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This year District volunteers will take part in the 14th Annual National Public Lands Day, a yearly opportunity for Americans to improve and enhance the public lands they enjoy. The event, which is Saturday, Sept. 29, is the nation’s largest hands-on volunteer effort. District staff and volunteers will be conducting a beach cleanup at the District’s Piney Point Tract, which is located in southern Hillsborough County. For more information and to learn how you can… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) is collecting public comment on the proposed minimum and guidance levels for Cypress, Garden and Halfmoon lakes in Hillsborough County. In accordance with the directive in the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s Emergency Order to conduct all public meetings electronically, the District will provide virtual outreach now through Sept. 8 at… Read more

  Teams of students tackle questions at the recent 2012 Nature Coast Envirothon at Dade Battlefield Historic State Park. They examined soil, measured trees and got a close look at a snake.   The hands-on tasks were part of the 2012 Nature Coast Envirothon at Dade Battlefield Historic State Park in Bushnell where 260 high school students competed. The competition is a problem-solving, natural resources education program… Read more

Judy Whitehead, Governing Board member and former chair, presents Patsy Symons, Tom Dabney and Heidi McCree with plaques in honor of their service on the Governing Board. The District’s Governing Board recognized two former Governing Board chairs and a former member for their dedication to public service. During the May meeting, the Governing Board honored Tom Dabney, Heidi McCree and Patsy Symons… Read more

District scientists have completed a second year of setting up wetland monitoring sites as part of a regional monitoring program. The project is part of the Central Florida Water Initiative (CFWI), a water planning effort among government agencies, water utilities, environmental groups, business organizations, agricultural communities and other stakeholders in a five-county… Read more

 District staff and contractors discuss floodplain concerns with residents. District Governing Board members and staff recently got a firsthand view of a successful agricultural alternative water-use project built through the District’s Facilitating Agricultural Resource Management Systems (FARMS) Program. The project involved constructing a surface water tailwater recovery system that was built at Lallymix Farms’ Poucher Road farm in Hardee County. The… Read more

One of the District’s Surface Water Improvement and Management (SWIM) restoration projects is providing inspiration for hundreds of Hillsborough County art and photography students. Ten classes of middle and high school students were recently given the opportunity to learn about and explore the Schultz Preserve, located near the Port of Tampa. The field trips to the restoration site and the TECO Manatee Viewing Center were part of an education project funded by a TECO… Read more

On Tuesday, the Southewest Florida Water Management District's Governing Board adopted a $202.7 million budget for FY2020, including more than $81 million for the Cooperative Funding Initiative and District grants for water resources projects. The budget reflects the District’s commitment to protect Florida’s water resources and to improve Florida’s economic vitality. Some of the key initiatives in the District’s FY2020 budget include:

• $25.7 million for…

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On Tuesday, the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Governing Board adopted a $176.3 million budget for FY2019, including approximately $66 million for the Cooperative Funding Initiative and District grants for water resources projects. The budget reflects the District’s commitment to… 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 Pasco County's Pithlachascotee River/Bear Creek watershed. Residents living in the Pithlachascotee River/Bear Creek watershed are invited to attend an open house on Tuesday, April 29, 2014 or Thursday, May 1, 2014 beginning each day at 4:00 p.m. The meetings will take place at River Ridge High School, located… Read more

The District’s response team jumps into action to help the Suwannee River Water Management District with flooding in its area. (Photo courtesy Paul Buchanan) As Tropical Storm Debby churned in the Gulf of Mexico in June, it brought record rainfall, flooding and damage to various areas of the District. As part of the District’s core mission of flood protection, staff immediately responded to the needs of the community in a variety of ways. The… Read more

The "Southwest Florida Water Management District's (District) Governing Board":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/about/governingboard/ voted today to let all water shortage orders expire on July 31. Residents living within the District's boundaries are asked to observe the District's year-round conservation measures beginning August 1. However, some local governments may impose different schedules or retain stricter measures. Residents should check with their local governments… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District will be conducting "controlled, prescribed burns" during November and December for two District sites in Sarasota County – the Schewe Tract and the Deer Prairie Creek Preserve. Both properties are located to the north and south of I-75 between mile markers 186 and 190, with US 41 as the preserve's far southern boundary. The properties are also located between the Myakka River and the cities of North Port and Warm Mineral… Read more

TheSumter County Extension Office will receive a $5,000 Community Education Grant from the Southwest Florida Water Management District for its “Watering Smart- Living Green in The Villages” project.This project will target new residents of The Villages. Each month, 60 to 80 new residents will attend irrigation awareness workshops and receive hands-on instruction in setting and maintaining their sprinkler systems. Additional residents will be reached through a… Read more

TheFriends of the Dunnellon Public Library will receive a $4,550 Community Education Grant from the Southwest Florida Water Management District for a Florida-friendly demonstration garden.This demonstration garden and signage at the new public library will be designed by the Marion County Florida Yards & Neighborhoods (FYN) coordinator and maintained by the Friends of the Library organization. The library will offer four FYN workshops to residents and at least two… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District and the Peace River/Manasota Regional Water Supply Authority are working together on a project that will connect Sarasota County’s Carlton Water Treatment Facility to an existing water line to the north.This project is one component of the Regional Integrated Loop, which transmits alternative water supplies such as surface water and brackish ground water across four counties. This pipeline will allow the Authority to… Read more

A cooperative project between the Southwest Florida Water Management District and Pinellas County will improve water quality within tidal portions of Walls Springs Park and help restore small wetland areas.Located in western Palm Harbor, the well-known park experiences high use and is named after a small surficial spring in the park that discharges water into a small pond that flows into Boggy Bayou. The spring discharges about 3.5 million gallons of water per day during… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District will be conducting “controlled, prescribed burns” during the remaining days of August and September for two District sites in Sarasota County the Schewe Ranch property and the Deer Prairie Creek property.Both tracts are located to the north and south of I-75 between mile markers 186 and 190, with U.S. Hwy. 41 as its southern boundary. The properties are also located between the Myakka River and the cities of North… Read more

Florida native and citrus grower Ronald E. Oakley took his oath of office to serve on the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Governing Board during board meeting Tuesday.Oakley was appointed by Gov. Charlie Crist to succeed Talmadge G. “Jerry” Rice. Oakley’s term ends March 1, 2011.The Zephyrhills resident is the executive vice president of Oakley Groves, Inc. in Lake Wales. He feels his experience as a citrus grower and rancher will give… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District honored Angela Maraj yesterday during a District ceremony that recognized outstanding programs that focused on water resources education. Maraj serves as the Florida Yards & Neighborhoods Builders/Developers Outreach coordinator in Charlotte, Manatee and Sarasota counties. A total of 27 projects were recognized during the “Partners in Watershed Education Conference” at the Lake Mirror Complex in Lakeland.In… Read more