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District Executive Director David L. Moore resigned May 26. He will continue temporarily in the role to help facilitate the successful transition of the next executive director. Moore, who was appointed executive director in March 2003, says he feels he is leaving the District at the right time. “The past eight years have been extremely rewarding,” said Moore. “From developing large-scale alternative water supplies and reclaimed water to dealing with droughts,…

Above left: Governing Board Chair Neil Combee congratulates former Governing Board Chair Joe Davis on his Lifetime Achievement Award. Above right: District Executive Director David Moore presents Fritz Musselmann, the District's recently retired land resources director, with a Lifetime Achievement Award. The State of the Water Resources workshop was also an opportunity for the District to honor two men who were influential in the District’s growth and development…

The Southwest Florida Management District and Polk County have agreed to jointly fund a study to determine the feasibility of developing water supply from the Lower Floridan aquifer. Until now, all groundwater supplies from the Floridan aquifer have been obtained from the Upper Floridan aquifer.The project consists of constructing and testing an exploratory well in northeast Polk County. The test well will be drilled to a depth of 2,350 feet below the surface. The data…

Emergency Operations Center at Level 1 Activation 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 Tropical Storm Nicole. The EOC provides direction regarding District activities during an emergency weather event. Level 1 activation is utilized when a specific weather situation has developed into an emergency. Level 1 is…

Emergency Operations Center at Level 2 activation Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) officials are monitoring Tropical Storm Nicole 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 event. The District is continuing to monitor potential impacts from the storm that could occur throughout its 16-…

The "Southwest Florida Water Management District":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/ (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 Highway 301 North on Wednesday, Sept. 30 from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. Minimum flows and levels are limits set by the District Governing Board for surface waters and…

The "Southwest Florida Water Management District":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/ (District) invites the public to a workshop on Wednesday, Sept. 30 at 6:00 p.m. at the Polk County Natural Resources Division, located at 4177 Ben Durrance Road in Bartow. The purpose of the workshop is to allow for public comment on proposed Minimum and Guidance Levels for Eagle Lake and Lake McLeod. The Florida Legislature requires the District to set minimum flows and levels (MFLs) for…

Emergency Operations Center at Level 2 activation Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) officials are monitoring Tropical Storm Ian 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 event. The District is continuing to monitor potential impacts from the storm that could occur throughout its 16-county…

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…

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…

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…

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…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) will hold an independent, scientific peer review of wetland-based criteria for use in establishing minimum wetland and lake levels beginning this month. A minimum level is the level of groundwater in an aquifer or the level of surface water at which further withdrawals would be significantly harmful to the water resources or ecology of the area. The review will be conducted by a three-member panel…

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…

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…

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…

  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…

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…

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…

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…