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Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) officials have deactivated the District's Emergency Operations Center (EOC) from a Level 2 to a Level 3. In April, the District activated the EOC to Level 2 in coordination with State Emergency Response Teams who requested and directed District resources during Florida's wildfire emergency event. The EOC provides direction and controls District activities during an emergency event.Level 3 activation is utilized when a… Read more

Beginning next week, residents around Kings Bay will receive a special mail delivery that will show them just how easy it is to keep their bay beautiful.The Southwest Florida Water Management District is providing information about proper fertilizing techniques and septic tank maintenance to Kings Bay residents as part of its “Know Where It Flows” educational campaign.Nutrients from fertilizers and septic tanks can seep into the ground, which discharge into and… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District will be treating hydrilla in several canals off of the Weeki Wachee River July 11-15.Treatment will occur on the Weeki Wachee Shores and the Weeki Wachee Retreats canal systems. Bear Trial borders the canals on the west and East Richard Drive borders the canals on the east.Treatment involves the application of the aquatic herbicide Aquathol Super K. Treatment areas will be posted with warning signs displaying treatment dates… Read more

At its June 6 meeting, the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Peace River Basin Board adopted a proposed fiscal year 2009 (FY2009) 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

The first in a series of public workshops on the effects of the January 2010 record freeze is scheduled for 6-9 p.m. Feb. 17 at the "Hillsborough Community College Trinkle Center in Plant City(Plant City Campus of Hillsborough Community College)":http://www.hccfl.edu/pc.aspx. "Southwest Florida Water Management District(Southwest Florida Water Management District)":http://watermatters.org officials are looking for feedback from the public at the workshops. The District is… Read more

  A group of lawyers, prosecutors and judges from Brazil recently stopped by the District to learn about environmental law. The group of legal experts visited several agencies throughout the state to learn about different aspects of law as part of a summer program. The visit was coordinated through the University of Florida’s College of Law. District staff discussed Florida water law, the creation and development of water management districts, the importance… Read more

 Jointly acquired between the District and the state to protect the water resources of Tampa Bay, the Terra Ceia Preserve State Park is managed by the Florida State Parks system. The lands are mostly uplands of maritime hammocks and mangrove fringe forests. Various wetland communities such as freshwater creeks, freshwater marshes, karst tidal ponds and estuarine marshes are interspersed within the preserve.

 Acquired to preserve Lake Panasoffkee's vast floodplain forest, the land also preserves pine flatwoods, freshwater marshes and oak scrub forest. As the land continues to rise, pines and scrub oaks of upland sandhills replace the wetland forest trees. A comprehensive restoration effort of Lake Panasoffkee has been completed to enhance both the water quality of the lake and recreational opportunities.

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) has activated the Tampa Bypass Canal system in response to heavy rains in the Tampa Bay area. This action closes the Hillsborough River to boaters. Boat barriers were put in place at approximately 8 p.m. The Hillsborough River has reached an elevation of 25 feet above sea level, which triggers the Army Corps of Engineers activation level of the Lower Hillsborough Flood Detention Area (LHFDA). This involves stopping… Read more

h2. District, County Cooperate to Help Manage and Treat StormwaterResidents of the Garden Grove neighborhood in the Cypress Gardens area will see less flooding and better water quality in nearby lakes thanks to a project funded by Polk County and the "Southwest Florida Water Management District's(Southwest Florida Water Management District)":/ "Governing Board(Governing Board)":/about/governingboard.Construction began this fall on the project, which will help reduce flooding… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District is once again advising homeowners with wells who live near Plant City and Dover to switch off the pumps on their wells tonight and Thursday night. A hard freeze is expected both nights.During a freeze, farmers pump additional water from their wells to protect their crops, causing aquifer levels to drop temporarily. Once aquifer levels fall below a well’s pump level, the pump can burn out if it is not shut off. An… Read more

District scientists have completed a second year of setting up wetland monitoring sites as part of a regional monitoring program. The project is part of the Central Florida Water Initiative (CFWI), a water planning effort among government agencies, water utilities, environmental groups, business organizations, agricultural communities and other stakeholders in a five-county… Read more

A freeze warning is in effect tonight for most of the Tampa Bay area. This warning has prompted the Southwest Florida Water Management District to advise residents who live near Plant City and Dover to switch off the pumps on their wells tonight and leave the pumps off until the temperatures warm up Tuesday morning.During a freeze, farmers pump additional water from their wells to protect their crops, causing aquifer levels to drop temporarily. Once aquifer levels fall… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) invites the public to a workshop on Thursday, Feb. 25 at 4 p.m. at the Marion Oaks Community Center, located at 294 Marion Oaks Lane in Ocala. The purpose of the workshop is to allow for public comment on the proposed minimum flows for Gum Slough Spring Run in Marion and Sumter Counties.The Florida Legislature requires the District to set minimum flows and levels (MFLs) for priority water bodies within the District.… Read more

Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) officials will deactivate the District’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) from a Level 2 to a Level 3 at 6 p.m. today. The EOC provides direction regarding District activities before, during and after an emergency weather event. District officials had raised the activation level of the EOC Oct. 8 as Hurricane Michael moved through the Gulf of Mexico. Level 3 activation is a general state of monitoring used during… Read more

Approximately 15 volunteers will get their feet wet this Saturday, May 21, participating in a restoration project organized by the Kings Bay Advisory Group.The volunteers will plant a variety of emergent, or water, plants along the Kings Bay shoreline. The goal of this project is to improve the habitat of the hardened shoreline, which will reduce wave action and lead to better water clarity and quality. By planting approximately 160 native plants, volunteers also hope to… Read more

The Agricultural Advisory Committee of the Southwest Florida Water Management District on August 22 passed resolutions honoring the late Edward W. Chance and Dr. James T. Griffiths for their outstanding service in the agricultural community.Chance, who died in June, served on the District’s Governing Board and as Co-Chair of the Manasota Basin Board from 2000 until 2006. He was a member of the Florida Cattlemen’s Association, the Florida Farm Bureau Federation… Read more

According to the National Weather Service, parts of the Tampa Bay area are expected to see freezing temperatures Thurssday morning.This has prompted the "Southwest Florida Water Management District(Southwest Florida Water Management District)":/ to "advise residents who live near Plant City and Dover(Dover/Plant City Freeze Management Plan)":/agriculture/freeze-management who have well pumps without automatic cutoff switches to turn off the pumps tonight.During a freeze or… Read more

According to the National Weather Service, parts of the Tampa Bay area are expected to see freezing temperatures Wednesday morning.This has prompted the "Southwest Florida Water Management District(Southwest Florida Water Management District)":/ to "advise residents who live near Plant City and Dover(Dover/Plant City Freeze Management Plan)":/agriculture/freeze-management who have well pumps without automatic cutoff switches to turn off the pumps tonight.During a freeze or… Read more

Most of the Tampa Bay area will see freezing temperatures tonight. The Southwest Florida Water Management District is once again advising 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 tomorrow morning.During a freeze or near freezing temperatures, farmers pump additional water from their wells to protect their crops, causing aquifer levels to drop temporarily. Once aquifer… Read more