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Clockwise from above: Terese Power, staff engineer, uses a watershed model to show how pollution works its way into rivers and lakes. Jason LaRoche, professional geologist, shows kids that “geology rocks.” Chris Barnes, student intern, demonstrates water quality field testing. Shannon Maynard, chemist, helps a student mix up a chemistry demonstration. Nearly 120 children learned about District jobs April 22 at the District’s 14th annual celebration of Take Our… Read more

Lake Panasoffkee water is clearer, eelgrass is thicker and fisheries are richer in response to the recent restoration project and effective management of lake levels, according to the District and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officials. The lake continues to respond well following the dredging restoration project, which was completed in November 2008. The 10-year, $26.9 million project restored Lake Panasoffkee’s historic fish bedding areas and… Read more

Information on how residents can conserve water during the drought will be a focal point at this year’s Marion County Master Gardeners’ Spring Festival being held March 8 – 9 at the Marion County Extension Service Office in Ocala. The office is located at 2232 N.E. Jacksonville Rd.The restroom trailer features the District’s new “Reduce Your Use” water conservation campaign and Florida-friendly landscaping tips through displays and free… Read more

The Tampa Bay Estuary Program recently announced the winners of the 2014 Tampa Bay Environmental Restoration Fund. Nearly $625,000 was awarded to nine agencies or organizations for important restoration, research and education projects in Tampa Bay watersheds.  The 2014 fund is financed with contributions from the District; The Mosaic Company Foundation through the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation; Manatee County; Pinellas County; TECO Energy; the Florida… Read more

Six Highlands County teachers were awarded Splash! school grants through the Southwest Florida Water Management District.Mary Margaret Hull, District lead communications coordinator, attributes the effectiveness of the grant program in Highlands County to the strong partnership with Highlands County Schools. Dorothea Strickland, Highlands County science curriculum specialist, serves as the District's liaison to teachers and helped get the word out."The District recognizes… Read more

Eleven-year-old Tommy Money, along with friends Addie Ratliff, 9, and Emily Ratliff, 6, huddled together to discuss what they would name their longleaf pine sapling as they gently placed it into the ground with the help of District Senior Land Management Specialist Will VanGelder. The girls, who pledged to come back and check on the progress of their tree, quickly looked around for mature trees and other landmarks that will help them identify the location of their little… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Governing Board Tuesday celebrated a District cooperatively funded project with the City of St. Petersburg that received an Outstanding Achievement Award from the Florida Stormwater Association for restoring Lake Maggiore.This is the first year the Florida Stormwater Association recognized six projects and programs during the association’s annual conference in June.The projects were recognized for demonstrating… Read more

Who: Southwest Florida Water Management District Governing and Basin Board members and staff, Hernando County commissioners and Parks and Recreation Department staff, the Sensitive Lands CommitteeWhat: The District, County and the Sensitive Lands Committee are celebrating the rededication of Bayport Park.Bayport Park was originally developed in the 1950s with boat launch facilities and a fishing pier. The 1.5-acre historic park site, located… Read more

One newly appointed and one reappointed Governing Board member took the oath of office today to serve on the Southwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board.Pat Glass was appointed to the Governing Board. The Palmetto resident is retired and serves as a community volunteer. Glass will also assume responsibility as co-chair ex officio of the District’s Manasota Basin Board. Her term ends March 1, 2009.Glass, a long-time Manatee County commissioner and… Read more

Virginia Frissell, a science resource teacher at Twin Lakes Elementary School in Tampa was named The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Water Steward of the Year.Frissell was chosen for her “Water Everywhere — Put It First — Make It Last” project. Her project was chosen from seven finalists. Twin Lakes Elementary is in the District’s Hillsborough River Basin.Frissell was honored at the Governing Board’s October meeting.… Read more

Whether you were a scientist, diver or photographer, water quality was the hot topic at the recent Your Water, Your World workshop held in Brooksville.  The event, organized by the Hernando County Groundwater Guardian Committee, brought together community leaders such as District Governing Board members Tommy Bronson and George Mann to discuss issues affecting area water quality and ways to restore and protect local water resources. Presenters from various… Read more

Five Hernando 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 Hernando County to the strong partnership with Hernando County Schools. Jeff Yungmann, curriculum supervisor for Hernando County Schools, serves as the District's liaison to teachers and helped… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District and the City of Safety Harbor recently signed an agreement for a project to prevent erosion and improve water quality within the Mullet Creek watershed.The watershed covers approximately one square mile within the city and includes the Lincoln Highlands subdivision and the Harbor Lake industrial park. The work will begin at Harbor Lake and extend downstream to the 9th Avenue North crossing.During the past 50 years, development… Read more

Note: The new year-round water conservation measures will not go into effect until the current water shortage order, which restricts lawn watering to one-day-per-week, is lifted.The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Governing Board voted in December to approve revisions to the District’s two-day-per-week year-round water conservation measures to coincide with similar measures in other areas of the state.Compared to the state’s… Read more

District scientists and planners recently completed an updated Regional Water Supply Plan to assess projected water demands and identify potential sources of water to meet those demands through the year 2025. The Regional Water Supply Plan was first developed in 2001 and is periodically revised based on updated information such as the demand for water. The plan, which was created for a ten-county area from Pasco County to Charlotte County, also identifies the… Read more

She couldn’t help it; volunteering is in her blood. In the summer of 2000, Heidi McCree had entered a new phase in her life. She resigned from her position as executive director of the Hillsborough River Greenways Task Force, wanting to devote more time to her family and her newly adopted son, Alexander. Then came the call from the Governor’s Office. “Have you ever thought about being a Governing Board member?” “There was something within me … I just had to be… Read more

Due to below normal rainfall, reduced river levels and increasing water supply concerns, the Southwest Florida Water Management District's "Governing Board":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/about/governingboard/ voted today to increase "water restrictions":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/conservation/restrictions/TBphase3.php in the Tampa Bay area. Even though December rainfall was near normal for our region, rainfall in January and February was 3.5 inches below normal.The… Read more

Twenty-eight Pinellas 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 Pinellas County to the strong partnership with Pinellas County Schools. Julie Poth, K–8 science supervisor for Pinellas County Schools, serves as the District's liaison to teachers and… Read more

Modified Phase I Water Shortage Order remains in effect DistrictwideThe Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) Governing Board voted today to extend one-day-per-week watering restrictions for Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties until July 1. This extension mirrors the existing water shortage order currently in effect for Citrus, DeSoto, Hardee, Hernando, Manatee, Polk, Sarasota and Sumter counties; portions of Charlotte, Highlands and Lake… Read more

Volunteer Contribution  Terry Yoder of the Citizen Support Organization, far right, receives an award from District Governing Board Chair Watson L. Haynes II, Governing Board member Janet D. Kovach, and Governing Board Vice Chair Heidi B. McCree. We always feed our volunteers well. If anyone wants to sign up, call me!” That’s one of the selling points Karen Michalak makes when she’s trying to recruit people to join the Pasco County Sheriff’s Mounted… Read more