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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 5 p.m. Monday, July 5, in anticipation of impacts from Tropical Storm Elsa. For the most updated information, please visit the District’s website at WaterMatters.org…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) awarded $113,138 in grants to 52 educators within the District as part of the Splash! school grant program. The program provides up to $3,000 per school to enhance student knowledge of freshwater resources in grades K-12.Splash! grants encourage hands-on student learning through STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) activities as well as engagement of the greater school community through awareness…

The "Southwest Florida Water Management District(Southwest Florida Water Management District)":/ is inviting the public to comment on proposed "minimum flows and levels(Minimum Flows and Levels)":/mfl (MFLs) for the Homosassa River and associated springs at a public workshop on Wednesday, Oct. 13. The workshop will be held from 6:30 to approximately 9 p.m. at the Homosassa Civic Club, 5530 S. Mason Creek Road in Homosassa.The state Legislature requires the District to set…

The "Southwest Florida Water Management District(Southwest Florida Water Management District)":/ is inviting the public to comment on proposed "minimum flows and levels(Minimum Flows and Levels)":/mfl (MFLs) for the Chassahowitzka River at a public workshop on Wednesday, Oct. 6. The workshop will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. at the "District's headquarters(Google map)":http://maps.google.com/maps?oi=map&q=2379+Broad+Street,+Brooksville,+FL+34604, 2379 Broad Street in…

Who: Stewart Middle School teachers and students, Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio, Councilwoman Linda Saul-Sena, former Southwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board member Sally Thompson and Southwest Florida Water Management District Board members and staffWhat: A ribbon-cutting ceremony will mark the beginning of a unique project between the District and Hillsborough County Public Schools at Stewart Middle School, which is located on…

Gov. Charlie Crist recently reassigned one member and appointed two new members to the Governing Board of the Southwest Florida Water Management District.

• Judy Whitehead of Brooksville was reassigned to succeed Patsy C. Symons. Last year the state legislature reassigned Symons’ seat to represent Hernando and Marion counties and added two new seats to the Governing Board for a total of 13 members. Whitehead, the owner of Residential Appraisal Service, was first…

The Polk County Builders Association board of directors signed a resolution last week supporting the Southwest Florida Water Management Districts West-Central Florida Water Restoration Action Plan (WRAP.)The WRAP is a long-term water resource protection, restoration and water sustainability initiative developed by the District to address water resource concerns in the Southern Water Use Caution Area (SWUCA), which encompasses the southern eight counties of the District.…

The "Southwest Florida Water Management District":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/ (District) is soliciting stakeholder input on the annual update of the Priority List and Schedule for the Establishment of Minimum Flows and Levels. A workshop will be held at the District's Tampa Service Office, 7601 Highway 301 North on Wednesday, Oct. 1 from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. Minimum flows and levels are limits set by the District Governing Board for surface waters and groundwater that are…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) Brooksville office will be partially open on Thursday, Sept. 14. Portions of the campus remain closed as a result of an ongoing power outage due to Hurricane Irma. All other District offices remain open. Information regarding District-related meeting cancellations will be provided to the media and made available on the District's website at …

Who:Southwest Florida Water Management District staff, National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF)/Wheelin’ Sportsmen representatives, disabled hunters and volunteer guidesWhat:The District has partnered with the NWTF/Wheelin’ Sportsmen to organize this turkey hunt, which allows disabled men, women and young adults to experience the outdoors. Participants will only use shotguns during the hunt.When:Saturday, March 24, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.Where:The hunt will be held on the District’…

A scientific review panel endorses the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s approach to setting minimum flows and levels (MFLs) for the Middle Peace River.“This was an important endorsement because the methodologies and science used to develop minimum flows and levels on the Middle Peace River are the same that will be applied to freshwater river segments throughout the District,” said Martin Kelly, manager of the District’s Ecological Evaluation section.A minimum…

Sixty-nine Hillsborough County teachers are among the record number of educators who applied for and received Splash! mini-grants through the Southwest Florida Water Management District.This year the District awarded Splash! mini-grants to 209 educators totaling more than $413,000. That’s 72 more grant recipients than last year.Mary Margaret Hull, lead communications coordinator, attributes the increase in awardees to an increase in promotion among the District’…

The District’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) staff are closely monitoring Hurricane Milton and the EOC will be at Level 2 activation starting at 8 a.m. Monday.Please Fill Up Fuel Tanks Off-Site MondayTo maximize the District’s fuel reserves, staff in all offices need to fill up all vehicle and equipment fuel tanks off-site. Off-site fueling is available by use of the State of Florida WEX cards.Important Timesheet Tracking Related to Milton…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District's Governing Board will hold its monthly meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 14 at 9 a.m. at the Tampa Service Office, located at 7601 U.S. Highway 301 North.To view the Governing Board meeting online, visit…

TheHighlands Soil and Water Conservation District will receive a $4,950 Community Education Grant from the Southwest Florida Water Management District to talk to homeowner associations about water conservation and rain sensors.During the presentations, homeowners will also be able to sign up for free rain sensors. The Highlands Soil and Water Conservation District and volunteers will then visit the sites where the rain sensors are installed to ensure that the devices were…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District is monitoring and preparing for the possible landfall of Tropical Storm Fay in Florida.The District has initiated Level 2 activation of its Emergency Operations Center (EOC) in Brooksville. Level 2 activation is required when a situation develops where the District may be adversely affected. Under Level 2 activation, the District’s Emergency Response Team reports to the EOC during extended business hours and assumes…

The Rotonda West Homeowners Association, Inc. will receive a $2,875 Community Education Grant from the Southwest Florida Water Management District for a project that will enhance water quality in the area’s canal system.The grant will be used to plant aquatic plants along the White Marsh Park canals. In addition, the homeowners association will help homeowner volunteers in building and installing a brochure demonstration box that will include information on what…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District is seeking public input about proposed minimum flows for the upper segment of the Hillsborough River. The Upper Hillsborough River is the portion of the river from Crystal Springs to Morris Bridge Road.A minimum flow or level (MFL) 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 part of achieving a balance…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District is working with the Tampa Bay Estuary Program to determine the potential environmental impact of mucky sediments in the Safety Harbor area of Old Tampa Bay.The Safety Harbor watershed, located within Pinellas County, has changed significantly over the past 100 years. The watershed has gone from being primarily rural to primarily urban. In addition, the construction of the Lake Tarpon Outfall Canal increased the size of the…

Educators interested in securing a Splash! mini-grant through the Southwest Florida Water Management District are invited to apply online on the District’s web site at WaterMatters.org/mini-grants/.The District’s Splash! mini-grants provide teachers with funding for classroom projects on water quality, natural systems, water conservation, alternative water sources, flood protection or watersheds. The goal of the mini-grant program is to promote hands-on water…