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District Aims to Reduce Risk of Wildfires by Scheduling Prescribed Fires for Sarasota County »
Setting prescribed fires in controlled settings can reduce the risk of wildfires burning out of control, as many Floridians witnessed during the state’s wildfire emergency last year. That’s why the…
Extension Allows Bikers To Travel Further »
Starkey Trail Extension  Left: Bike riders eagerly await the opening of the Starkey Trail extension. Right: Taking part in the trail’s ribbon-cutting ceremony are: Jon Kennedy, Tampa Bay Water; Judy Whitehead, Governing Board Secretary and Coastal Rivers Basin Board Chair; Joanne Hurley, PBS&J; Kathryn Starkey, Pinellas-Anclote River Basin Board; and Peter Altman, former Pasco County Commissioner. Representatives from Pasco County and the District…
News in Brief... »
Most District Basin Boards Propose Lower FY2011 Budgets At their June meetings, the District’s Basin Boards proposed FY2011 millage rates that are equal to or lower than the FY2010 rates, resulting in ad valorem revenue of $58.5 million, $9.7 million lower than FY2010. The Pinellas-Anclote River and Hillsborough River basin boards reduced their proposed millage rates for FY2011, while the remaining Basin Boards left millage rates unchanged. With the…
District Improves Canoe Launch to Help Reduce Pollutants »
The District has started restoring an area of the Weeki Wachee Springs State Park canoe launch in Hernando County this week. The restored area will benefit the Weeki Wachee spring system by reducing stormwater pollutants and sediment loading entering the Weeki Wachee River.  Nutrient levels have increased in Weeki Wachee Springs for the past several decades. The…
Public Invited to Weeki Wachee Advisory Committee Meeting »
The public is invited to attend the Hernando County Weeki Wachee River and Springs Task Force meeting, April 18. The meeting will be held at 3 p.m. at the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Brooksville Headquarters in the Board Room.The task force will be taking public input on the health of the springs and the river.The Florida Legislature created the Citrus/Hernando Waterways Restoration Council, which formed two separate county task forces the Citrus…
District to Hold Public Meeting Regarding Three Sisters Springs Bank Stabilization Project »
The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) will hold a public meeting to inform citizens about the upcoming restoration work the District will be doing at Three Sisters Springs. The meeting will take place at Crystal River City Hall, located at 123 NW Highway 19 in Crystal River, April 12 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.The project involves repairing erosion as well as preventing future erosion along the shoreline and the improvements will benefit the Crystal River/…
District Aims to Reduce Risk of Wildfires by Scheduling Prescribed Fires for Sarasota County »
Setting prescribed fires in controlled settings can reduce the risk of wildfires burning out of control. That’s why the Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) will be conducting prescribed burns now through September at the Myakka River - Deer Prairie Creek Preserve in Sarasota County.Myakka River - Deer Prairie Creek Preserve is located west of North Port, east of the Myakka River, and south of Interstate 75. Approximately 500 acres will be burned…
District Receives $1 Million for FARMS Program »
 At the FARMS program presentation are (from left to right) Paul Samuels, Peace River Basin Board member; Mac Carraway, Manasota Basin Board member; Senator Mike Bennett; Representative Nancy Detert; Patsy Symons, Governing Board secretary; Tom Dabney, Governing Board member; Frank Strelec, Manasota Basin Board member; and Ken Harrison, Peace River Basin Board member. Members of the District’s Governing Board and the Manasota and Peace River basin boards…
Public Invited to Help Develop Floodplain Information for Portions of Citrus County »
The "Southwest Florida Water Management District":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/ (District) is gathering information to improve identification of flood prone areas in Citrus County's Homosassa River North, Homosassa River South and Homosassa South Fork watersheds. Most of the currently available floodplain information is 10 to 30 years old and is outdated because of natural and physical changes caused by land use, development and erosion.Residents living in the Homosassa…
District approves millage rates and budget »
The Southwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board Tuesday adopted its fiscal year 2010 (FY2010) millage rates for the General Fund and the seven Basin Boards.The Governing Board adopted a FY2010 millage rate of 0.3866 mill for the District’s General Fund, which is the same as the current fiscal year. FY2010 will run from Oct. 1, 2009, through Sept. 30, 2010.The total FY2010 budget for the District is $298.9 million, 20.6 percent lower than the adopted…
Watershed Management Plans Will Address Flooding in Hernando County »
The Southwest Florida Water Management District has recently signed agreements with Hernando County to develop comprehensive watershed management plans for several watersheds within the county.The plans will be used to determine feasible drainage alternatives that may be constructed to enhance and restore water quality and natural systems, or for flood relief. The plan will also assist local governments with their land management responsibilities and further the goals.Plans…
Chassahowitzka Property Offers Much to Do at an Outstanding Waterway »
Camping, hiking, boating, freshwater and saltwater fishing; a full range of outdoor activities are available at the District’s Chassahowitzka River and Coastal Swamps property in southwestern Citrus County. Purchased in the early 1990s, the property is part of a large greenway of public lands that protects the…
Hernando County Water Resources Education Projects Honored »
The Southwest Florida Water Management District recently recognized five Hernando County projects as outstanding school, community grant or volunteer programs that focus on water resources education. A total of 52 projects were recognized during the October 7 Reflect, Connect, Celebrate Water Resources Education Conference at the Brooker Creek Preserve Environmental Education Center in Tarpon Springs.To select the awardees, District staff reviewed grants applied for by…
Governor reappoints one, appoints another to District's Basin Boards »
Governor Charlie Crist recently reappointed William Bunch and appointed Candy Nathe to two Southwest Florida Water Management District Basin Boards.William Bunch is the owner of Oysters Restaurant and lives in Crystal River. He was reappointed to the Coastal Rivers Basin Board. Bunch was first appointed to the Board 2001. His current term ends March 1, 2011. The Coastal Rivers Basin Board area includes the coastal regions of Citrus, Hernando and Pasco counties.Candy Nathe…
District purchases property for project that will raise water levels in Lake Hancock »
The Southwest Florida Water Management District has reached an agreement with four homeowners to purchase their property as part of the Lake Hancock Lake Level Modification Project, which was authorized by the District’s Governing Board on Sept. 25.The Lake Hancock Lake Level Modification Project, will raise the lakes water level to store additional water that later can be released into the Upper Peace River during dry periods. The project is a critical component of…
Local Officials and Board Members Take Tour »
Understanding the Lake Hancock Projects Local government representatives and members of the District’s Governing Board and Alafia River, Hillsborough River, Manasota and Peace River basin boards recently braved the elements to tour the Lake Hancock project area. Several local officials, including Polk County Commissioners and a representative from Rep. Dennis Ross’ office, also attended the tour, which allowed participants the chance to gain a better understanding…
Chassahowitzka Property Offers Much to Do at an Outstanding Waterway »
Chassahowitzka Property Offers Much to Do at an Outstanding Waterway Camping, hiking, boating, freshwater and saltwater fishing; a full range of outdoor activities are available at the District’s Chassahowitzka River and Coastal Swamps property in southwestern Citrus County. Purchased in the early 1990s, the…