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The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Governing Board Tuesday approved a project that will reduce groundwater pumping in DeSoto County.Project partner Island Grove Agricultural Products’ Farm #5 is located along S.R. 763 in the Hawthorne Creek watershed. This watershed drains to Joshua Creek and is approximately 14 miles upstream of the Peace River, in the Shell, Prairie, and Joshua Creek Priority Area. This area is also part of the District’s… Read more

The "Central Florida Water Initiative's":http://cfwiwater.com/ (CFWI) Steering Committee has released two draft documents for public review and comment that will set a path forward for meeting water supply needs in central Florida for the next 20 years.At upcoming meetings, the public will have an opportunity to learn about and comment on the draft 2035 Water Resources Protection and Water Supply Strategies Plan (Solutions Plan) and minor changes to the draft 2015 Regional… Read more

Two Manatee County projects expected to reach nearly 2,650 residents were awarded Community Education Grants from the Southwest Florida Water Management District. These grants provide up to $5,000 to help fund projects that provide communities an opportunity to learn about water resources.This year the District awarded 32 grants Districtwide. This is the 12th year Community Education Grants have been available.The overall goal of the Community Education Grant program is to… Read more

For the second year in a row, the Southwest Florida Water Management District and Pinellas County Parks & Recreation Department will join forces to “Perk Up a Park.”The “Perk Up a Park” cleanup and interpretive sign unveiling will happen Saturday, June 25 at Philippe Park, located in Safety Harbor on Philippe Parkway between Main Street and State Road 580.This event is open to anyone who would like to volunteer. The volunteers will be asked to… Read more

Governor Rick Scott reappointed Michael Moran to the "Southwest Florida Water Management District's Governing Board":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/about/governingboard/. Moran represents Charlotte and Sarasota Counties. Moran, 46, of Sarasota, is the owner of Blue Water Insurance Group. Moran received his bachelor's degree in finance from Michigan State University. He is reappointed for a term beginning March 23, 2015, and ending March 1, 2019.Governing Board members are… Read more

From building water-conserving gardens to visiting a local estuary, District Splash! grants provide students the opportunity to learn about water resources in a hands-on way. The Splash! school grant program provides up to $3,000 per school to enhance student knowledge of freshwater resources. The grants help teachers build on existing classroom lessons by providing hands-on activities. “Splash! grants are a great way to support activities that empower students to… Read more

table(webalert). |Who:|Teams competing include Business Network International, Cornerstone Solutions Group, the Rag Tag Industry Team, the Luke Brothers, Pay it Forward Farm, Raymow, Tampa Bay Landscaping and the Southwest Florida Water Management District.Station leaders include Jim Davis, The Villages Florida Yards and Neighborhoods coordinator, at the Right Plant Right Place station; Kathleen Patterson, Marion County Florida Yards and Neighborhoods coordinator, at the… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board this week recognized two District employees for their roles on a successful restoration project that received national recognition. Senior Environmental Scientist Mark Brown and Professional Engineer Paul Miselis were recently presented with the 2005 Coastal America Partnership Award for their work on the Fort DeSoto Ecosystem Restoration Project. The two also received a congratulatory letter from President… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District has temporarily closed the Brogden Bridge airboat slide in Citrus County due to safety concerns associated with low water levels. The slide is located between the Hernando and Inverness pools of the Tsala Apopka Chain of Lakes.Current low water levels have exposed a ledge at the end of the airboat slide that causes it to be impassable. Attempts to use the slide in current conditions could damage airboats and/or injure… Read more

From left: Lake Panasoffkee, Rainbow River, Clam Bayou and Tampa Bypass Canal During the spring, the District has experienced an influx of new Governing Board members. This change in leadership has led to the need for informational tours throughout the District. “Board members can read about a project or a water resource, but actually getting out to see a particular site to learn about it and ask questions of our staff gives our Board members a better… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District's Governing Board voted on Tuesday to expand hunting opportunities at two District-managed lands. Hunting opportunities will be expanded on these District properties: * Areas of the Green Swamp Wilderness Preserve located west of CR 471 in Pasco County that are not already designated as wildlife management areas will be developed to provide hunting opportunities for youths and the disabled.* The Lower Hillsborough Flood… Read more

A Southwest Florida Water Management District project will help a Manatee County citrus grove and sod farm reduce groundwater pumping.The project involves the use of an integrated irrigation system at W.F.A. Land Company, Inc., located on the north fork of the Manatee River. Manatee County is part of a designated water use caution area because it is experiencing environmental impacts due to decades of groundwater over pumping. This project borders the eastern boundary of… 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

Governor Rick Scott reappointed John Henslick to the Southwest Florida Water Management District's Governing Board. Henslick represents Manatee County. Henslick, 66, of Myakka City, is the owner and president of Henslick & Associates, LLC. He received his bachelor's degree from Jacksonville University and his master's degree from the University of Florida. Henslick is reappointed for a term beginning June 5, 2017, and ending March 1, 2021. Governing Board members are… Read more

Left: David Moore, District executive director, and Virginia Harrell unveil a plaque declaring the Roy G. Harrell, Jr. Education Station at Spa Beach. Right: Todd Pressman, Governing Board secretary and Pinellas-Anclote River Basin Board co-chair ex officio, speaks about Harrell’s legacy as Sallie Parks, Governing Board member and Pinellas-Anclote River Basin Board co-chair ex officio, and James E. Martin, former Governing Board chair, look on. Visitors to The… Read more

Governor Rick Scott reappointed "Michael Babb ":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/about/governingboard/profiles/michael_babb.php to the "Southwest Florida Water Management District's Governing Board":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/about/governingboard/. Babb represents Hillsborough County. Babb, 36, of Tampa, is the president of Two Rivers Ranch. He is reappointed for a term beginning March 21, 2014, and ending March 1, 2018. The appointment is subject to confirmation by the… Read more

Governor Rick Scott reappointed Randall "Randy" Maggard to the "Southwest Florida Water Management District's Governing Board":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/about/governingboard/. Maggard represents Pasco County. Maggard, 51, of Zephyrhills, is the vice president of Sonny's Discount Appliances Inc. Maggard received his associate's degree from Pasco-Hernando Community College. He is reappointed for a term beginning March 16, 2015, and ending March 1, 2019.Governing Board… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Governing Board voted Tuesday to combine the Hillsborough River and Northwest Hillsborough Basin Boards.The decision comes after the Senate Committee on Environmental Preservation and Conservation and the state’s Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability both suggested the District consider merging Basin Boards where appropriate.In response to these recommendations, District staff thoroughly… Read more