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The Southwest Florida Water Management District is seeking public input about the order in which minimum flows and levels (MFL) for lakes, rivers, streams and aquifers in the District will be determined.A minimum flow or level is the limit at which further water withdrawals will cause significant harm to the water resources and/or environment. The District Governing Board sets these limits as part of achieving the delicate balance between meeting human water needs and those…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District is seeking public input about the order in which minimum flows and levels (MFL) for lakes, rivers, streams and aquifers in the District will be determined.A minimum flow or level is the limit at which further water withdrawals will cause significant harm to the water resources and/or environment. The District Governing Board sets these limits as part of achieving the delicate balance between meeting human water needs and those…

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 spring. That's why the Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) will be conducting prescribed burns March through September 2018 at Halpata Tastanaki Preserve in Marion County. Halpata Tastanaki Preserve is located two miles east of Dunnellon and seven miles northeast of the City of…

"The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) Governing Board ":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/about/governingboard/ proclaimed April 2014 Springs Protection Awareness Month. In support of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection proclamation and efforts, the Board also emphasized that the state's springs are essential to the environment, economy, citizens and visitors of the state.The District invested more than $2.1 million in springs protection and…

Following the Florida Legislature's lead, the "Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) Governing Board ":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/about/governingboard/ proclaimed April 2013 Springs Protection Awareness Month at their monthly board meeting. The Board emphasized that the state's springs are essential to the environment, economy, citizens and visitors of the state.The District invested more than $2.2 million in "springs protection":http://www.swfwmd.state.…

About 70 volunteers recently spent a morning cleaning invasive algae out of Weeki Wachee Springs in Hernando County. The volunteer event was a coordinated effort by the District and local rotary clubs to remove a blue-green algae known as Lyngbya. This event was part of a long-term maintenance plan for a District restoration project completed in 2009 designed to help keep the river healthy. While not all algae are bad, this quick spreading species can rapidly…

We tried everything we could to find a peaceful resolution, but the Polk Regional Water Cooperative (PRWC) seems intent on fighting a legal battle. The PRWC filed a legal challenge to a proposed permit that would allow the Peace River Manasota Regional Water Supply Authority (PRMRWSA) to withdraw additional quantities from the Peace River. An administrative law judge ordered all parties to meet in an effort to amicably resolve the litigation. The parties agreed to engage…

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 in 2017. That’s why the Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) will be conducting prescribed burns July through September on the Hálpata Tastanaki Preserve in Marion County. Hálpata Tastanaki Preserve is located 2…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District recently approved an agreement to help Marion County fund its first irrigation evaluation program.As part of the program, approximately 250 residents may volunteer to participate in this free program. Participants will receive an irrigation system evaluation, site-specific recommendations, installation of a rain sensor or a soil moisture sensor if an operable automatic shutoff device is not present, and Florida-friendly…

The public is invited to share ideas concerning potential water resources restoration projects at the upcoming Citrus County Task Force meeting.The meeting is being held Monday, Aug. 13, at 3 p.m. at the Lecanto Government Building, which is located at 3600 West Sovereign Path in Lecanto. The meeting is being held in Room 166.During the meeting the task force will be considering potential restoration projects to enhance fish and wildlife habitats in Citrus County. Examples…

Two Polk County projects, cooperatively funded by the Southwest Florida Water Management District, to improve water quality by treating stormwater runoff within the Ridge Lakes watershed will be complete in July.The first project consists of a stormwater treatment system for Lake Menzie. The project includes retrofitting two stormwater pipes that directly discharge into Lake Menzie. These retrofits include two swales, a retention basin, and a long infiltration basin. These…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District honored three outstanding Hillsborough County projects that focused on water resources education. A total of 26 projects were recognized Wednesday during the “Partners in Watershed Education Conference” at the Crowne Plaza Tampa East Hotel.

• Diane King and Brad Jackson, Valrico Elementary School teachers, were recognized for their project, “Cycles of Life.” As part of a 2006-2007 Splash! mini-…

State Sen. J.D. Alexander presented the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Governing Board with a ceremonial check for $15 million for the District’s West-Central Florida Water Restoration Action Plan (WRAP.)Gov. Charlie Crist included WRAP in his budget request to the Legislature and Sen. Alexander and Rep. Bill Galvano carried the budget request successfully through the legislative process.“Without the support of the Governor, Senator Alexander…

Two developers recently received statewide recognition for using Florida-friendly landscaping techniques in their communities.The University of Floridas Florida Yards and Neighborhoods (FYN), Builder/Developer program presented prestigious Community-Wide Florida-Friendly Landscaping Awards to Lee Wetherington Homes for the Willow Bend community in Sarasota County and King Ranch Manatee for the River Forest community in Manatee County. The awards were presented at Green…

The Central Florida Water Initiative (CFWI) regional water supply plan team will present a free, interactive webinar about the development of a regional water supply plan for the central Florida area at 1:30 p.m. on Aug. 29.The webinar will include an overview of the CFWI, highlights of the regional water supply planning process, a question and answer session and information on how to become involved in the process. The webinar is sponsored by the Polk County Board of 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 in 2017. That’s why the Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) will be conducting prescribed burns January through March on the Hálpata Tastanaki Preserve in Marion County. Hálpata Tastanaki Preserve is located 2…

The public is invited to attend the Citrus/Hernando Waterways Restoration Council meeting and the Hernando County Task Force meeting, both being held Monday, Oct. 1.The meetings will be at the Southwest Florida Water Management District Headquarters, on the first floor in Conference Rooms A and B, located at 2379 Broad Street in Brooksville.The Citrus/Hernando Waterways Restoration Council meeting begins at 2:45 p.m. Discussion will focus on council business.The Hernando…

A project funded by the Southwest Florida Management District and St. Petersburg will improve drainage in the Lake Coronado area, which is located in south St. Petersburg.The project involves constructing a bypass conduit around Lake Coronado, which will direct stormwater runoff from the westerly portion of the watershed around Lake Coronado; new outfall structures from both Lake Coronado and Lake Catalina; and a new conveyance and collection system under 60th Avenue South…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board Tuesday approved the purchase of a parcel of environmentally sensitive land in the Weekiwachee Preserve.The 315-acre parcel of land is located on the northwest corner of New York Avenue and Old Dixie Hwy. in the northern coastal area of Pasco County. The parcel is being purchased for $625,138.Funding for these purchases comes from the Florida Forever Trust Fund.Purchasing these parcels of land is consistent with…

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 in 2017. That’s why the Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) will be conducting prescribed burns October through December on the…