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Emergency Operations Center at Level 1 Activation Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) officials have raised the activation level of the District’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) to Level 1 as they continue to monitor Hurricane Ian. The EOC provides direction regarding District activities during an emergency weather event. The District is monitoring storm forecasts associated with Hurricane Ian throughout its 16-county region. In response…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Northwest Hillsborough Basin Board Thursday adopted a fiscal year 2009 (FY2009) millage rate of 0.2421 mill, which is the same as the current fiscal year. The Northwest Hillsborough Basin Board area includes the northwest portion of Hillsborough County.This millage rate, combined with a reduction in taxable property values as certified by the county property appraiser, will result in an estimated 4.6 percent decrease…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Alafia River Basin Board Thursday adopted a fiscal year 2009 (FY2009) millage rate of 0.2163 mill, which is the same as the current fiscal year. The Alafia River Basin Board area covers the southern portion of Hillsborough County and the southwestern portion of Polk County.This millage rate combined with a reduction in taxable property values as certified by the county property appraisers will result in an estimated 8.…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Withlacoochee River Basin Board Thursday adopted a fiscal year 2009 (FY2009) millage rate of 0.2308 mill, which is the same as the current fiscal year. The Withlacoochee River Basin Board area covers portions of Pasco, Hernando, Citrus, Sumter, Marion, and Levy counties.This millage rate, combined with a reduction in taxable property values as certified by the county property appraisers, will result in an estimated 7.9…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District agreed to continue funding this year for the Hillsborough County Lake and Stream Monitoring Program.The program is a cooperatively funded effort between Hillsborough County and the District’s Alafia River, Hillsborough River, and Northwest Hillsborough basin boards. The District’s Alafia River Basin Board is contributing $39,664, the Hillsborough River Basin Board is contributing $66,047, and the Northwest…

In preparation for Tropical Storm Fay possibly making landfall tomorrow, the Southwest Florida Water Management District has initiatedLevel 1 activation of its Emergency Operations Center in Brooksville and is closing all District offices and recreation areas on Tuesday.Level 1 activation is required when a situation has developed into an emergency. Under Level 1 activation, the EOC…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) invites the public to a workshop on Friday, Sept. 28, at 5:30 p.m. at Connerton Elementary School located at 9300 Flourish Dr. in Land O’ Lakes. The purpose of the workshop is to allow for public comment on the proposed minimum and guidance levels for Pierce Lake in Pasco County. During the workshop, District staff will present the technical basis for the proposed minimum levels for Pierce Lake. Minimum levels are…

Water managers, state and local government officials, representatives from academia and the business community, and other interested people are invited to attend Florida’s 31st Annual Conference on Water Management, September 6-8 at the Westin Innisbrook Golf Resort in Tarpon Springs. The annual conference, which is co-sponsored by the state’s five water management districts and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, provides a forum for attendees to…

One of the founding leaders that helped shape the District passed away this week. Dale Twachtmann, the District’s first executive director, died May 17 following a battle with Leukemia.  Twachtmann spent most of his career championing water issues and programs that remain key components to protecting the state’s water resources. So passionate about new water technologies, he once famously drank a glass of treated wastewater to prove its safety to the public.…

At its June 4 meeting, the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s newly merged Hillsborough River Basin Board adopted a proposed fiscal year 2010 (FY2010) millage rate of 0.2421 mill. The Hillsborough River Basin Board area covers Hillsborough County and portions of Pasco and Polk counties.The Hillsborough River and the Northwest Hillsborough Basin Boards were merged effective Jan. 1, 2009. For FY2009, the Hillsborough River Basin Board adopted a millage rate…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) invites the public to a workshop on Tuesday, Aug. 6, at 5:30 p.m. at the Jimmie B. Keel Regional Library, located at 2902 W. Bearss Ave. in Tampa. The purpose of the workshop is to allow for public comment on the proposed minimum and guidance levels for Lake Charles in Hillsborough County. During the workshop, District staff will present the technical basis for the proposed minimum levels for Lake Charles.…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) invites the public to a workshop on Monday, Aug. 5, at 5:30 p.m. at the Maureen B. Gauzza Public Library, located at 11211 Countryway Blvd. in Tampa. The purpose of the workshop is to allow for public comment on the proposed minimum and guidance levels for Lakes Church and Echo in Hillsborough County. During the workshop, District staff will present the technical basis for the proposed minimum levels for Lakes…

 The property was acquired for protection of the area's groundwater recharge, as well as important surface water features and wetland habitats. The preserve's wetlands play a role in both the Tsala Apopka Chain of Lakes and the Withlacoochee River systems, part of the Floridan aquifer's recharge/discharge system. Additionally, the site provides habitat to wildlife, including a small population of threatened Florida scrub-jays.

At its June 5 meeting, the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Northwest Hillsborough Basin Board adopted a proposed fiscal year 2009 (FY2009) millage rate of 0.2421 mill, which is the same as the current fiscal year. The Northwest Hillsborough Basin Board area includes the northwest portion of Hillsborough County.This millage rate, combined with a reduction in taxable property values as estimated by the county property appraiser, will result in an estimated…

Henry Paul Senft took his oath of office Tuesday to serve on the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Governing Board.Senft was appointed by Gov. Charlie Crist to a newly created seat representing Polk County. The Governing Board was previously made up of 11 seats. Last year the State Legislature added two new seats for a total of 13. Senft’s term ends March 1, 2011.The Haines City resident is the owner of Townsend-Senft Consulting and Insurance Inc.…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) will celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the Surface Water Improvement and Management (SWIM) Program with a series of events highlighting restoration and water quality improvement projects throughout the District.To commemorate this anniversary, three events will recognize program supporters, increase overall awareness and showcase the success of the SWIM Program. The events include:Lake Hartridge Nature Park at the…

West Hernando Middle School students and teachers will get their hands dirty this month when they work side by side with Southwest Florida Water Management District staff restoring the Weekiwachee Preserve.The student workdays are April 13 and 20 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.During the workdays students will plant soft-stemmed bulrush along the banks of several water bodies within the preserve and monitor the water quality. The goal of the project is to revegetate and develop the…

The skies opened up and heavy rains came down when water managers gathered in Tarpon Springs this September for the Annual Conference on Water Management. Coincidentally, impacts from the recent serious hurricane seasons and the “new reality” of water management in Florida were the focus at this year’s conference. The conference, which is co-sponsored by the state’s five water management districts and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP), had a…

All Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) offices will be open Thursday, Aug. 31, as the District begins to return to normal operations after Hurricane Idalia.The District will lower the activation level of its Emergency Operations Center to a Level 2 at 7 a.m. Thursday morning. Level 2 activation is a partial activation, and the EOC will:

• Mobilize appropriate District emergency personnel to participate in emergency operations.
• …

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) invites the public to a workshop on Tuesday, May 8 at 5:30 p.m. at the Jimmie B. Keel Regional Library located at 2902 W. Bearss Ave. in Tampa. The purpose of the workshop is to allow for public comment on the proposed minimum and guidance levels for Dosson and Sunshine lakes in Hillsborough County. During the workshop, District staff will present the technical basis for the proposed minimum levels for Dosson and…