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One of the District’s agricultural cooperative funding programs may have a positive impact on the health of Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. A group of Australian sugar cane growers interested in improving water quality recently traveled to Sarasota to meet with staff to discuss the District’s Facilitating Agricultural Resource Management Systems (FARMS) Program. A sugar cane industry representative discovered the program while surfing the Internet. “I have to admit… Read more

At its June 1 meeting, the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Pinellas-Anclote River Basin Board adopted a proposed fiscal year 2006 (FY2006) millage rate of 0.400 mill, which is the same as the current fiscal year.The tentative budget for FY2006 is $29,276,923, which is a decrease of $2,763,519 from the approved FY2005 budget. The decrease in the FY2006 budget is primarily due to a reduction in carryover funds from prior years as compared to FY2005.… Read more

Small general permits and general water use permit holders can now take care of all their permitting needs on the District’s Water Management Information System. The system is being designed to centralize information from the District’s well construction permitting, resource data, water use permitting and environmental resource permitting databases, making it easily accessible for both staff and the public. Upon completion, the system will increase the amount of… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Governing Board approved the recommended minimum and guidance levels for select lakes in Highlands, Pasco and Polk counties. The Highlands County lakes include Angelo, Denton, Placid, Tulane and Verona. The Pasco County lakes include King, King-East and Linda. The Polk County lake is Crooked Lake.A minimum flow or level (MFL) is the limit at which further water withdrawals will cause significant harm to the water resources… Read more

At its June 12 meeting, the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Coastal Rivers Basin Board adopted a proposed fiscal year 2009 (FY2009) millage rate of 0.1885 mill, which is the same as the current fiscal year. The Coastal Rivers Basin Board covers portions of Citrus, Hernando and Pasco counties.This millage rate, combined with a reduction in taxable property values as estimated by the county property appraisers, will result in an estimated 12 percent… Read more

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… Read more

The "Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) Governing Board ":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/about/governingboard/ voted today to begin the process of adding three first-magnitude spring systems -- Weeki Wachee River, Chassahowitzka River and Homosassa River -- to the Surface Water Improvement Management (SWIM) Program priority list. The existing SWIM Program priority list includes two first magnitude spring systems – Rainbow River and Crystal River/Kings Bay… Read more

At its June 2 meeting, the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Northwest Hillsborough Basin Board adopted a proposed fiscal year 2006 (FY2006) millage rate of 0.268 mill, which is the same as the current fiscal year.The tentative budget for FY2006 is $6,338,076, which is an increase of $293,989 over the approved FY2005 budget. The increase in the budget is primarily due to an increase in property values. FY2006 will run from Oct. 1, 2005, through Sept. 30,… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) has temporarily closed the Moccasin Slough and Wysong-Coogler airboat slides in Citrus County due to safety concerns associated with low water levels.Current low water levels have exposed the ends of the airboat slides, causing the slides to be impassable. Attempts to use the slides in current conditions could damage airboats or injure passengers.Staff will continue to monitor conditions and will reopen the slides as… Read more

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.
• …

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District Governing and Basin Board members and staff joined Tampa Bay Water Oct. 10 in celebrating the completion of the $146 million C.W. “Bill” Young Regional Reservoir. Congressman C.W. “Bill” Young, for whom the 15-billion gallon reservoir is named, cut the ribbon during the ceremony held on top of the reservoir’s berm. The 1,100-acre reservoir sits on 5,200 acres of land, south of Lithia-Pinecrest Road between Boyette Road and County Road 39. The property was… Read more

Are you counting on the rain to water-in your lawn fertilizer? You may want to reconsider. Save time and money by avoiding the practice of applying fertilizer before a heavy rain.Sometimes Florida yards need fertilizer to help keep them healthy, but applying fertilizer at the wrong time can cause water pollution. You can use Florida-friendly fertilizing practices to help protect water quality while having a beautiful lawn.If you fertilize your lawn before a heavy rain, much… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District will be treating infestations of hydrilla on the Rainbow River in Marion County March 31 through April 3. The section of the river to be treated is from upstream of KP Hole Park to where the Rainbow River meets the Withlacoochee River.Treatment involves the application of the aquatic herbicide Aquathol Super K. Treatment areas will be posted with warning signs displaying treatment dates and applicable water use restrictions.… Read more

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… Read more

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… Read more

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.… Read more

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… Read more

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… Read more

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… Read more

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… Read more