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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…

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 Most of the currently available floodplain information is 10 to 30 years old and is outdated because of natural and physical changes caused by land use, development and erosion.Residents living in the Squirrel Prairie…

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…

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…

Talmadge G. Jerry Rice Tuesday was unanimously elected by his peers to serve as Governing Board chair of the Southwest Florida Water Management District.Other Board officers selected include Judith C. Judy Whitehead, vice chair; Jennifer E. Closshey, treasurer; and C.A. “Neil” Combee, Jr., secretary.Chair Jerry RiceRice of Dade City was appointed to the Governing Board in March 2003. He was elected the Boards Treasurer in May 2004. Rice is also…

Above-normal rainfall during the summer rainy season has brought significant improvement to water resources not seen in more than seven years in the Southwest Florida Water Management District's region.Many of the District's lakes, rivers and aquifers have recovered after a four-year drought which started in 2005. Rainfall totals from the four-month rainy season show above normal averages across the District."This summer was a drought breaker for us," said Granville Kinsman…

At today’s meeting, the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Manasota Basin Board adopted a fiscal year 2007 (FY2007) millage rate of 0.160 mill, which is the same as the current fiscal year.The budget for FY2007 is $24,977,189, which is an increase of $4,741,656 from the approved FY2006 budget. The increase is attributed to increased property values and additional revenue from the State Water Protection and Sustainability Program for alternative water supply…

Five Pinellas County projects were recently awarded Community Education Grants from the "Southwest Florida Water Management District(Southwest Florida Water Management District)":/ to provide direct, hands-on education to more than 7,000 residents.This year the District approved 29 grants Districtwide for a total of $120,471. This is the 14th year "Community Education Grants(Community Education Grant program)":/business/communitygrants have been available. These grants offer…

A Hernando County project expected to reach up to 150 people was recently awarded a Community Education Grant from the "Southwest Florida Water Management District(Southwest Florida Water Management District)":/. This year the District approved 29 grants Districtwide for a total of $120,471. This is the 14th year "Community Education Grants(Community Education Grant program)":/business/communitygrants have been available. These grants offer reimbursement up to $5,000 to help…

Southwest Florida Water Management District staff members are reaching out to community groups to answer questions about the ongoing drought, the tightened watering restrictions in the Tampa Bay area, and how residents can help.“The District is making every effort to make the public aware of the serious situation we are in,” said Robyn Felix, media relations manager. “We are urging everyone to do their part to conserve water.”After two years of…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board today approved a project to reduce groundwater pumping up to 178,000 gallons per day (gpd) at a Hillsborough County nursery. The Facilitating Agricultural Resource Management Systems (FARMS) program is a cost-share reimbursement program that conserves water and protects water quality. The FARMS project, proposed by Holmberg Farms, Inc., is located in central Hillsborough County. Fishhawk Creek flows through the…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board Tuesday approved a project to reduce groundwater pumping up to 94,900 gallons per day (gpd) at a Manatee County farm.The Facilitating Agricultural Resource Management Systems (FARMS) program is a cost-share reimbursement program that conserves water and protects water quality.The FARMS project, proposed by FFD Land Company, Inc., is located upstream from Lake Manatee, which is a major source of drinking water…

A project funded by the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Pinellas-Anclote River Basin Board and Clearwater will make the city’s reclaimed water system more efficient, allowing more customers to connect.The Clearwater Reclaimed Water System Meter Retrofit Project consists of retrofitting approximately 3,300 existing Clearwater reclaimed water connections with individual meters and their related equipment. Retrofitting the meters will allow the city…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District, in cooperation with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, will treat hydrilla along the western shoreline (Outlet River side) of Lake Panasoffkee.Approximately 200 acres of the 4,000-acre Lake Panasoffkee will be treated May 30 though June 2. Treatment involves the application of the aquatic herbicide Aquathol K by helicopter.Maps indicating the treatment…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Hampton Tract, which is part of the Green Swamp Wilderness Preserve, will be reserved Nov. 18-20 for an event that allows disabled hunters the opportunity to experience the outdoors. The property will be closed to the public during this time.The Green Swamp Wilderness Preserve’s Polk County entrance is at the intersection of Rockridge Road and Deen Still Road.The hunt is a joint effort between the District and…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District will be conducting “controlled, prescribed burns” during the months of October through December on the District’s Deer Prairie Creek property. The property is located north and south of I-75 between mile markers 186 and 190. The property’s southern border is U.S. 41 between Myakka River and the North Port. The scheduled, managed burns are a part of routine maintenance of lands managed by the District…

A Clearwater reclaimed water project is receiving continued support from the Southwest Florida Water Management District.The Clearwater Morningside Reclaimed Water Transmission and Distribution project consists of the design and construction of reclaimed water transmission lines and distribution lines.The project will supply reclaimed water to the Morningside service area, which includes approximately 760 residential homes, eight commercial customers and the Morningside…

The Southwest Florida Management District and Polk County have agreed to jointly fund a study to determine the feasibility of developing water supply from the Lower Floridan aquifer. Until now, all groundwater supplies from the Floridan aquifer have been obtained from the Upper Floridan aquifer.The project consists of constructing and testing an exploratory well in northeast Polk County. The test well will be drilled to a depth of 2,350 feet below the surface. The data…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District recently recognized the Hardee Jr. High Water Study as an outstanding water resources education program.This project taught students about the importance of the Peace River. The project focused on water quality and factors that affect it. The primary water quality studies were turbidity, dissolved oxygen, phosphate and nitrate levels and pH. Geographical and geologic topics were also discussed.The project was one of 52 projects…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board Tuesday approved the purchase of a 5,484-acre parcel of land in Citrus County. This acquisition will be added to the 11,454 acres that the District either owns or holds an interest within the Flying Eagle project.The property, commonly known as the McGregor Smith Scout Reservation,is located south of S.R. 44 in Citrus County, approximately 6 miles east of the City of Inverness.The land is being purchased for $…