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Federal flood maps — used to assess flooding risks — are being updated for our area with your help and input. Why These Maps Need Updating This national effort of map modernization will produce more reliable flood risk data and in a digital format. This new format will enable communities to overlay and analyze new flood data with street layouts, demographics, infrastructure and evacuation routes. It also provides more timely access to update maps as flood risks change… Read more

Four Marion County teachers were awarded Splash! school grants through the "Southwest Florida Water Management District(Southwest Florida Water Management District)":/.Mary Margaret Hull, District lead communications coordinator, attributes the effectiveness of the grant program in Marion County to the strong partnership with Marion County Schools. Jacqua Ballas, science program specialist for Marion County Schools, serves as the District's liaison to teachers and helped get… Read more

table(webalert). |*Who:*|The Southwest Florida Water Management District||*What:*|A day of educational speakers, booths and tours at Rainbow Springs State Park to promote Florida springs awareness.Events include a basin bus tour, headsprings snorkel tour and ranger guided hike.||*When:*|Saturday, Sept. 22, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.||*Where:*|Rainbow Springs State Park, 19158 SW 81st Place Road, Dunnellon, FL 3443||*How Much:*|Park admission is $2 per person, children 6 and under are… Read more

Visitors can experience Florida’s freshwater springs through a variety of outdoor activities, musical entertainment and guest speakers during the 8th Annual Marion County Springs Festival, Saturday, Sept. 26, from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Silver River State Park.Experts will speak about Florida’s springs and springs protection, as well as Marion County’s irrigation and fertilizer ordinances and Florida-friendly landscaping.In addition to the guest speakers,… Read more

March 14 – 21, 2009The Southwest Florida Water Management District, together with Citrus and Marion counties and the cities of Crystal River and Dunnellon, will proclaim March 14-21 as the first Springs Awareness Week.Here is a list of events taking place during Springs Awareness Week. These events are aimed at raising awareness about the health of the local springs and what people can do to protect them.Nitrate pollution from overusing fertilizers is one reason the… Read more

A sold-out crowd at the Tampa Theatre erupted in thunderous applause after an hour of stunning scenery, funny moments in nature and important messages about conservation. It was the premiere of “The Forgotten Coast: Return to Wild Florida,” a documentary of the Florida Wildlife Corridor Expedition that took a team of explorers across 1,000 miles of natural lands… Read more

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) officially approved adding three first-magnitude spring systems – Weeki Wachee River, Chassahowitzka River and Homosassa River – to the Surface Water Improvement Management (SWIM) Program priority list.In January, "The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) Governing Board ":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/about/governingboard/voted to begin the process of officially adding those systems to the existing… Read more

What is the Weeki Wachee Carrying Capacity Study? The Weeki Wachee Carrying Capacity Study is an ecologically-based study of the Weeki Wachee River in Hernando County. The goal of the study was to evaluate the effects of recreational use on the natural systems of the river, as its growing popularity and increased visitor traffic have led to concerns about potential degradation of the river and its ecosystems. Who conducted the study? Third-party consultant Wood… Read more

 Acquired jointly between the District and Hillsborough County, this property is managed by the Hillsborough County Conservation and Environmental Lands Management Department. The natural communities on the property include freshwater marshes, riverine floodplains, pine flatwoods, sand pine scrub and oak hammocks. The property supports a variety of wildlife species due to the diversity… Read more

The Peace River gets its fresh water from rainfall. Annual rainfall averages approximately 53 inches, with more than half occurring between June and September. Most of the rainwater reenters the atmosphere through evaporation and plant transpiration. The rest recharges the aquifer or runs off into the Peace River and its tributary streams. The river is primarily a blackwater river. This type of river drains pine flatwoods and cypress swamps and has dark, stained waters… Read more

 Photo left: District staffers Bob Brady, senior field technician; Carol Kraft, staff hydrologist; Dave DeWitt, senior geologist/engineer; and Tim Crosby, field technician, check out Peace Sign cave. Photo center: An 87-year-old tour participant talks to Gary Williams, District senior environmental scientist, on the walk to the caves. Photo right: Tim Crosby, field technician, shows tour participants how the District collects water quality samples. This… Read more

Joint Effort Educates Residents on Protecting Vital Resource Volunteers retrieve debris from Kings Bay during Citrus County’s Save Our Waters Week. The District’s 2011 observance of Springs Awareness Week helped more residents understand their effects on the health of springs, thanks to a joint venture with two northern counties. The District joined Citrus and Marion counties to mark Springs Awareness Week Sept. 16–24. The week combined Citrus County’s… Read more

Your Questions Answered January 2020 The Weeki Wachee River has been a popular site for recreational activities for many years. Recently, both public and private stakeholders agreed to take a closer look at what steps should be taken now to ensure the waterway is protected for years to come. Randy Smith, Natural Systems & Restoration Bureau Chief for the Southwest Florida Water Management District, explains the results of the recently… Read more

Blackwater streams and rivers originate in swampy areas and get their names because the water that flows through them is stained dark brown, like the color of tea, by organic acids. This staining gives the appearance of "black" water. Some examples of blackwater rivers in the District include the Hillsborough, Withlacoochee and Pithlachascotee rivers. Some of the animals you will find in blackwater streams and rivers include alligators, river otters, bluegills, snapping… Read more

Residents have a new resource devoted to the area’s major springs systems. The District has launched WaterMatters.org/Springs, a one-stop-shop of information on the area’s five major springs systems in Citrus, Hernando and Marion counties and what the District is doing to monitor and restore them.  These five systems include: the Chassahowitzka, Homosassa, Rainbow and Weeki Wachee rivers, plus… Read more

The District’s work with springs is receiving worldwide attention as a Paris production crew recently documented some of the District’s projects.  One Planet Productions, based in France, writes and produces films dedicated to science, society, nature and the environment. Their films are broadcast on French television, as well as National Geographic and the Discovery Channel.  The film crew spent about a week documenting springs in the District. They… Read more

The Governing Board declared April Springs Protection Awareness Month at today’s Governing Board meeting. The move is part of the District’s ongoing effort to restore and protect area springs and encourage community involvement.  The Governing Board also recognized the Springs Coast Steering Committee, which is made up of members of local, regional and state agencies. One of their main goals is to develop management plans tailored for each spring system to identify… Read more

The "Southwest Florida Water Management District":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/ (District) has launched a contest on the social media site Instagram to raise awareness of springs throughout the District. Springs sites are a popular hot spot with both local residents and tourists during the summer months and especially holiday weekends. This summer, whether you are tubing, kayaking, swimming or just relaxing near one of the many springs in our District, you can share those… Read more

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection and District have approved five springs restoration projects in Citrus, Hernando and Marion counties. These projects will receive more than $13.4 million in state funding from Governor Rick Scott’s 2015-16 “Keep Florida Working” budget. This funding is expected to leverage over $7 million in matching funds.  These five selected projects will benefit Homosassa, Kings Bay, Rainbow and Weeki Wachee springs. “I would… Read more