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July 2024Q: What is an aquifer?A: An aquifer is a body of underground rock and/or sediment that stores water. The groundwater within an aquifer can fill the spaces between grains of sand and gravel, or it can fill the cracks and fissures in solid rock.Q: Are there different types of aquifers?A: In west-central Florida the groundwater system is comprised of three main aquifer units; the surficial aquifer, the… Read more

 Aripeka Sandhills Preserve was acquired as part of the Weekiwachee Preserve on November 8, 2007. This was a joint acquisition with the District and Pasco County. Funding was provided by Penny for Pasco.The preserve is part of a regional system of conservation lands that extends up to Crystal River Buffer Preserve, preserving the southernmost coastal hardwood hammock in western Florida. As part of this large preserve, Aripeka Sandhills preserves important habitat… Read more

To improve accuracy, the Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) has upgraded the datum used to record water level elevation.  The District has upgraded the datum, or starting point, used to record water level elevation at its data collection sites. Water elevation is measured in feet above mean sea level. The datum was upgraded from the National Geodetic Vertical Datum of 1929 (NGVD 29) to the North American Vertical Datum of 1988 (NAVD 88… Read more

March 2025Q: Why does fertilizing my lawn responsibly matter?A: More than 1,000 new residents move to Florida daily, many of whom take pride in maintaining beautiful lawns along with long-time Floridians. However, fertilizers contain nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus, which, in excess amounts, can harm Florida’s natural water systems. Excess nutrients from fertilizers can wash into lakes, rivers, springs, estuaries and other water… Read more

January 2023 Q: What is vegetation management? A: Vegetation management is the targeted control of nuisance and invasive exotic vegetation. These operations are conducted on both District-owned lands and on District-managed public waterbodies. This includes the control of both aquatic vegetation, growing in or near water, and terrestrial vegetation, growing on land. Q: Why is vegetation management important… Read more

 Purchased to provide flood protection and serve as a public water supply, Cypress Creek's floodplain helps filter nutrients in runoff waters. Cypress Creek Well Field serves as an important source of water for the surrounding region and is managed by Tampa Bay Water (TBW). Cypress Creek is a tributary of the Hillsborough River. Within the property, the creek threads its way through an expanse of cypress and hardwood forests. Slash pine, longleaf pine and palmetto grow… Read more

What is a datum? A datum is a standard position or level (i.e., starting point) from which measurements are taken. What is the National Geodetic Vertical Datum of 1929 (NGVD 29)? Originally called the Sea Level Datum of 1929, it was created for vertical control surveying in the United States. This datum was used to measure elevation above (altitude) and depression below (depth) mean sea level. However, as technology improved and the demand for… Read more

Your Questions Answered  December 2020 Q: What does data collection mean? A: Data collection is the process of gathering, measuring and analyzing specific information to fix a problem. District geologists perform data collection to help answer scientific and engineering questions in managing water supplies, preserving natural systems and protecting against flooding. The District's Data Collection Bureau… Read more

The Marshall Hampton Reserve was acquired by the District in 2008. The Polk County Environmental Lands Program entered into a management agreement with the District in 2010 to oversee the management of the property. The acquisition of this property protected a significant amount of shoreline and floodplain swamp on the edge of Lake Hancock. Lake Hancock is often referred to as the headwaters of the Peace River. At times the property can be extremely wet, often… Read more

A joint acquisition effort between the District and the state, the preserve consists of various noncontiguous parcels that partially surround the Charlotte Harbor estuary and its major tributaries. All lands are managed as a state park. The preserve is regionally important because it provides protection to the Gasparilla… Read more

The District continues to monitor lake and river levels and manage its water control structures around the clock during this historic flooding event caused by Hurricane Milton.Lake and River Level Update

• Lake water levels in most areas are starting to decline and most structures are discharging at maximum capacity. 
• Upper portions of the Hillsborough River have crested and are beginning to decline while the lower portions are…

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Your Questions AnsweredMarch 2019Q:  What are stormwater ponds and why do we need them?A:  A stormwater pond is designed to collect and manage runoff from rainwater. When rainwater lands on rooftops, parking lots, streets, driveways and other hard surfaces, the rainfall that doesn’t soak into the ground (stormwater runoff) flows into your neighborhood stormwater pond through grates, pipes, shallow swales or ditches.… Read more

Rice, of Webster, was appointed to the Governing Board in September 2015 and reappointed in September 2019. He is the president of Prime Property Resources, Inc., Rice Cattle Company, and Physical Therapy Services of Brooksville, Inc. He earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of South Florida. Rice is reappointed to a four-year term ending March 1, 2027.A Florida native, Rice was born in Lakeland, FL and graduated from Pasco Comprehensive… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) has deactivated the Tampa Bypass Canal System and the Hillsborough Flood Detention Area (HFDA) as water levels in the Hillsborough River have declined following Hurricane Milton.The District opened Structure S-155 over the weekend and the boat barriers were removed this morning, restoring navigation on the Hillsborough River. The S-155 structure is located north of Morris Bridge Road and east of I-75 and can be… Read more

The Hillsborough Flood Detention Area (HFDA), which is instrumental in preventing flooding from the Hillsborough River in the cities of Temple Terrace and Tampa, is continuing to fill with floodwaters due to impacts from Hurricane Milton, resulting in some localized flooding on District-owned lands and Morris Bridge Road.Morris Bridge Road near the Hillsborough River Bridge, Trout Creek Park and Flatwoods Park are closed due to flooding resulting from the use of the HFDA.… Read more

 The 8,083-acre Lake Marion Creek Management Area is located on the Polk-Osceola county line east of Haines City off CR 580. Polk County, South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) and the District acquired the lands within the area, which protect important headwater areas of Lake Marion and Reedy creeks. Water from these creeks is an important source of fresh water for the Kissimmee River, the Everglades and Florida Bay. The… Read more

We all live in a watershed. That means that what we do on land impacts water bodies both near and far. To protect our water resources, we all must do our part. And sometimes that means preserving habitats that naturally protect water bodies from harmful pollutants, such as our wonderful wetlands! What are wetlands? The term wetland refers to a wide variety of aquatic habitats. Wetland ecosystems include swamps,… Read more

Your Questions Answered  February 2021 Nearly one thousand people move to Florida every day. That population growth puts significant demand on the region’s water supply. To help meet these water supply needs, local governments, water managers, builders and developers are working cooperatively through the Florida Water Star℠ (FWS) program. Southwest Florida Water Management District Lead Communications Coordinator Robin Grantham has details about… Read more

The Southwest Water Management District (District) will host an open house and community meeting regarding the Medard Reservoir Thursday, Jan. 23, at Durant High School located at 4748 Cougar Path in Plant City. The open house portion of the meeting will be held from 6 to 7 p.m. followed by a presentation from 7 to 8:30 p.m.During the open house, District staff, along with representatives from Hillsborough County and the National Weather Service, will be available to answer… Read more