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Blog note: Projects and Partners is a WaterMatters Blog series that highlights various innovative projects of the District and its partners to benefit the community. District leaders recently helped Marion County Utilities celebrate the expansion of the Oak Run Wastewater Reclamation Facility, which includes 20 miles of new pipeline, a new 1.6-million-gallon storage tank and removal of three smaller wastewater treatment plants.  The… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) invites the public to a workshop on Tuesday, June 13 at 5:30 p.m. at the Lake Aurora Christian Camp and Retreat Center located at 237 Golden Bough Road east of Lake Wales. The purpose of the workshop is to allow for public comment on the proposed minimum and guidance levels for Lake Aurora in Polk County.The Florida Legislature requires the District to set minimum flows and levels (MFLs) for priority water bodies… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) will hold an independent, scientific peer review of recommended minimum flows for Horse Creek and Charlie Creek beginning this month. Horse Creek and Charlie Creek are located in portions of DeSoto, Hardee, Highlands and Polk counties and are two tributaries of the Peace River.A minimum flow sets a limit on how much water can be withdrawn from various water resources to prevent significant harm occurring to those… Read more

At its August 17 meeting, the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Hillsborough River Basin Board adopted a fiscal year 2005 (FY2005) millage rate of 0.285 mill, which is the same as the current fiscal year.The budget forFY2005 is $11,817,325, which represents an increase of $405,679 over the approvedFY 2004 budget. The increase in the budget is due to additional ad valorem property taxes resulting from new growth and increases in existing property values.FY… Read more

At its August 2 meeting, the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Coastal Rivers Basin Board adopted a fiscal year 2006 (FY2006) millage rate of 0.235 mill, which is the same as the current fiscal year.The budget for FY2006 is $8,240,442, which represents an increase of $2,119,438 from the approved FY2005 budget. The increase in the budget is primarily due to an increase in property values, increases in funding from local governments for Cooperative Funding… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) is soliciting stakeholder input on the annual update of the Priority List and Schedule for the Establishment of Minimum Flows and Levels. A public meeting will be held at the District's Tampa Service Office, located at 7601 U.S. Highway 301 North on Thursday, Sept. 1 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Minimum flows and levels (MFLs) are limits set by the District Governing Board for surface waters and groundwater. MFLs are… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) will conduct an inspection of the Inglis Bypass Spillway water control structure located in Levy County on the Inglis Bypass Channel. The inspection has been scheduled to take place Tuesday, June 9. During that time, the water control gates will need to be partially or fully closed. Closings are anticipated to occur during daylight hours and for a duration not exceeding eight hours per closing. The channel… Read more

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) approved adding three first-magnitude spring systems — Weeki Wachee River, Chassahowitzka River and Homosassa River — to the Surface Water Improvement and Management (SWIM) Program priority list.  The existing SWIM Program priority list includes two first-magnitude spring systems – Rainbow River and Crystal River/Kings Bay. The DEP approval brings all five of the District’s first-magnitude spring systems onto… Read more

Parts of the Tampa Bay area may continue to see freezing temperatures during early morning hours for the next several days. This has prompted the "Southwest Florida Water Management District (Southwest Florida Water Management District)":http://watermatters.org to advise residents who live near Plant City and Dover to switch off the pumps on their wells at night and leave the pumps off until the temperatures warm up in the morning. During a freeze or near freezing… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Governing Board recently adopted minimum flows for portions of the Alafia and Myakka rivers, along with minimum and guidance levels for five lakes.The 5 lakes include: Lakes Allen, Harvey and Virginia in Hillsborough County; Lake June-In-Winter in Highlands County; and Lake Parker in Polk County.A minimum flow or level is the limit at which further water withdrawals will cause significant harm to the water resources and… Read more

The Tampa Bypass Canal (TBC) is a 14-mile waterway that connects the Lower Hillsborough Wilderness Preserve with McKay Bay. The canal provides flood protection for the cities of Temple Terrace and Tampa by diverting floodwaters from the Hillsborough River. The canal is also a water supply source for the city of Tampa. Read more

In 1980, the District and the city of Clearwater entered into an agreement for the design, construction, operation and maintenance of the Alligator Creek Water Management Project. The District provided land and operates the water-control structure; the city operates and maintains Cliff Stephens Park. The project provides stormwater management and flood protection for the surrounding Clearwater area. Read more

Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) Executive Director Brian Armstrong has received the 2020 Geology Alumni Society Award from the University of South Florida (USF) Geology Alumni Society (GAS). This is the most prestigious award given by the GAS and is presented to alumni who have distinguished themselves through achievement and career success. The award was presented at the virtual GAS banquet Jan. 30. Award winners are selected by… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) has deactivated the Lower Hillsborough Flood Detention Area (LHFDA), reopening the S-155 structure and allowing boat traffic to resume along that portion of the Hillsborough River. High water levels caused by Hurricane Irma have receded, allowing the Hillsborough River to return to its natural flow pattern.In September, the Hillsborough River reached an elevation of 25 feet above sea level, which triggered the Army… Read more

At its June 5 meeting, the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Peace River Basin Board adopted a proposed fiscal year 2010 (FY2010) millage rate of 0.1827 mill, which is the same as the current fiscal year. The Peace River Basin Board area includes Hardee, DeSoto and portions of Polk, Highlands and Charlotte counties.This proposed millage rate combined with a reduction in taxable property values as estimated by the five county property appraisers will result… Read more

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 Irma. The EOC provides direction regarding District activities during an emergency weather event. The District is evaluating potential impacts from the storm that could occur throughout its 16-county region. Numerous lake levels in Northwest Hillsborough County were above normal… Read more

At its June 5 meeting, the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Alafia River Basin Board adopted a proposed 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 estimated by the county property appraisers will… Read more

*Emergency Operations Center at Level 2 Activation*Southwest Florida Water Management District officials are preparing for "Tropical Storm Isaac":http://www.WaterMatters.org/EOC and have raised the activation level of the District's Emergency Operations Center (EOC) to Level 2. The EOC provides direction and controls District activities during an emergency weather event.The District is monitoring Tropical Storm Isaac and preparing for the effects depending on its path.… Read more

At its June 11 meeting, the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Coastal Rivers Basin Board adopted a proposed fiscal year 2010 (FY2010) 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 11.62 percent… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District and the City of St. Petersburg are working together on a project that will reduce flooding in the Childs Park neighborhood, located near 44th St. South.During heavy rain the neighborhood experiences street flooding because the existing drainage system is outdated and undersized.This project is part of a 1994 stormwater management master plan developed by the city and involves constructing a major “trunk” line from… Read more