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Polk County residents are invited to celebrate Earth Day with “Water, Wings and Wild Things,” a family event being held Saturday at IMC Park, next to the Bartow Civic Center.The celebration, which is from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m., will feature environmental presentations, exhibits and educational displays. The displays will highlight Polk County’s environmental resources, plants, animals and water conservation.Participants who answer water conservation… Read more

The third phase of a water quality improvement project that will collect and treat stormwater runoff prior to discharging into the Intracoastal Waterway is about to begin.The project is cooperatively funded between the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Pinellas-Anclote River Basin Board and the Town of Indian Shores.The first two phases involved the construction of 12 improvement areas, or treatment systems. These treatment systems are a combination of dry… Read more

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… Read more

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… Read more

The "Southwest Florida Water Management District's(Southwest Florida Water Management District)":/ "Governing Board(Governing Board)":/about/governingboard voted to renew Tampa Bay Water's 90 million-gallon-per-day northern Tampa Bay consolidated water use permit for 10 years while continuing extensive environmental monitoring.Tampa Bay Water's consolidated permit was first issued in December 1998 and is made up of 11 wellfield facilities in Pasco County as well as northern… Read more

Students and teachers from Twin Lakes Elementary in Tampa were honored today with a Water Stewardship Award from the Southwest Florida Water Management’s Hillsborough River Basin Board.The board chose the Twin Lakes Elementary “Water Everywhere, Put It First, Make It Last” project to receive the Water Stewardship Award because of the student involvement. The school used a District grant to educate and engage students in water resources by planting a… Read more

Representatives from the Citrus County Aquatic Services were honored today with a Water Stewardship Award from the Southwest Florida Water Management’s Withlacoochee River Basin Board.The board chose the Citrus County Aquatic Services’ ‘Moccasin Slough Water Conveyance Canal’ project to receive the Water Stewardship Award because the project entails the restoration of a “once natural” water conveyance area that, after several decades, had… Read more

Five Polk County projects expected to reach up to 104,000 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.state.fl… Read more

All Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) offices will be open Thursday, July 8, as the District returns to normal operations after Tropical Storm Elsa. The District will lower the activation level of its Emergency Operations Center to a Level 3 at 8 a.m. Thursday morning. Level 3 activation is a general state of monitoring during the hurricane season. All District-managed campgrounds and properties to include trails and day use areas throughout… Read more

All Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) offices will be closed on Monday, Sept. 11 in accordance with Governor Rick Scott's direction to close state offices for Hurricane Irma. The District will continue to monitor the progress of Hurricane Irma to determine if future closings are necessary. Information regarding District-related meeting cancellations will be provided to the media and made available on the District's website at… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District will be conducting "controlled, prescribed burns" during August and September 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 and US Highway 41. The Schewe Tract, which lies north and south of… Read more

Volunteers are a valuable resource for the District, which is why several groups and one individual who take part in the District’s Land Resources Volunteer Program were recognized at the Governing Board’s August and September meetings. The Flatlanders, Southcreek Equestrians, Florida Trail Association, Withlapopka Community Volunteers, West Central Florida Council of the Boy Scouts of America and Kyle DeVary were presented with the President’s Volunteer Service Award — a… Read more

Above: Jerry and Pam Rice on vacation with their grandchildren. Right: Rice joined the District’s Governing Board in March 2003. The District’s new Governing Board chair knew early in life that his future lay in the citrus industry. Born in Avon Park and raised in Polk County, Talmadge G. “Jerry” Rice began his career at an early age. “I started working when I was very young. My dad worked in the citrus groves. My mom worked in the packinghouse. I did a… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) is seeking public input to determine the priority of minimum flows and levels (MFLs) establishment for lakes, wetlands, rivers, streams and aquifers in the District as well as the establishment of water reservations. Legislation requires the District to review and, if necessary, revise this schedule each year. The District will hold a virtual public meeting Aug. 24 at 5 p.m. Members of the public can join the… Read more

Funds Available Individuals and groups concerned about water-related issues in their communities can apply for a Southwest Florida Water Management District community education grant. Grant recipients can receive up to $5,000 funding for projects involving water-related issues. The projects are to take place between March 15 and June 30, 2004. Grant applications are due Oct. 17, 2003. To receive an application package, call 1-800-423-1476, ext. 4756 or visit the… Read more

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 Monday, Aug. 28, at 3 p.m. in anticipation of impacts from Tropical Storm Idalia. Additionally, the District is in the process of cancelling all existing camping reservations through Friday, Sept. 1.For the most updated information, please visit the District’s website at … Read more

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 public meeting will be held at the District's Tampa Service Office, located at 7601 Highway 301 North on Wednesday, Sept. 30 from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. Minimum flows and levels are limits set by the District Governing Board for surface waters and… Read more

Hospitals use an average of 139,214 gallons per day of water. This checklist will help facility managers evaluate the appropriateness of water-saving adjustments for improving the efficiency of your health care facility. Remember, water savings often bring energy savings, too. This information is based on the results of water use evaluations of 26 industrial, commercial and institutional (ICI) facilities throughout the Tampa Bay area. The checklist has been adapted… Read more

Office buildings use an average of 14,695 gallons per day of water. This checklist will help facility managers evaluate the appropriateness of water-saving adjustments for improving the efficiency of your building. Remember, water savings often bring energy savings, too. This information is based on the results of water use evaluations of 26 industrial, commercial and institutional (ICI) facilities throughout the Tampa Bay area. The checklist has been adapted from a… Read more

Manufacturers use an average of 144,542 gallons per day of water. This checklist will help facility managers evaluate the appropriateness of water-saving adjustments for improving the efficiency of your plant. Remember, water savings often bring energy savings, too. This information is based on the results of water use evaluations of 26 industrial, commercial and institutional (ICI) facilities throughout the Tampa Bay area. The checklist has been adapted from a… Read more