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Who: Highlands County teachers and administrators, Southwest Florida Water Management District and Charlotte Harbor Environmental Center (CHEC) staff.What: Approximately 12 science teachers and school administrators are participating in a field study that focuses on the Peace River Basin. The two-day excursion includes a guided wading tour of the Charlotte Harbor Estuary, a discussion about the watershed led by a CHEC scientist, and a boat tour on the Peace River to conduct…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District will be conducting “controlled, prescribed burns” during the rest of March and April on the District’s Weekiwachee Preserve and the Annuteliga Hammock.The Weekiwachee Preserve is approximately one mile west of Spring Hill. Approximately 300 acres of land will be burned in small, manageable units.The Annuteliga Hammock tract is approximately three miles south of Chassahowitzka. Approximately 800 acres of land…

Five Pinellas County projects were recently awarded Community Education Grants from the "Southwest Florida Water Management District(Southwest Florida Water Management District)":/ to provide direct, hands-on education to more than 7,000 residents.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…

Governing Board urges water conservationDespite normal rainfall in April, west-central Florida remains abnormally dry. The Southwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board is urging residents to continue conserving the water resources.Since January 2006, the District has accumulated more than a 15-inch rainfall deficit. As a result, lake levels are below their annual low levels and rivers are flowing below normal ranges.Last month, the Governing Board declared…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board Tuesday approved a project to reduce groundwater pumping up to 94,900 gallons per day (gpd) at a Manatee County farm.The Facilitating Agricultural Resource Management Systems (FARMS) program is a cost-share reimbursement program that conserves water and protects water quality.The FARMS project, proposed by FFD Land Company, Inc., is located upstream from Lake Manatee, which is a major source of drinking water…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) will close all District-managed campgrounds and properties to include trails and day use areas throughout its 16-county region at 3 p.m. in anticipation of impacts from Tropical Depression Fred. For the most updated information, please visit the District’s website at WaterMatters.org…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Hampton Tract, which is part of the Green Swamp Wilderness Preserve, will be reserved Nov. 18-20 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 Green Swamp Wilderness Preserve’s Polk County entrance is at the intersection of Rockridge Road and Deen Still Road.The hunt is a joint effort between the District and…

Who: Approximately 12 children and their parents or guardians, Southwest Florida Water Management District staff, representatives from Bass Pro Shops and the group American Disability AdventuresWhat: The District is coordinating a free camping trip at theGreen Swamp Wilderness Preserve, West Tract in Pasco County for a dozen children who applied for the trip and were randomly…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District is seeking public input as it updates its long-range Water Management Plan.The District’s Water Management Plan addresses the District’s water supply, flood protection, water quality and natural systems goals and responsibilities. The current plan, developed in 2000, is being updated and will be provided to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection by May. The update will focus on key resource management…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Governing Board will hold its monthly meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 18 at the Tampa Service Office, which is located at 7601 U.S. Hwy. 301 N. in Tampa.The meeting will begin at 9 a.m.The Governing Board typically meets on the last Tuesday of the month. This month the meeting is being held a week earlier because of the Thanksgiving holiday.

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) will close all District-managed campgrounds and properties to include trails and day use areas throughout its 16-county region Tuesday, Sept. 27, at noon in anticipation of impacts from Hurricane Ian. For the most updated information, please visit the District’s website at…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Governing Board will hold its monthly meeting Tuesday, July 22 at 9 a.m. at the Tampa Service Office, located at 7601 U.S. Highway 301 North. To view the Governing Board meeting online, click on the live video stream link. The video stream link becomes active and the live…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) will hold a virtual public meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday, July 26, to discuss updates to several of the District’s land management plans. The purpose of this meeting is to inform the public about updates to these plans, to solicit input from stakeholders, and to incorporate feedback from the public and stakeholders into the development of the new 10-year plans. The land management plans to be updated include…

Campgrounds will Reopen to the Public TomorrowThe Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) has returned to normal operations after Hurricane Idalia and will lower the activation level of its Emergency Operations Center to a Level 3 at 7 a.m. Friday, Sept. 1. Level 3 activation is a general state of monitoring during the hurricane season. District lands have reopened to the public; however, campgrounds will open tomorrow at 3 p.m. The Oak…

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

Website Enhancement The District recently launched two new WaterMatters.org microsites featuring information on the Alafia River watershed and the Florida Water StarSM program. Alafia River Watershed Excursion WaterMatters.org/alafia takes you on a virtual journey…

The "Southwest Florida Water Management District(Southwest Florida Water Management District)":/ will temporarily close trails during November and December in the Flatwoods Park and Wilderness Park areas of the Lower Hillsborough Wilderness Preserve in Hillsborough County.The "Lower Hillsborough Wilderness Preserve(Lower Hillsborough Wilderness Preserve)":/recreation/areas/lowerhillsborough.html is located east of I-75 and north of US 301, approximately three miles northeast…

Community members who want to make a positive impact on the water resources in their area may apply online for a Community Education Grant from the "Southwest Florida Water Management District(Southwest Florida Water Management District)":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us.The overall goal of the "Community Education Grant Program(Community Education Grant Program)":/business/communitygrants/ is to actively engage adults in water-related issues pertaining to conservation,…

The "Southwest Florida Water Management District(Southwest Florida Water Management District)":http://watermatters.org will be conducting ""controlled, prescribed burns"(Prescribed Fire - a Tool of Nature)":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/publications/files/prescribed_fire.pdf during February and March on both the "Deer Prairie Creek Preserve(Myakka River - Deer Prairie Creek Preserve)":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/recreation/areas/myakka-deeerprairie.html and neighboring…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board voted Tuesday to elect a new slate of officers for the 2019-2020 term. Mark Taylor was elected chair of the Governing Board. Taylor represents Hernando and Marion counties and is president of TTG Properties, Inc., a real estate management, investment and development firm. Taylor was appointed to the Governing Board in August 2016. Michelle Williamson was elected vice chair of the Governing Board.…