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Nearly a decade of public workshops, water resource analyses and policy debates culminated recently in approval of the Southern Water Use Caution Area (SWUCA) Recovery Strategy by the District’s Governing Board. “This is a historic moment for the District, the public and the water resources,” said Executive Director David Moore. “Many years of labor and collaboration by Board members, staff, representatives of all the types of water users and the general public went…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) Governing Board  Cheryl Paradis as one of this year's springs community partners, while declaring April Springs Protection Awareness Month. Paradis has served as the director and lead teacher at the Springs Coast Environmental Education Center on the…

ORLANDO, Fla., Sept 18, 2013 – The St. Johns River, South Florida and Southwest Florida water management districts are working with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and regional utilities to address near and long-term water supply needs in the central Florida region.Through the "Central Florida Water Initiative ":http://cfwiwater.com/ (CFWI), the agencies are engaging stakeholders in the development…

The Land Management Section of the "Southwest Florida Water Management District":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/ (District) will be conducting prescribed burns during the months of July, August and September on lands acquired by the District known as the Chassahowitzka River and Coastal Swamps property. The location of this tract of land is approximately 1.5 miles west of U.S. 19 in southwest Citrus County. Close to 400 acres will be burned, in small, manageable units…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District will be conducting "controlled, prescribed burns" during November and December on the Deep Creek Preserve in DeSoto County.The site is east of Kings Highway, west of the Peace River and north of Deep Creek Estates. Approximately 350 acres of land will be burned in small, manageable units. The scheduled, controlled burns are a part of routine maintenance of lands managed by the District. According to District Land Manager…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Deep Creek Preserve will be the site of a hog hunt Jan. 9-11. The tract will be temporarily closed to the public and only permitted hunters will be allowed on the property during these days.The property is located south of Peace River Street and east of Kings Highway in DeSoto County.The hunt is one of a series of hog hunts being held on District lands in an effort to control the damage being caused to the natural…

A project funded by the Southwest Florida Water Management District and the City of Zephyrhills will expand the use of reclaimed water in Zephyhills.The project includes the construction of approximately 6,000 feet of transmission and distribution line from an existing reclaimed water transmission line to irrigate landscaping along the city’s streets.This project will provide approximately 8,000 gallons per day (gpd) of reclaimed water for irrigation, which is expected…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District and Hernando County are holding a series of workshops to ask developers, engineers and the general public to review and comment on 22 watershed management plans.A watershed is an area of land that water flows across as it moves toward a common low point, sinkhole complex, or a body of water, such as a stream, river, lake or coast.During the workshops, preliminary models and floodplain information will be presented for review…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District and Pasco County are holding a series of workshops for review and comment from developers, engineers and the general public on 13 watershed management plans.A watershed is an area of land that water flows across as it moves toward a common body of water, such as a stream, river, lake or coast.During the workshops, preliminary models and floodplain information will be presented for review and comment. After addressing the…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District will be treating water hyacinth and water lettuce on the shoreline and canals of Lake Panasoffkee April 11-14.Treatment involves using the aquatic herbicide Reward. Treatment areas will be posted with warning signs displaying treatment dates and applicable water use restrictions. Restrictions on Reward include no livestock watering for one day, no irrigation of turf or ornamental plants for one day or crops for five days and…

h2. District to Brief the Public on Lake Isis, Tulane Stormwater Treatment ProjectsThe "Southwest Florida Water Management District(Southwest Florida Water Management District)":/ is inviting the public to an informational meeting on the Lake Isis and Lake Tulane stormwater treatment projects, which will improve water quality in the lakes. The meeting will be held from *6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 18*, 2011 at the *City of Avon Park Council Chambers*, 123 East Pine Street in…

h2. District to Brief the Public on Stormwater Treatment ProjectThe "Southwest Florida Water Management District(Southwest Florida Water Management District)":/ is inviting the public to an informational meeting on the Lake Wailes stormwater treatment project, which will improve water quality in the lake. The meeting will be held from *6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, July 27, 2011* at the *Lake Wales Municipal Administration Building*, 201 Central Avenue West in Lake Wales.The…

A cooperative project between the Southwest Florida Water Management District, Pinellas County and the City of Dunedin will reduce flooding and improve water quality entering St. Joseph Sound.The project involves conducting a survey and the design, permitting and construction of a box culvert to connect Curlew Creek Channel A to an existing detention pond owned by the county. Curlew Creek, which is located in the Spanish Oaks Diversion improvement area, flows into St.…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District is working with willing property owners to improve the flood control capability of the Peace Creek Canal by treating aquatic vegetation in select areas.Approximately 20 miles of the canal will be targeted for treatment Nov. 14, 15 or 16. If weather conditions are not favorable, an alternative date is set for Nov. 28-30.The Peace Creek Canal runs from Lake Hamilton to the Peace River and provides necessary drainage for a large…

Polk County students at 11 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 Polk County awardees are:* Herbert Maysonet, *Auburndale High*, was awarded $2,930. Students will learn to collect and test water samples from local ponds. They will explore various pollutants and learn how water is treated to eliminate…

When visitors arrive at the Brooker Creek Preserve, their education begins the minute they leave their vehicles. A series of interpretive signage now lines the main trail between the parking lot and the environmental education center. Additional signs are located at key locations, including the butterfly garden and a mini wetland. The Brooker Creek Preserve Environmental Education Center is located within the Brooker Creek watershed, which covers 39 square miles in…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) awarded $104,941.81 in grants to 48 educators within the District as part of the Splash! school grant program. The program provides up to $3,000 per school to enhance student knowledge of freshwater resources in grades K-12. Splash! grants encourage hands-on student learning through STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) activities as well as engagement of the greater school community through…

The public is invited to share ideas concerning potential water resources restoration projects when the Citrus/Hernando Waterways Restoration Council and the Hernando County Task Force meet on Oct. 20.The Citrus/Hernando Waterways Restoration Council will meet at 3 p.m. in Conference Rooms A & B, 1st Floor, at the Southwest Florida Water Management District Headquarters, 2379 Broad Street, Brooksville. The Hernando County Task Force will meet in the same location at 3:…

As the drought continues to make front-page news across the country, the District is taking steps to stretch our limited water supply and raise public awareness about what people can do to help. The District has had below-average rainfall since January 2006. As of December, the Districtwide 24-month rainfall deficit is approximately 23 inches. “Conditions have not improved, particularly in the southern portion of the District,” said Richard Owen, District deputy…

A national program sponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) calls the District’s Water Conservation Hotel and Motel Program (Water C.H.A.M.P.) a “Gulf Guardian.” The District’s water conservation program took second place among government programs at the Gulf Guardian Awards in Corpus Christi, Texas. Water C.H.A.M.P. began in September 2002 as a two-year pilot program in the Pinellas-Anclote River Basin of the Southwest Florida Water Management…