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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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

A cooperatively funded project between the Southwest Florida Water Management District and Sarasota County will develop a computer model to determine how much pollution is entering the countys surface waters.The model will estimate how much pollution will result from proposed land development designs, estimate the effectiveness of projects, and relate pollutant loads to water quality. This model will help the District and the county with efforts to improve the water quality…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District has begun construction on four projects to restore natural systems and improve the water quality at the Charlotte Harbor Buffer Preserve.The Charlotte Harbor Buffer Preserve has been significantly impacted by human activities, such as construction of miles of mosquito ditches and berms, which have altered historic wetland hydroperiods and flow patterns into Charlotte Harbor.The projects will fill mosquito ditches to restore…

The Marion County Extension Service Office will receive a $5,000 grant from the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s 2006 Community Education Grant Program.The Marion County Extension Service Office was awarded the funds for the Spring Festival 2006. This festival, which is being held March 11-12, is a continuation of the cooperator’s previous efforts. Approximately 16,000 residents will attend this one-day Florida-friendly landscaping festival.…

The Spring Hill Garden Club will receive a $5,000 grant from the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s 2006 Community Education Grant Program.The Spring Hill Garden Club was awarded the funds for the “Florida Native Plant Garden” project. This Florida-friendly landscape project will use all native plants and is an expansion of the cooperator’s previous efforts. More than 250,000 visitors will learn about the advantages of Florida-friendly landscaping. Volunteers…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District is inviting the public to come out for a special event focusing on the Brooker Creek watershed on Saturday, Oct. 16 at the Target in the Shoppes at Boot Ranch. The event takes place from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m.This event allows kids of all ages to learn about water through hands-on activities that focus on the importance of protecting the Brooker Creek watershed. This event is part of Watershed Wonders Week, a grass roots campaign…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District recently recognized the Marion County 10th Annual Master Gardener Spring Festival 2004 as an outstanding water resources education program.Approximately 9,000 people attended this Florida-friendly landscaping event, which is organized by the Marion County Florida Yards & Neighborhoods Program. Information on proper plant material, water conservation and water quality materials was distributed. More than 1,000 people also…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District will be conducting “controlled, prescribed burns” during October and November on three District sites in Pasco County. The sites are the Upper Hillsborough property, the Connerton property, and the Starkey property.The Upper Hillsborough property is approximately 3 miles east of Zephyrhills. Approximately 100 acres of land will be burned in small, manageable units.The Connerton property is approximately 7 miles…

Whether they were operating structures, providing needed equipment or talking to citizens, staff members were busy last month responding to the record rainfall received in parts of the District. The rain event affected nearly every department at the District. The record rain that occurred from July 26 to Aug. 7 had many employees working around the clock. And nearly daily rainfall in some parts of the District has continued to keep staff busy. Robert Beltran, the District'…

Twelve Highlands County teachers are among the record number of educators who applied for and received Splash! mini-grants through the Southwest Florida Water Management District.This year the District awarded Splash! mini-grants to 209 educators totaling more than $413,000. That’s 72 more grant recipients than last year.Mary Margaret Hull, lead communications coordinator, attributes the increase in awardees to an increase in promotion among the District’s…