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The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Hillsborough River Basin Board Tuesday adopted a proposed fiscal year 2006 (FY2006) millage rate of 0.285 mill, which is the same as the current fiscal year.The tentative budget for FY2006 is $11,836,424, which represents an increase of $19,099 over the approved FY2005 budget. FY2006 will run from Oct. 1, 2005, through Sept. 30, 2006.For the owner of a $100,000 home with a $25,000 homestead exemption, the FY 2006 Basin… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District is looking ahead to fiscal year 2007 by holding a series of workshops to help launch the annual Cooperative Funding Initiative Program. The workshops will focus on the program and any changes that have been made since last year. Applications and guidelines for the Cooperative Funding program will also be available.Four public meetings will be held. The meetings will be held at the following locations:*Friday, Oct. 14, 10 a.m… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District and the Town of Inglis will soon begin implementing projects to improve water quality and reduce flooding in Cason Acres and surrounding areas.The 19-acre watershed, located in southern Levy County, has a history ofwidespread flooding in the areas between Vicki, Sapp, Daisy and Lori streets. A watershed is an area of land that water flows across as it moves toward a common body of water. This watershed discharges to the… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board Tuesday adopted its proposed Fiscal Year 2008 (FY2008) millage rate and the millage rates for its Basin Boards.The District adopted a fiscal year 2008 (FY2008) millage rate of 0.3866 mill, which is .0354 less than the current fiscal year. This reduction is in accordance with the tax reduction mandated by the Florida Legislature. FY2008 will run from Oct. 1, 2007, through Sept. 30, 2008.The FY2008 millage rate… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District is preparing to repair a berm breach in the Morrison Pool.The berm surrounds the north sinkhole in the Morrison Pool and prevents water from Morrison Pool and Little Lake Henderson from flowing into the sinkhole when the lake is low.The District has received approval from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and is awaiting approval from the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers to conduct the work needed to repair the… Read more

Left: Maritza Rovira-Forino, Governing Board member and co-chair ex officio of the Hillsborough River Basin Board, joined students in the ribbon-cutting ceremony. Right: Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio spoke at the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the restoration project. In November, members of the District’s Governing Board and the Hillsborough County School Board joined Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio and Stewart Middle Magnet School students and faculty in celebrating a shoreline… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) invites the public to a workshop on Tuesday, August 23, at 5:30 p.m. at the Lake Eva Community Center located at 555 Ledwith Ave. in Haines City. The purpose of the workshop is to allow for public comment on the proposed minimum and guidance levels for Lake Eva in Haines City.The Florida Legislature requires the District to set minimum flows and levels (MFLs) for priority water bodies within the District. A minimum… Read more

Who: State Sen. Charles Dean (R, Inverness), Southwest Florida Water Management District staffWhat:The senator will tour the site where the District is repairing a berm breach in the Morrison Pool.When:Wednesday, May 13, 9:30 a.m.Where:Morrison Pool berm, just off the Florida Rails to Trails trailWhy:The Southwest Florida Water Management District is repairing a berm breach in the Morrison Pool. The berm surrounds the north sinkhole in the Morrison Pool and prevents water… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District will be treating hydrilla on the Rainbow River in Marion County July 9-12. Hydrilla infestations will be treated from below the C.R. 484 bridge to the confluence of the Withlacoochee River.Hydrilla will be spot treated with the aquatic herbicide Aquathol Super K. Surface water within the treated area should not be used for irrigation or domestic purposes within seven days of treatment. Water use restrictions do not apply to… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District will be treating hydrilla on the Rainbow River July 10-13. Infestations of water lettuce along the river in Marion County will be treated.Treatment involves the application of the aquatic herbicide Aquathol Super K. Treatment areas will be posted with warning signs displaying treatment dates and applicable restrictions. River water should not be used for irrigation or domestic purposes for seven days following treatment.… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) invites the public to a workshop on Wednesday, Dec. 9 at 5 p.m. at Frostproof City Hall, located at 111 West First Street in Frostproof. The purpose of the workshop is to allow for public comment on proposed Minimum and Guidance Levels for Lake Clinch. The Florida Legislature requires the District to set minimum flows and levels (MFLs) for priority water bodies within the District. A minimum flow or level is the… Read more

Construction is under way on a cooperative project between the Southwest Florida Water Management District and the City of Dunedin to restore approximately 30 acres of wetlands within the city’s Hammock Park.Preliminary clearing is being done at select project areas within the park. Hammock Park is located north of downtown Dunedin and east of Alternate U.S. 19 and is one of the last remnants of forest that was typical of this coastal region before the area was… Read more

The area's first Landscape Challenge competition, scheduled to take place from 9:30 a.m. to noon on March 12, has been postponed due to forecasts for heavy rain. The event has been rescheduled for April 16. The competition at the "Pay it Forward Farm(Pay it Forward Farm, Spring Hill)":http://www.payitforwardfarm.org in Spring Hill will allow landscape professionals to compete for the title of Ruling Water Champions. A media alert will be issued as the April 16 event… Read more

Southwest Florida Water Management District Executive Director David L. Moore this week issued an emergency order authorizing Hernando County to pump water to relieve flooding in the Lakewood subdivision.The property of approximately 30 Lakewood residents remains flooded. The subdivision is located near the northeast corner of Hernando County, north of the Withlacoochee River and adjacent to Lakes Geneva, Elizabeth and Frances. The property was flooded after the rains… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District is inviting the public to participate in a workshop aimed at updating the management plan for the Cypress Creek Preserve property in Pasco County.The workshop will be held at the Land O’ Lakes Community Center on U.S. 41 (5401 Land O’ Lakes Boulevard) on Thursday, September 29, at 6 p.m.The Preserve property encompasses approximately 7,400 acres and protects an extensive area of floodplain along an 8-mile length of… Read more

At its July 26 meeting, the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Hillsborough River Basin Board adopted a fiscal year 2008 (FY2008) millage rate of 0.2547 mill, which is .0303 less than the current fiscal year. This reduction is in accordance with the tax reduction mandated by the Florida Legislature.The FY2008 millage rate has been set equal to 97 percent of the rolled-back rate in compliance with House Bill 1B, the tax reform legislation signed into law by… Read more

Whether students are testing water quality, building a water-conserving garden or studying an estuary, Splash! grants enhance water education in public schools. The District’s Splash! school grant program provides up to $3,000 per public school to enhance student  knowledge of freshwater resources issues. The deadline to apply for the 2014-15 school year is Aug. 29. “The grant provides students a chance to learn in a hands-on way,” said Denise Dawson, a… Read more

With the rainy season upon us, now is a great time to think about adding a rain barrel to your yard.Harvesting rainwater with a rain barrel helps supplement irrigation for a small cost. Storing rainwater also helps reduce stormwater runoff, which can lead to reduced levels of pesticides and fertilizers in our water. Many people make rain barrels out of inexpensive 50-gallon food-grade drums that were used to carry juices, olives, pickles, etc. Often you can find barrels… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) invites the public to a workshop onMonday, April 17 at 5:30 p.m. at the Lutz Branch Library, located at 101 W. Lutz Lake Fern Road in Lutz. The purpose of the workshop is to allow for public comment on the proposed minimum and guidance levels for Deer Lake in Hillsborough County.The Florida Legislature requires the District to set minimum flows and levels (MFLs) for priority water bodies within the District. A… Read more

New Leadership Look up “energy” in the dictionary and more than likely there’ll be a picture of David Moore. Sightings of the District’s new executive director have been reported in every District department and in multiple cities, often simultaneously. Moore is seemingly everywhere, sharing an endless enthusiasm and boundless energy that he uses to address every task, big and small. “Life is too short and time too precious to waste,” Moore said. Moore’s energy… Read more