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The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Governing Board Tuesday approved a land management plan for the Chito Branch Reserve in southeastern Hillsborough County that will provide a variety of recreational opportunities for the public.The District purchased the 5,515-acre reserve in 2001, in cooperation with Tampa Bay Water for the primary purpose of building the 16-billion-gallon C.W. “Bill” Young Reservoir to collect and store drinking water.… Read more

Disaster struck the District over the Independence Day weekend when a fire sprinkler flooded Building 4 at District Headquarters in Brooksville. The problem began just after 4 p.m. on Sunday, July 3. A ceiling-mounted fire sprinkler activated on the third floor of the four-story building. The sprinkler worked as it was designed, with the fire pumping station supplying enough water pressure to douse a fire. The building’s alarm system detected the water flow and sent… Read more

_Emergency Operations Center at Level 2 Activation_Southwest Florida Water Management District officials are monitoring Tropical Storm Colin 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 continuing to monitor potential flooding that could occur throughout our 16-county region due to heavy and sustained rainfall… Read more

Groups and individuals interested in applying for a Southwest Florida Water Management District community education grant are invited to attend a grant advisory session for residents with questions about the grants.The advisory session will be held Wednesday, Aug. 25, from 9 a.m.- 3 p.m. at the Tampa Service Office in Conference Room B. The Service Office is located at 7601 U.S. Hwy. 301, Tampa.This “open-house style” session is aimed at answering questions… Read more

Groups and individuals interested in applying for a Southwest Florida Water Management District community education grant are invited to attend a grant advisory session for residents who live in the area represented by the District’s Pinellas-Anclote River Basin Board. The area includes Pinellas County and the southern portion of Pasco County.The advisory session will be held Wednesday, Aug. 18, from 12 p.m.- 5 p.m. at the Countryside Library, which is located at… Read more

table(webalert). |Who:|Approximately 100 children from the "Boys & Girls Club of Hernando County(Hernando Boys & Girls Club)":http://www.bgchernando.org/ and "Southwest Florida Water Management District(Southwest Florida Water Management District)":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us staff||*What:*|The District is coordinating a field trip at the "Serenova Tract(Serenova Tract)":/recreation/areas/starkey-serenova.html for children who attend the Boys & Girls Club of… Read more

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) officially approved adding three first-magnitude spring systems – Weeki Wachee River, Chassahowitzka River and Homosassa River – to the Surface Water Improvement Management (SWIM) Program priority list.In January, "The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) Governing Board ":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/about/governingboard/voted to begin the process of officially adding those systems to the existing… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District's (District) Governing Board voted to decrease property taxes by adopting a proposed rolled-back millage rate of 0.2260 mill for the fiscal year 2023 budget. The millage rate is 10.8% lower than the current fiscal year adopted millage rate of 0.2535 mill, a savings to taxpayers of approximately $15.5 million. For the owner of a $150,000 home with a $50,000 homestead exemption, the District tax would be $22.… Read more

At its June 4 meeting, the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Pinellas-Anclote River Basin Board adopted a proposed fiscal year 2009 (FY2009) millage rate of 0.3701 mill, which is the same as the current fiscal year.This millage rate, combined with a reduction in property values as estimated by the Pinellas and Pasco county property appraisers, will result in an estimated 9 percent decrease. These estimates will be updated when the property appraisers… Read more

Who: Highlands County teachers and administrators, Southwest Florida Water Management District and Charlotte Harbor Environmental Center (CHEC) staff.What: Approximately 12 science teachers and school administrators are participating in a field study that focuses on the Peace River Basin. The two-day excursion includes a guided wading tour of the Charlotte Harbor Estuary, a discussion about the watershed led by a CHEC scientist, and a boat tour on the Peace River to conduct… Read more

At its June 15 meeting, the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Withlacoochee River Basin Board adopted a proposed fiscal year 2007 (FY2007) millage rate of 0.265 mill, which is the same as the current fiscal year.The proposed budget for FY2007 is $8,592,868, which is a decrease of $63,253 from the approved FY2006 budget. FY2007 will run from Oct. 1, 2006, through Sept. 30, 2007.The Withlacoochee River Basin Board area covers portions of Pasco, Hernando,… Read more

Left: Judy Whitehead, Right: Patricia Glass. Governor Charlie Crist made two appointments to the District’s Governing Board in April. Judy Whitehead and Pat Glass were sworn in at the April Governing Board meeting. Judy Whitehead was reappointed. She is the current Governing Board vice chair and chair ex officio of the District’s Coastal Rivers Basin Board. She was first appointed to the Governing Board in March 2003. Her term ends March 1, 2011.… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District will be treating infestations of hydrilla on the Rainbow River in Marion County Feb. 4-7. The treatment area is from the County Road 484 bridge 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 restrictions. Water from the treated section of the river… Read more

All Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) offices will be closed Wednesday, Sept. 28, and Thursday, Sept. 29, due to potential impacts from Hurricane Ian. The District will continue to monitor the progress of Hurricane Ian to determine if future closings are necessary. The District is monitoring storm forecasts associated with Hurricane Ian throughout its 16-county region. In response to recent heavy rainfall, District staff have been closely monitoring… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board approved the purchase of a 153-acre parcel of land in Hillsborough County. This acquisition will be added to the 4,367 acres that the District owns within the Tampa Bay Estuarine Ecosystem project.The property, commonly known as the Fulkerson Road shell pit, is located about one mile north of the Hillsborough/Manatee County line and just west of U.S. Hwy. 41.The property is being purchased for $828,000 from… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District will be treating hydrilla on the Rainbow River Jan. 17-19. Infestations of hydrilla immediately upriver of KP Hole Park to the Withlacoochee 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… Read more

Groups and individuals interested in applying for a Southwest Florida Water Management District community education grant are invited to attend a grant advisory session for residents who live in the area represented by the District’s Manasota Basin Board. The area includes Manatee and Sarasota counties.The advisory session will be held Thursday, Aug. 26, from 10 a.m.- 3 p.m. at the District’s Sarasota Service Office, in the Governing Board Room. The Service… Read more

Workshop to follow at 9:30 a.m.The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Governing Board will hold its monthly meeting Tuesday, March 25 at 9 a.m. at the Tampa Service Office, located at 7601 U.S. Highway 301 North. After the Governing Board meeting, the District will hold an informational workshop on flood-related topics.To view the Governing Board meeting online, click on the… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District will be treating hydrilla in Marion County August 22-25. Infestations of hydrilla will be treated on the Rainbow River from County Road 484 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 restrictions. River water should not be used for irrigation or… Read more

Emergency Operations Center at Level 2 activation Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) officials are monitoring Hurricane Dorian and have raised the activation level of the District’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) to Level 2. The EOC provides direction regarding District activities before, during, and after an emergency weather event. The District is continuing to monitor potential impacts from the storm that could occur throughout… Read more