Bear Creek watershed. Residents living in the Pithlachascotee River/Bear Creek watershed are invited to attend an open house on Tuesday, April 29, 2014 or Thursday, May 1, 2014 beginning each day at 4:00 p.m. The meetings will take place at River Ridge High School, located…

Two Sarasota County projects expected to reach more than 2,000 people were awarded Community Education Grants from the "Southwest Florida Water Management District(Southwest Florida Water Management District)":http://watermatters.org. These grants offer up to $5,000 to help fund projects that provide communities an opportunity to learn about water resources. This year the District awarded "35 grants Districtwide(2010 Community Education Grant Projects)":http://www.swfwmd.…

Two Hardee County projects expected to reach up to 2,200 people were awarded Community Education Grants from the "Southwest Florida Water Management District(Southwest Florida Water Management District)":http://watermatters.org. These grants offer up to $5,000 to help fund projects that provide communities an opportunity to learn about water resources. This year the District awarded "35 grants Districtwide(2010 Community Education Grant Projects)":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.…

The "Southwest Florida Water Management District(Southwest Florida Water Management District)":/ is closing two water control structures on Tsala Apopka Lake to allow engineers to conduct surveys of the lake system.The Golf Course and Moccasin Slough structures will be closed until Thursday afternoon, Sept. 30. Residents living on the Inverness pool of Tsala Apopka Lake may notice a slight drop in lake levels if natural losses from evaporation or recharge to the aquifer are…

Todd Pressman, vice chair; Neil Combee, chair; Jennifer Closshey, secretary; and Ron Oakley, treasurer, are serving a one-year term as the Governing Board’s officers. Three Governing Board members are moving into new leadership roles this year, while a fourth has been given his first opportunity to serve as an officer. C. A. “Neil” Combee was unanimously elected by his peers in May to serve as the District’s Governing Board chair. “It’s an absolute honor…

The District is hosting a public meeting 5 p.m. April 16 to provide information and get feedback on the Weeki Wachee Channel Restoration Project. The purpose of this multi-year project is to evaluate accumulated sediments in the river and identify where future removal of sediments will benefit the river’s ecosystem…

Dozens of Pinellas County homeowners are taking part in the second phase of landscaping irrigation research project that will help homeowners conserve water while maintaining their lawns. The project will test soil moisture sensor technology on residential landscapes, quantify irrigation water savings and monitor and document landscape quality.The project is a joint effort by the Southwest Florida Water Management District, Pinellas County and the University of Florida…

On Tuesday, the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Governing Board adopted a $176.3 million budget for FY2019, including approximately $66 million for the Cooperative Funding Initiative and District grants for water resources projects. The budget reflects the District’s commitment to…

Environmentally conscience residents can learn about water conservation, Florida-friendly landscaping and composting at a Haines City Earth Day Celebration.The event, which is Saturday, April 11 from 10am-6pm, is being held at The Health Chic House, 12 N. 5th St. in Haines City.Workshops include Florida-friendly landscaping, composting, rain barrels, micro-irrigation, aquaponics, and other water saving tips.Additional workshops are available as well as several activities,…