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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

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

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

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 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

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

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

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

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’s Governing Board will hold its monthly meeting Tuesday, April 22 at 9 a.m. at District Headquarters, located at 2379 Broad Street in Brooksville. To view the Governing Board meeting online, click on the live video stream link. The video stream link becomes active and the… Read more

The "Southwest Florida Water Management District":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/ (District) activated the Tampa Bypass Canal system today in response to heavy rains in the Tampa Bay area overnight. The Hillsborough River has reached an elevation of 25 feet above sea level at Fowler Avenue, which triggers the Army Corps of Engineers activation level of the Lower Hillsborough Flood Detention (LHFDA) area. This involves redirecting the flow of the Hillsborough River east of 1-… Read more

The "Southwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/about/governingboard/ Tuesday adopted its fiscal year 2013-14 (FY2013-14) millage rate and budget.The Governing Board adopted a FY2013-14 millage rate of 0.3818 mill, which is 2.8 percent lower than the current fiscal year. This millage rate is 0.5 percent below the rolled-back millage rate, and will result in a $2.9 million reduction in ad valorem taxes for the District's… Read more

This November the District will recognize the very best in District-sponsored community and youth water resources education projects at the Partners in Watershed Education ceremony. To select this year’s 32 award-winning projects, District staff reviewed education projects completed through District grant programs by teachers and their students, community members, local governments and nonprofit groups. District-sponsored programs that use volunteers to educate others… Read more

Pat Glass displays a plaque she received in recognition of her public service. With Glass are District Executive Director Dave Moore (right) and representatives from the Peace River Manasota Regional Water Supply Authority and Charlotte and DeSoto counties. The District’s Governing Board and the Peace River Manasota Regional Water Supply Authority (Authority) joined together in December to recognize Patricia “Pat” Glass for her… Read more

The "Southwest Florida Water Management District(Southwest Florida Water Management District)":http://watermatters.org invites the public to a meeting to gather input on the District's land acquisition, management and recreation programs on public lands purchased by the District.The meeting will be on March 16 from 4:30 to 6 p.m. at the District's Sarasota Service Office, 6750 Fruitville Road in Sarasota. District staff will make a brief presentation, then open the floor for… Read more

 The canal and its water-control structure were completed in 1971 to help regulate flooding around Lake Tarpon and the lower sections of Brooker Creek. The structure prevents salt water from entering Lake Tarpon during high tides and protects the lake's freshwater ecology. The District donated 46 acres to the city of Oldsmar for the development of public recreational facilities and leased an additional 75 acres to enable the city to expand passive recreation to part of… Read more

District employees Don Kaskie and Violet Woodard thought it would be another typical work day.  The vegetation specialists spent a day last month in airboats treating water hyacinth and water lettuce on Upper Myakka Lake. Near the end of their work day, a local canoe rental shop reported that a couple who had rented a boat never returned. With a large storm approaching, Kaskie searched nearly 7 miles of shoreline by airboat while Woodard searched for the couple by… Read more