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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…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District has released as much water out of Lake Tarpon as possible in anticipation of heavy rainfall and storm surge from Hurricane Ian. The Lake Tarpon Outfall Canal is one of 84 water-control structures throughout the District’s 16-county area. The three-mile canal extends from the south end of Lake Tarpon and empties into Old Tampa Bay. The structure is designed to prevent salt water from entering Lake Tarpon during high tides…

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…

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…

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…

Governor Ron DeSantis appointed James Holton, Dustin Rowland and Robert Stern to the Southwest Florida Water Management District's Governing Board. Holton, of St. Petersburg, is the president and owner of JWH Properties, Inc., MHH Enterprises, Inc. and James W. Holton, P.A. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Stanford University and his master's degree and juris doctor from Boston University. Holton represents Pinellas County. Rowland, of Dade City, is the president…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) will hold a public workshop Thursday, Feb. 13 at 5:30 p.m. to discuss updates to the Lake Tarpon Surface Water Improvement and Management (SWIM) Plan. The workshop will take place at the Brooker Creek Preserve Environmental Education Center Auditorium, located at 3940 Keystone Road in Tarpon Springs.In 1987 the Florida Legislature created the SWIM Act to protect, restore and maintain Florida's highly threatened…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

District staffers and Board members who participated in the Hillsborough River & Waterways Cleanup spent their Saturday cleaning up the shoreline at DeSoto Park on McKay Bay. More than a dozen District employees and Board members recently took part in one of Tampa’s largest volunteer events — the 20th Annual Mayor’s Hillsborough River & Waterways Cleanup. The District joined forces with more than 1,200 volunteers to scour the banks of the Hillsborough…

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…

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…

An area home builder has been honored for the second time in one year for the use of water-wise landscaping.Rusaw Homes was presented with the Water-Wise Landscape Recognition Award Thursday at the Citrus County Builders Association Spring Parade of Homes event. This is a repeat performance for the builder, which also received the top award during the fall Parade of Homes.The winning design can be seen at Rusaw Homes’ Oakdale Anniversary model, 2819 West Lantana Drive…

Three Manatee County projects expected to reach nearly 5,000 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 38 grants Districtwide for a total of $136,598. This is the 11th year Community Education Grants have been available.The overall goal of the Community…

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…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) is releasing additional water from the Medard Reservoir into the Alafia River to protect the structural integrity of the reservoir.In preparation for potential impacts from Hurricane Milton, the District was releasing water and the Medard Reservoir was below normal operating level. However, the Medard Reservoir received nearly 7 inches of rainfall and the reservoir rose 6.5 feet as a result of Hurricane Milton. …