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Editor’s note: Read in tomorrow’s blog how you can visit Three Sisters Springs for free this weekend. The District recently completed the Three Sisters Springs Bank Stabilization Project in Crystal River, which restored the shoreline and created safer conditions around the spring.  Before the project,… Read more

Susanna Martinez Tarokh1-800-423-1476, ext. 2008 orCell Phone: (813) 781-9817The Southwest Florida Water Management District's Governing Board voted today to exchange properties with Hillsborough County in an effort to work together to protect conservation land. The Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners voted to approve this same effort at their regular meeting on April 20.The District agreed to exchange approximately 205 acres of land with the County for… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District honored Alton Cheatham of the Charlotte Harbor Environmental Center for his outstanding water resources education project. A total of 29 projects were recognized Wednesday during the “Partners in Watershed Education Conference” at the Crowne Plaza Tampa East Hotel.Cheatham was recognized for the Charlotte Harbor/Lemon Bay Surface Water Improvement and Management Watershed Education Program. This project educated… Read more

A project funded by the Southwest Florida Water Management District and the City of New Port Richey will expand the availability of reclaimed water to nearly 500 residents.The project includes the construction of approximately 26,800 feet of reclaimed water distribution lines in the neighborhoods north of Main Street and east of U.S. Highway 19.This project will provide approximately 217,200 gallons per day (gpd) of reclaimed water for irrigation to approximately 483 homes… Read more

The Florida Audubon Society has recognized a Southwest Florida Water Management District employee for his extraordinary contribution to saving places that make Florida special.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.The award was presented to… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District will be conducting “controlled, prescribed burns” during October and November on the Prairie-Shell Creek property. The Charlotte County site is west of U.S. Hwy. 17 and east of the Peace River, approximately 8 miles northeast of Punta Gorda. Approximately 300 acres of land will be burned in small, manageable units.The scheduled, managed burns are a part of routine maintenance of lands managed by the District.… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District will be conducting “controlled, prescribed burns” during July and August on the Prairie-Shell Creek property. The Charlotte County site is west of U.S. Hwy. 17 and east of the Peace River, approximately 8 miles northeast of Punta Gorda. Approximately 300 acres of land will be burned in small, manageable units.The scheduled, managed burns are a part of routine maintenance of lands managed by the District.According… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Governing Board Tuesday concurred with an executive order issued earlier this month allowing Tampa Bay Water to augment the Hillsborough River Reservoir with water from the middle pool of the Tampa Bypass Canal.The Hillsborough River Reservoir is the City of Tampa’s main resource for providing potable water to approximately 520,000 residents. As of May 4, the reservoir was at 18.5 feet, a level that is normally… Read more

A series of workshops aimed at familiarizing seasonal residents of Crystal Springs and Zephyrhills with Florida habitat and Florida-friendly landscape practices will begin March 6 at the Crystal Springs Preserve.The series of “Welcome to Our Watershed” workshops will encourage residents to take an active role in protecting the portion of the Hillsborough River watershed that travels through their neighborhoods. Participants who complete the workshop series will… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District will be conducting “controlled, prescribed burns” during March and April on the Prairie-Shell Creek property. The Charlotte County site is west of U.S. Hwy. 17 and east of the Peace River, approximately 8 miles northeast of Punta Gorda. Approximately 300 acres of land will be burned in small, manageable units.The scheduled, managed burns are a part of routine maintenance of lands managed by the District.According… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District will participate in a joint workshop with St. Johns River and South Florida water management districts, on the draft 2024 minimum flows and levels (MFLs) priority list and schedule. This workshop is an opportunity to solicit stakeholder input on each district’s annual update of their priority list and schedule for the establishment of minimum flows and water levels as well as water reservations.Microsoft TEAMS meeting Link:… Read more

Butterfly lovers will have a weekend to explore the Museum of Science and Industry’s (MOSI) Bio Work’s Butterfly Garden at no charge.Butterfly Weekend at MOSI is being held Saturday, Sept. 24 and Sunday Sept. 25. The Bio Works Butterfly Garden will be open to the public, free of charge, on both days from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.Besides exploring the Bio Works Butterfly Garden, attendees will also be able to participate in several hands-on activities on Saturday, Sept. 24.… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District is inviting the public to participate in a workshop aimed at updating the management plan for the Chassahowitzka Riverine Swamp Sanctuary property.The workshop will be held at the Homosassa Springs State Wildlife Park visitor center on U.S. 19 (4150 South Suncoast Blvd.) on Tuesday, July 26, at 6 p.m.The Sanctuary property encompasses approximately 5,700 acres, which protects an extensive area of coastal floodplain and… Read more

A project funded by the Southwest Florida Water Management District and Hillsborough County will bring reclaimed water to the Lithia-Pinecrest area.The Lithia-Pinecrest Reclaimed Water Transmission Line Project includes the construction of 12,000 linear feet of 24-inch reclaimed water transmission main line along Lithia Pinecrest Road from Bloomingdale Avenue to the entrance road to the Riverhills Golf Course. The project also includes the related controls and telemetry… Read more

Three members of the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Governing Board took their oaths of office Tuesday.Judith C. Whitehead of Brooksville was reappointed to succeed Patsy C. Symons. Last year the state Legislature reassigned Symons’ seat to represent Hernando and Marion counties and added two new seats to the Governing Board for a total of 13 members. Whitehead, the owner of Residential Appraisal Service, was first appointed to the Governing Board… Read more

Who: Suncoast Earth Force, Southwest Florida Water Management District staff, educators and approximately 600 students from Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties, 21 local environmental agenciesWhat: 9th Annual Youth SummitThe annual summit is sponsored by Suncoast Earth Force, a Tampa Bay area nonprofit educational organization.The summit brings together hundreds of youth, educators and community partners who have been involved in Earth Force programs during the past… Read more

Homeowners and gardening enthusiasts are invited to “play in the dirt” at this year’s Florida Yard Fandango March 10, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.This is the second year the Florida-friendly gardening event is being held at the Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI.)The goal of the Fandango is to promote Florida-friendly landscaping and lawn maintenance because it is beautiful and saves water, time and energy. Participants will enjoy touring the butterfly gardens and… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District will observe National Tourism Week May 12-20 by promoting the award-winning Water Conservation Hotel And Motel Program (Water C.H.A.M.P.) to the hospitality industry. The goal is to show that by implementing the Water C.H.A.M.P. program, the savings can really add up for local businesses.Water C.H.A.M.P. is the District’s linens and towel reuse program.According to VISIT FLORIDA, the states official tourism marketing… Read more

The "Southwest Florida Water Management District":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/ (District) is gathering information to improve identification of flood prone areas in Hernando and Pasco Counties' Squirrel Prairie and Pithlachascotee River Headwaters 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 Squirrel Prairie… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District honored three outstanding Pinellas County projects that focused on water resources education. A total of 27 projects were recognized during the “Partners in Watershed Education Conference” at the Lake Mirror Complex in Lakeland.The Pinellas County recipients are listed below. Pinellas County is in the Pinellas-Anclote River Basin, which also includes a portion of Pasco County.Dale Armstrong and Wilma Holley were… Read more