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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… 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

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

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’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

Emergency Operations Center at Level 2 activationSouthwest Florida Water Management District (District) officials are monitoring Invest 97L and raised the activation level of the District’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) to Level 2 at 8 a.m. this morning. The EOC provides direction regarding District activities before, during, and after an emergency weather event.Invest 97L has the potential to bring significant rainfall to our area throughout the District’s 16-… 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

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

 The Gilley Creek Tract protects the main branch of Gilley Creek, which is one of the main tributaries of the Manatee River. The creek flows into Lake Manatee, which serves as the primary drinking water source for Manatee County.Formerly a cattle ranch and farm with row crops that had been converted to pasture, hardwood hammocks are still found along the creek channels and wetlands. Undisturbed areas of native habitats thrive in a natural condition, with regular… 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

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.… 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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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… Read more

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.… Read more

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… Read more

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… Read more

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… Read more