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The Florida Legislature included $15 million in its 2008–09 state budget for the District’s West-Central Florida Water Restoration Action Plan (WRAP), which will help restore water quality and natural systems and create sustainable water supplies in the Southern Water Use Caution Area (SWUCA). “In this incredibly tight budget year, we are extremely grateful that the WRAP was funded, which will aid in the District’s efforts to recover the Southern Water Use Caution…

Overwatering in winter can encourage pests and diseaseThe Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) is reminding residents who irrigate their lawns to “Skip a Week” or more of watering during the cooler months of January and February.According to research by the University of Florida, grass doesn’t need to be watered as often during the cooler months. One-half to three-quarters of an inch of water every 10–14 days is sufficient. In fact, if your lawn…

It was all treats and no tricks as the District, Polk County and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection celebrated the grand opening of Polk’s Nature Discovery Center at the Circle B Bar Reserve on Halloween. “This twenty-first century facility will give children who are not exposed to the environment an opportunity to touch and feel nature,” said David Moore, District executive director. After the ribbon-cutting ceremony, guests toured the Nature…

During the District’s 60-year history, new laws established through the decades have helped the District protect water quality and natural systems. Here’s a look at some of the key legislation and programs established: Save Our Rivers: The program, established in 1981, allowed the District to acquire lands for the purposes of water management, supply and protection. The first major land acquisition using Save Our Rivers funding was the Green Swamp West…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) is hosting career fairs to recruit people seeking a rewarding career protecting the region’s water resources. The career fairs are open to the public and attendees are encouraged to bring current resumes. The District is a government agency that employs a diverse workforce from across a wide variety of disciplines, including administrative, business and finance, trades work, mechanical, heavy equipment operation,…

h2. District, County Cooperate to Help Manage and Treat StormwaterResidents of the Garden Grove neighborhood in the Cypress Gardens area will see less flooding and better water quality in nearby lakes thanks to a project funded by Polk County and the "Southwest Florida Water Management District's(Southwest Florida Water Management District)":/ "Governing Board(Governing Board)":/about/governingboard.Construction began this fall on the project, which will help reduce flooding…

Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) officials have deactivated the District's Emergency Operations Center (EOC) from a Level 2 to a Level 3. In April, the District activated the EOC to Level 2 in coordination with State Emergency Response Teams who requested and directed District resources during Florida's wildfire emergency event. The EOC provides direction and controls District activities during an emergency event.Level 3 activation is utilized when a…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) will open Phase 2 hog hunt registration Tuesday, Dec. 5, at 9 a.m. The District holds a series of hog hunts on District lands throughout the year to help reduce the feral hog population.What you need to know about Phase 2 hunts:

• Phase 2 will include five hunts that occur January through February 2024.
• Permits are transferable.
• The single top producer on each hunt of Phase 2 will be placed on…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) and Hernando County will hold a public workshop Wednesday, Feb. 5, at 5:30 p.m. to share the results of the Weeki Wachee Natural System Carrying Capacity Study. The meeting will take place at the Coast Guard Auxiliary Meeting Hall, located at 4340 Calienta St. in Hernando Beach. This ecologically-based study evaluated how recreational use affects the river. During the workshop, staff from the District, Hernando…

The Communications Department recently won state-level awards from the Florida Public Relations Association for two District campaigns. The “Skip a Week” public service advertising campaign received an Award of Distinction in the Public Relations Programs — Public Service category, and the “Get Outside!” campaign received an Award of Distinction in the Public Relations Programs — Institutional category of the association’s Golden Image Awards competition. The…

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.National Travel and Tourism Week is May 7-15, and the District offers many ways to enjoy some time off close to home without sacrificing the environment.Saving…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District will be conducting “controlled, prescribed burns” during April on the District’s Weekiwachee Preserve. The property is approximately 1 mile west of Spring Hill. The scheduled, managed burns are a part of routine maintenance of lands managed by the District. Approximately 200 acres of land will be burned in small, manageable units.According to District Land Manager Kevin W. Love, burns are implemented to…

Two Charlotte County teachers and one private school teacher are among the educators who were awarded Splash! school grants through the "Southwest Florida Water Management District(Southwest Florida Water Management District)":/.This year 206 "Splash! grants(Splash! School Grants)":/education/schoolgrants were awarded to educators across "the District's 16-county region":/data/map.Mary Margaret Hull, lead communications coordinator, attributes the effectiveness of the grant…

The "Southwest Florida Water Management District(Southwest Florida Water Management District)":/ is seeking public input about the order in which "minimum flows and levels(Minimum Flows and Levels)":/mfl (MFLs) for lakes, rivers, streams and aquifers in the District will be determined.A minimum flow or level is the limit at which further water withdrawals will cause significant harm to the water resources and/or environment. The District Governing Board sets these limits as…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District's (District) Governing Board recognized Lace Blue-McLean as this year’s springs community partner, while declaring April Springs Protection Awareness Month. Blue-McLean is the chair of the Save Our Waters Week Committee, which was formed more than 20 years ago to bring awareness to water issues in Citrus County. Each year, she dedicates countless hours to organizing the weeklong event. Through free tours, cleanups and other…

"Southwest Florida Water Management District(Southwest Florida Water Management District)":/ land managers plan to hold a series of hog hunts on District land this fall and winter to help reduce the wild hog population. Beginning at 9 a.m. Monday, Oct. 10, prospective hunters can purchase permits for these hunts on the District's website at "WaterMatters.org/HogHunt/":/recreation/hoghunt/. Permits will be available on a first-come, first-served basis through 5 p.m. Monday,…

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has awarded more than $7.5 million in grants for water-quality enhancement projects in Citrus County to protect the health of Kings Bay and Crystal River's unique spring-fed systems comprised of more than 70 freshwater springs throughout a 600-acre bay. "We are pleased to provide springs funding for projects that will help restore and protect these important waterways," said DEP Secretary Jon Steverson. "This suite…

Ed Armstrong recently was appointed to the District’s Governing Board by Gov. Rick Scott. Armstrong, of Dunedin, is an attorney with Hill Ward Henderson in Clearwater. He was appointed to succeed Todd Pressman and his term ends March 1, 2018. The Governing Board position represents Pinellas County.  A lifelong Florida resident, Armstrong graduated from Dunedin High School. He went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in accounting, Cum Laude, from the University of…

Due to the deteriorating weather conditions of Tropical Storm Hermine, the Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) is cancelling tonight's public meeting soliciting stakeholder input on the annual update of the Priority List and Schedule for the Establishment of Minimum Flows and Levels. The District will re-schedule the meeting as soon as possible.

Who: Countryside High School Parent, Teacher and Student Association (PTSA), Countryside High School band and color guard, Southwest Florida Water Management DistrictWhat: The Countryside High School PTSA will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the new Florida-friendly landscaping in front of the school. The band and color guard will perform during the ceremony. A campus clean-up will follow the ribbon-cutting.The Florida-friendly landscaping was completed with…