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The Green Swamp Wilderness Preserve West Tract is an ideal place for visitors to explore some of central Florida’s flora and fauna in their natural state. Rainwater drains across the Green Swamp region’s 560,000 acres of wetlands, flatlands and low ridges to form the headwaters of four major rivers: Withlacoochee, Ocklawaha, Hillsborough and Peace. The West Tract’s 37,350 acres of unspoiled habitat is transected by the Florida National Scenic Trail. More than…

A cooperative project between the Southwest Florida Water Management District, Pinellas County and the City of Dunedin will reduce flooding and improve water quality entering St. Joseph Sound.The project involves conducting a survey and the design, permitting and construction of a box culvert to connect Curlew Creek Channel A to an existing detention pond owned by the county. Curlew Creek, which is located in the Spanish Oaks Diversion improvement area, flows into St.…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) awarded $108,937 in grants to 51 educators within the District as part of the Splash! school grant program. The program provides up to $3,000 per school to enhance student knowledge of freshwater resources in grades K-12.Splash! grants encourage hands-on student learning through STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) activities as well as engagement of the greater school community through awareness…

The District recently hosted wounded veterans on its Lake Hancock property for an alligator hunt.  The event was facilitated by Operation Outdoor Freedom and the Wounded Warriors Program. Operation Outdoor Freedom is an endeavor that provides recreational opportunities to wounded veterans. Designated state and agricultural lands throughout Florida grant participating veterans unique opportunities for recreation and rehabilitation.  Ten wounded veterans…

The District’s Governing Board voted at the May 22 meeting to re-elect its sitting officers. H. Paul Senft Jr. will serve again as Governing Board chair. The other Governing Board officers are: Hugh M. Gramling, vice chair; Douglas B. Tharp, secretary; and Albert G. Joerger, treasurer. Chair H. Paul Senft Jr. Senft of Haines City was appointed to the Governing Board in March 2008. He also served as the Governing Board secretary. He is the owner of Townsend-Senft…

The Southwest Florida Management District’s Governing Board approved funding Tuesday to use the remaining funds from a project that evaluates alternatives for reducing flooding and improving water quality within the Brooker Creek Watershed to do the same for three adjacent watersheds.The Brooker Creek Watershed is approximately 30 square miles located within Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties. This area has experienced significant hydrologic changes due to rapid…

Southwest Florida Water Management District Executive Director David Moore "declared an emergency":/download/view/site_file_sets/21/2010-004.pdf !/img/pdf.gif! today to assist the remaining eastern Hillsborough County residents who are still without water and do not qualify for mitigation by a permit holder.The District Governing Board authorized the transfer of $250,000 in public funds at its monthly meeting yesterday in the event that an emergency were to be declared by…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board today approved a project that will reduce groundwater pumping and stormwater runoff at Parke Family Hydrofarm.The project involves building a half-acre tower hydroponic section. Tower hydroponics is a farming method that involves planting crops in containers and using drip irrigation to deliver water and nutrients to the center of the stacked containers so each plant’s roots are sufficiently saturated.…

Editor’s note: Read in tomorrow’s blog how you can visit Three Sisters Springs for free this weekend. The District recently completed the Three Sisters Springs Bank Stabilization Project in Crystal River, which restored the shoreline and created safer conditions around the spring.  Before the project,…

Gov. Charlie Crist recently reappointed C.A. “Neil” Combee, Jr. and appointed Carlos Beruff to the Governing Board of the Southwest Florida Water Management District.Neil Combee is a realtor with Century Realty Funds, Inc., and lives in Polk City. He was first appointed to the Governing Board in April 2005 and has served as Governing Board secretary, vice-chair and chair. His current term ends March 3, 2013. He also serves as the co-chair of the District…

Funding will help restore water quality and natural systems, and create sustainable water supplies in the Southern Water Use Caution AreaThe Florida Legislature passed the 2008-09 budget, including $15 million for the Southwest Florida Water Management District's West-Central Florida Water Restoration Action Plan (WRAP.)More than 1.5 million people in this region will benefit from water supply development and environmental restoration in the Southern Water Use…