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The Southwest Florida Water Management District will be conducting “controlled, prescribed burns” July and August for two District sites in Sarasota County Myakka River Project property and the Deer Prairie Creek property.Both sites are located to the north and south of I-75 between mile markers 186 and 190, with U.S. Hwy. 41 as its far southern boundary. The property is also located between the Myakka River and the cities of North Port and Warm Mineral Springs… Read more

The "Southwest Florida Water Management District's(Southwest Florida Water Management District)":/ "Pinellas-Anclote River Basin Board(Pinellas-Anclote River Basin Board)":/about/basinboards/pinellas-anclote.php voted Oct. 6 to fund three projects to help reduce flooding in East Lake's Tarpon Woods subdivision.The cost of the $1.9 million in projects will be funded equally by the Pinellas-Anclote River Basin Board and "Pinellas County(Pinellas County Goverment)":http://www.… Read more

_More than 272,000 acres of dense seagrass digitally mapped_The Southwest Florida Water Management District recently completed a seagrass mapping project to monitor the long-term health of seagrass beds along the Springs Coast. The project involved digitally mapping more than 525,000 acres of submerged land from the mouth of the Anclote River near Tarpon Springs to the mouth of the Withlacoochee River. Seagrass generally grows in waters less than 14 feet deep and is an… Read more

Southwest Florida Water Management District Executive Director David Moore signed a water shortage emergency order last week allowing Tampa Bay Water to withdraw up to 7.1 million gallons per day (mgd) of water from the Morris Bridge Sink to help meet the potable water demand of its member governments.Tampa Bay Water provides water to Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties, as well as the cities of New Port Richey, St. Petersburg and Tampa.Ongoing drought conditions have… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District approved today an additional $2 million to complete an existing project that will maximize the use of reclaimed water resources in Pasco County.The Pasco County Wet Weather Reclaimed Water Reservoir project involves constructing a reservoir on 35 acres next to the Land O’ Lakes wastewater treatment facility. The reservoir will have the capacity to store up to 100 million gallons of reclaimed water.An extensive geological… Read more

The public is invited to attend a celebration focusing on the history, restoration and future preservation of Lake Panasofkee on Saturday, May 13, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event, which is free to the public, is located at the Marsh Bend Outlet River Park on the north side of the bridge on County Road 470 in Sumter County.The celebration includes educational activities for adults and children, kids’ fishing activities, entertainment and a “Lake PanPal”… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District is inviting residents who live near Lake Hancock to an open house concerning the Lake Hancock Lake Level Modification Project. The open house is being held Tuesday, Aug. 21, at the District’s Bartow Service Office from 3 until 7 p.m.Residents who own property within the Lake Hancock area that may be impacted if the project is implemented are encouraged to attend so they can discuss the project with District staff.The Lake… Read more

Two District communications projects recently received international recognition. The Communicator Awards 2005 print/media competition awarded its Award of Distinction to “Bringing Back the Bay” and “WaterMatters.” Entries came from throughout the United States and several foreign countries. Communicator Awards entrants are submitted by advertising and public relations agencies, corporate communications departments, educational institutions, government entities,… Read more

Attention-Grabbing Exhibit A unique exhibit aimed at getting the word out about water conservation will hit the road again in 2004. “The water conservation restroom trailer proved to be an effective tool in getting our message out to a wide variety of people,” said Beth Bartos, communications manager for the District. The District set up the trailer, funded by the Pinellas-Anclote River Basin Board, at five community festivals within the basin last year.… Read more

Audubon of Florida honored a District employee this fall for his role in saving the land that makes Florida a special place to live, work, visit and explore. Henry Dean, Audubon board member and former executive director of the St. Johns River and South Florida water management districts, presented the Florida Audubon Special Places Award to Fritz Musselmann, land resources director, during Audubon’s Annual Assembly. “In the face of decades of explosive growth, he… Read more

Hillsborough County students at 34 schools will study the issues surrounding our freshwater resources thanks to "Splash! school grants":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/education/schoolgrants/ from the Southwest Florida Water Management District.The Hillsborough County awardees are:* Christine Lindbak, *Alonso High*, was awarded $2,150. Students will learn about the Hillsborough River watershed and then conduct water quality tests while on a field trip to the Crystal Springs… Read more

One of the District’s agricultural cooperative funding programs may have a positive impact on the health of Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. A group of Australian sugar cane growers interested in improving water quality recently traveled to Sarasota to meet with staff to discuss the District’s Facilitating Agricultural Resource Management Systems (FARMS) Program. A sugar cane industry representative discovered the program while surfing the Internet. “I have to admit… Read more

Water experts from around the state recently talked innovation as District staff highlighted a variety of projects and programs aimed at recovering and restoring water resources. The District hosted the May Technical Meeting for the Florida Section of the American Water Resources Association (AWRA). The scientific organization’s mission is to promote an… Read more

Who:Representatives from the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Land Resources Department, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Hernando County Planning Department, Hernando County Audubon Society and volunteersWhat:As part of the 15th Annual National Public Lands Day, the District’s Land Resources Department is coordinating a volunteer work day at the Weekiwachee Preserve, which is located along the Hernando County Coast, west of the… Read more

April has been designated Springs Protection Month by the Florida Legislature, Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and the Suwannee River, St. Johns River, Southwest Florida and Northwest Florida water management districts. Rep. Elizabeth Porter submitted a House Resolution (HB) 9027 that was adopted on March 18, 2015, which recognizes April 2015 as Springs Protection Awareness Month. Sen. Charlie Dean filed a similar resolution in the Senate, Senate… Read more

MAITLAND, Fla., Oct. 10, 2017 – The Central Florida Water Initiative (CFWI) estimates central Florida will need an additional 250 million gallons of water per day by 2035 to meet the demands of a growing population. An update on the CFWI's work to meet that demand through increased water conservation and alternative water sources was presented today to the St. Johns River Water Management District's Governing Board. "Water conservation is the least expensive way to help… Read more

The District’s Governing Board approved the purchase of a perpetual conservation easement of more than 1,088 acres of Triangle Ranch in Manatee County, in the upper Myakka River watershed. This action will prevent future development on this property by securing $2 million toward the purchase of the conservation agreement, and is a key part in the permanent protection of this important piece of land. Executive Director Brian Armstrong said the purchase increases the… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board Tuesday approved a project that will reduce groundwater pumping at LallyMix Farms in Hardee County.The farm recently converted from growing citrus to blueberries.The project involves installing a weather station, soil moisture sensors and automated pump controls in addition to constructing a surface water reservoir and the associated water control structures and ditches for an irrigation system.Using a surface… Read more

The District’s Governing Board voted today to declare a Phase II Water Shortage and implement one-day-per-week watering restrictions in the Tampa Bay area due to reduced river levels and increasing water supply concerns. The Governing Board enacted Phase II restrictions for lawn watering throughout Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties. The tighter restrictions begin Dec. 26 and take into account that the C.W. Bill Young Regional Reservoir is currently under… Read more