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The Starkey Wilderness Preserve is one of the largest undeveloped tracts in Pasco County and protects sensitive environmental areas in the fast-growing western portion of Pasco County. The preserve consists of three tracts: 

• Jay B. Starkey Wilderness Park
• Serenova Tract
• Anclote River Ranch…

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The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Hillsborough River Basin Board Monday adopted a fiscal year 2009 (FY2009) millage rate of 0.2547 mill, which is the same rate as the current fiscal year. The Hillsborough River Basin Board area covers portions of Hillsborough, Pasco and Polk counties.This millage rate, combined with a reduction in taxable property values as certified by the county property appraisers, will result in an estimated 3.8 percent decrease in… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Alafia River Basin Board Thursday adopted a fiscal year 2009 (FY2009) millage rate of 0.2163 mill, which is the same as the current fiscal year. The Alafia River Basin Board area covers the southern portion of Hillsborough County and the southwestern portion of Polk County.This millage rate combined with a reduction in taxable property values as certified by the county property appraisers will result in an estimated 8.… Read more

table(webalert). |Who:|Stewart Middle School students and staff.||*What:*|Students will continue a shoreline restoration project that began in 2008 by collecting trash along the Hillsborough River shoreline and planting 300 native plants. It's part of a unique project between the District and Hillsborough County Public Schools at Stewart Middle School, which is located on the Hillsborough River near downtown Tampa. The project involved restoring a section of shoreline by… Read more

The confluence of Flint Creek and the Hillsborough River provides a beautiful setting for John B. Sargeant Park. The park is best known for boating access to the river. Downriver, the Hillsborough River State Canoe Trail is a winding, verdant jungle of hardwood trees, lilies and birds. Upstream, the river widens to flow through the broad hardwood swamp known as the Seventeen… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Withlacoochee River Basin Board Thursday adopted a fiscal year 2009 (FY2009) millage rate of 0.2308 mill, which is the same as the current fiscal year. The Withlacoochee River Basin Board area covers portions of Pasco, Hernando, Citrus, Sumter, Marion, and Levy counties.This millage rate, combined with a reduction in taxable property values as certified by the county property appraisers, will result in an estimated 7.9… Read more

This property contains relatively unaltered natural land. The dominant natural communities are pine flatwoods, scrubby flatwoods, scrub, freshwater marsh and hardwood hammocks. The pine overstory in the flatwoods was logged by prior owners, but a high diversity of natural understory species remain. The northern portion of the tract has a higher elevation and drains into the Manatee River. The southern portion contains the freshwater marsh that gives the tract its name. The… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) will temporarily close the Flying Eagle Dead River Flats airboat slide due to required maintenance. The airboat slide is located on the Flying Eagle berm between the Withlacoochee River and Flying Eagle Marsh in eastern Citrus County.Maintenance activities will start April 14 and are scheduled to be completed by April 25. Attempts to use the slide in its current condition could damage airboats.The District operates… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) is gathering information to improve identification of flood prone areas in Citrus County. Residents living in the Chassahowitzka River watershed are invited to attend an open house Tuesday, Dec. 6, at 4 p.m. The meeting will take place at the Citrus County Government Building, located at 3600 W. Sovereign Path in Lecanto. District representatives will present preliminary data for flood prone areas,… Read more

Who: Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) staff, Sen. Mike Bennett, Rep. Michael Grant, local elected officials, Department of Environmental Protection staff, Charlotte Harbor Environmental Center staff, Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program staffWhat: The District will host an event in the Charlotte Harbor watershed to celebrate 20 years since the Florida Legislature passed the Surface Water Improvement and Management… Read more

Who: Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) staff, state and City of Winter Haven elected officials and staffWhat: The District will host an event on the Winter Haven Chain of Lakes to celebrate 20 years since the Florida Legislature passed the Surface Water Improvement and Management (SWIM) Act. The District will provide a tour starting at Lake Hartridge Nature Park and heading south to Lake Howard. The tour will cover… Read more

The word “resiliency” can be described as the ability to recover quickly from disasters and adapt to future conditions. The word also refers to building defenses against the impacts of climate change.   Coastal Florida is vulnerable to impacts from climate change, which may include temperature extremes, intensified storms, increased flooding and sea level rise. West-central Florida has already seen some of these adverse impacts, and projections show the impacts… Read more

Florida sandhill cranes are long-legged, long-necked, gray, heron-like birds with a patch of bald, red skin on top of their heads. Sandhill cranes fly with their necks outstretched with powerful, rhythmic wing beats. Florida's sandhill cranes are a state-designated Threatened species that are found in inland shallow freshwater marshes, prairies, pastures and farmlands. Sometimes they can be seen on lawns throughout Florida. They are sensitive birds that do not adjust well… Read more

Your Questions Answered  July 2020 Every year, millions of people visit public conservation lands purchased by the Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) and its partners to protect Florida’s water resources. Ellen Morgan Morrison, the District’s Operations and Land Management Assistant Bureau Chief explains more about District owned and managed lands and how the public can enjoy these properties. Q: Why does… Read more