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Five counties within the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s region are now under a Modified Phase III water shortage order due to below-normal rainfall this winter. The District’s Governing Board voted last month to declare the Phase III order for northern counties in the District’s region, which are: Citrus, Hernando, Lake, Levy, and Sumter as well as the City of Dunnellon and The Villages in Marion County. A Modified Phase I alert remains in effect for the… Read more

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.Watershed BasicsWe all live in a watershed and if you live near a spring, you live in a springshed.Watersheds are defined by the way water flows across the land and are shaped by features and elevations on the surface of the land. … Read more

 Learn about current District water restrictions, or view local government water restrictions contact information.

January 2024Q: What is a prescribed burn?A: A prescribed burn, also known as a prescribed fire, is a fire intentionally ignited by land managers to meet specific land management goals and objectives. The burns follow a written prescription, which outlines the defined fire treatment area, specific weather conditions that are required, the tactics staff will use, and the staffing and equipment resources that are required to safely conduct the… Read more

 Highlights

• Designated an “Estuary of National Significance” in 1990
• Florida’s largest open-water estuary at 373 square miles
• Over 2 million residents in the watershed
• Includes portions of Hillsborough, Manatee and Pinellas counties
• 2,200-square-mile watershed

ChallengesThree main challenges exist in the Tampa Bay watershed:

• Alteration and loss of coastal uplands and wetlands due to development
• Spread of non… Read more

The "Southwest Florida Water Management District":http://www.watermatters.org is encouraging residents to fix leaks and install inexpensive water-saving devices in conjunction with Water Conservation Month.The District is kicking off its "Fix It for Less" campaign that encourages homeowners to make changes in three areas of the home – the bathroom, kitchen and laundry room – to save water and money.The campaign features a new website at "WaterMatters.org/FixItForLess/":http… Read more

View Land Currently for Sale »The District has parcels for sale as part of its surplus lands program. Many of these parcels will be sold “as-is,” and others will be sold with the District retaining a conservation easement with certain restrictions. If you are interested in purchasing one or more of these parcels, contact the District’s Real Estate Section at (352) 796-7211.Why Does the… Read more

Conservation Takes Center Stage April in Florida… It’s an ideal time to enjoy a little fun in the sun and to remind Floridians about the importance of water conservation. The state Legislature designated April as Water Conservation Month because April is in the dry season, typically the time when water needs are most acute and temperatures begin to climb. Although Florida receives an average of 52 inches of rainfall per year, 60 percent of that annual rainfall is… Read more

April is Water Conservation Month across the state because this month is traditionally one of the driest of the year and typically marks the peak demand season for public water suppliers. It’s also a good time to remember there are a number of easy ways to save water and money. Some simple habits can make a big difference by saving thousands of gallons per year. Other changes may save only a few drops at a time, but when multiplied by almost five million residents… Read more

Focus Groups Focus groups are interviews, conducted by a trained moderator, among a small group of respondents. The interview is conducted in an unstructured and natural way where respondents are free to give views from any aspect. The District uses focus groups to acquire feedback regarding attitudes, behaviors and knowledge about water conservation and water quality. Focus groups have also provided valuable feedback for educational and campaign messages.  … Read more

To help achieve its mission, the District promotes behaviors that conserve and protect water resources. Social research can provide information that helps staff design programs that more effectively lead to sustainable behaviors. Not only can social research be used for designing more effective programs, but it can also be used for evaluating those programs. A survey conducted before an educational campaign, for instance, can set a benchmark for what people know, believe… Read more

 District staff and Governing and Basin Board members toured The Villages. From left to right: Albert “Bo” Rooks, Withlacoochee River Basin Board member; John Heuer, deputy executive director; Janet Kovach, Governing Board member; Jerry Rice, Governing Board vice chair; Seeth Trimpert, Withlacoochee River Basin Board vice chair; John Arnett, III, water resources engineer for The Villages; Janey Baldwin, Withlacoochee River Basin Board member; Gary Moyer, vice… Read more