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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…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District will be treating hydrilla in Marion County March 6-9. Infestations of hydrilla will be treated on the Rainbow River from the County Road 484 bridge to where the 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. River water should not be used for…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District will be treating hydrilla in Marion County Oct. 17-20. Infestations of hydrilla will be treated on the Rainbow River from the County Road 484 bridge to where the 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 restrictions. River water should not…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) has activated the Tampa Bypass Canal system in response to heavy rains in the Tampa Bay area. Boat barriers were put in place where I-75 crosses the river, restricting navigation in that area. The District has been in contact with Hillsborough County Parks and Recreation, the City of Tampa, Tampa Bay Water and the City of Temple Terrace to notify them of this action. As a result, Trout Creek Park and Nature’s…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District will recognize REAL Building's Darren Brinkley for earning a Florida Water Star GoldSM (FWSG) certification on a home in northeast St. Petersburg where he and his family now live. Susan Douglas, FWSG program coordinator, will present a plaque to Brinkley on Tuesday, Aug. 18 at 9 a.m. at the home.FWSG is a voluntary certification program for builders. It encourages water efficiency in household appliances, plumbing…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) will hold a kickoff meeting on Tuesday, March 20 at 5 p.m. at the Yankeetown Inglis Women's Club located at 5 56th St. in Yankeetown. The purpose of the meeting is to gather feedback about the upcoming development of the minimum flows for the lower Withlacoochee River.Minimum flows protect rivers, streams and springs from impacts associated with groundwater and surface water withdrawals. They are one tool used by the…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) will hold a kickoff meeting on Tuesday, March 13 at 5 p.m. at Cornerstone Baptist Church located at 1100 W. Highland Blvd. in Inverness. The purpose of the meeting is to gather feedback about the upcoming development of the minimum flows for the upper and middle Withlacoochee River. Minimum flows protect rivers, streams and springs from impacts associated with groundwater and surface water withdrawals. They are one…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) will hold a kickoff meeting on Thursday, March 1 at 5 p.m. at the Ridge Manor Community Center located at 34240 Cortez Blvd. in Ridge Manor. The purpose of the meeting is to gather feedback about the upcoming development of the minimum flows for the upper and middle Withlacoochee River. Minimum flows protect rivers, streams and springs from impacts associated with groundwater and surface water withdrawals. They are…

According to the National Weather Service, parts of the Tampa Bay area are expected to see freezing temperatures during Thursday and Friday mornings.This has prompted the "Southwest Florida Water Management District(Southwest Florida Water Management District)":/ to advise residents who live near Plant City and Dover who have well pumps without automatic cutoff switches to turn off the pumps tonight and Thursday.During a freeze or near-freezing temperatures, water is pumped…

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…

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…

District scientists have been working in conjunction with staff at the St. Johns River and South Florida water management districts to set up wetland monitoring sites as part of a regional monitoring program. The collaboration is a result of the Central Florida Water Initiative (CFWI), a water planning effort among government agencies, water utilities, environmental groups,…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) invites the public to a workshop onTuesday, Nov. 29, at 5:30 p.m. at the Jack Stroup Civic Center, located at 355 W. Center Ave. in Sebring. The purpose of the workshop is to allow for public comment on the proposed minimum and guidance levels for Lakes Jackson and Little Jackson in Highlands County.The Florida Legislature requires the District to set minimum flows and levels (MFLs) for priority water bodies within…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) invites the public to a workshop on Wednesday, Nov. 16, at 5:30 p.m. at the Jack Stroup Civic Center, located at 355 W. Center Ave. in Sebring. The purpose of the workshop is to allow for public comment on the proposed minimum and guidance levels for Lakes Letta and Lotela in Highlands County.The Florida Legislature requires the District to set minimum flows and levels (MFLs) for priority water bodies within the…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) invites the public to a workshop on Wednesday, Oct. 5, at 5:30 p.m. at the Frostproof City Hall located at 111 West First Street in Frostproof. The purpose of the workshop is to allow for public comment on the proposed minimum and guidance levels for Crooked Lake in Polk County.The Florida Legislature requires the District to set minimum flows and levels (MFLs) for priority water bodies within the District. A minimum…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) invites the public to a workshop onWednesday, Sept. 7, at 5:30 p.m. at the Jimmie B. Keel Regional Public 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 Merrywater in Hillsborough County.The Florida Legislature requires the District to set minimum flows and levels (MFLs) for priority water bodies within…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) invites the public to a workshop on Wednesday, August 17, at 5:30 p.m. at the Upper Tampa Bay Regional 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 Horse, Juanita, Little Moon and Rainbow in Hillsborough County.The Florida Legislature requires the District to set minimum flows and levels (…

At its June 10 meeting, the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Manasota Basin Board adopted a proposed fiscal year 2010 (FY2010) millage rate of 0.1484 mill, which is the same as the current fiscal year. The Manasota Basin Board area includes Manatee and Sarasota counties.This millage rate, combined with a reduction in taxable property values as estimated by the county property appraisers, will result in an estimated 11.19 percent decrease in ad valorem…

At its June 4 meeting, the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Alafia River Basin Board adopted a proposed fiscal year 2010 (FY2010) 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 proposed millage rate combined with a reduction in taxable property values as estimated by the county property…

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…