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The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) is collecting public comment on the proposed minimum and guidance levels for Cypress, Garden and Halfmoon lakes in Hillsborough County. In accordance with the directive in the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s Emergency Order to conduct all public meetings electronically, the District will provide virtual outreach now through Sept. 8 at… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board voted Tuesday to elect Michelle Williamson as the new secretary for the 2021-2022 term. Williamson represents Hillsborough County and is operations manager of G&F Farms in Dover. Williamson was appointed to the Governing Board in December 2020, and her term expires March 1, 2024. Williamson previously served on the Board from August 2016 to August 2020, during which time she held the offices of… 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 0.2669 mill for the fiscal year 2021 budget. The millage rate is more than 4.7% lower than the current fiscal year adopted millage rate of 0.2801 mill, a savings to taxpayers of approximately $6 million. For the owner of a $150,000 home with a $50,000 homestead exemption, the District tax would be $26.69 a… Read more

"The Southwest Florida Water Management District":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/ (District) invites the public to a workshop on Wednesday, August 13 held from 6:00 to 8:30 p.m. at the Jimmie B. Keel Regional Library, located at 2902 W. Bearss Ave in Tampa. The purpose of the workshop is to allow for public comment on proposed minimum and guidance levels for Lakes Hanna, Keene and Kell; the existing minimum and guidance levels for Lake Stemper; and structure operational… Read more

Governor Rick Scott appointed Bryan K. Beswick and Thomas E. "Tommy" Bronson to the "Southwest Florida Water Management District's Governing Board.":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/about/governingboard/ Beswick represents DeSoto, Hardee and Highlands counties. Bronson is the representative for Hernando and Marion counties.Beswick, of Arcadia, is the grove manager for Blue Goose Growers LLC and a sales associate with Blue Goose Realty. He previously served on the Southwest… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) may need to activate 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 Hillsborough River, restricting navigation in that area. The Hillsborough River is nearing an elevation of 25 feet above sea level, which triggers the Army Corps of Engineers activation level of the Lower Hillsborough Flood Detention (LHFDA) area. This involves… Read more

A District restoration project in Sarasota County recently won an award from the Florida Stormwater Association (FSA). The Hudson Bayou In-Stream Restoration and Water Quality Improvements Project recently received a 2020 Excellence Award from FSA. The award recognizes projects with an outstanding commitment to stormwater management practices that benefit the environment and residents. This project treats stormwater from about an 800-acre urbanized watershed.… Read more

The "Southwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/about/governingboard/ Tuesday adopted its proposed fiscal year 2012-13 (FY2012-13) millage rate.The Governing Board adopted a proposed FY2012-13 millage rate of 0.3928 mill, which is the same as the current fiscal year. FY2012-13 will run from Oct. 1, 2012, through Sept. 30, 2013. With taxable property values declining by 2.9 percent, this rate will result in a $3 million… Read more

The Hillsborough River watershed begins in the Green Swamp and travels south until it meets Tampa Bay.The Hillsborough River watershed encompasses more than 675 square miles.The Hillsborough River watershed includes parts of Hillsborough, Pasco and Polk counties.There are four sub-basins within the Hillsborough River watershed: Blackwater Creek, Lake Thonotosassa/Flint Creek, Cypress Creek, and Mainstem (which includes the Upper, Middle, and Lower stretches of the river).The… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District and Hernando County are holding a series of workshops to ask developers, engineers and the general public to review and comment on 22 watershed management plans.A watershed is an area of land that water flows across as it moves toward a common low point, sinkhole complex, or a body of water, such as a stream, river, lake or coast.During the workshops, preliminary models and floodplain information will be presented for review… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District and Pasco County are holding a series of workshops for review and comment from developers, engineers and the general public on 13 watershed management plans.A watershed is an area of land that water flows across as it moves toward a common body of water, such as a stream, river, lake or coast.During the workshops, preliminary models and floodplain information will be presented for review and comment. After addressing the… Read more

At its August 3 meeting, the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Alafia River Basin Board adopted a fiscal year 2007 (FY2007) millage rate of 0.240 mill, which is the same as the current fiscal year.The budget for FY2007 is $8,377,561, which is an increase of $1,664,397 from the adopted FY2006 budget. The main reason for this budget increase is due to increased property values and additional balances available from the prior year. FY2007 will run from Oct.… Read more

Recent cold weather has taken a toll on Florida plant life, and may have damaged area sprinkler systems too. The "Southwest Florida Water Management District(Southwest Florida Water Management District)":http://watermatters.org is providing a few simple steps that residents can use help to their plants, lawns, and irrigation systems recover from freezing temperatures. h3. Wait to water and prune"University of Florida county Extension agents(Find your local county Extension… Read more

Top: Volunteers install aquatic plants at Dunnellon’s Blue Run Park. Second from top: Master Gardeners Chet Olshewsky, left, and JoEllen Allen staff an Ask-An-Expert Booth in Inverness. Third from top: Boy Scouts from Troop 452 mark storm drains in Dunnellon. Fourth from top: Water Quality Monitoring Program staff lead a tour of Kings Bay. Bottom: Dave DeWitt, District senior geologist/engineer, center, takes a tour group into Dames Caves. Educational events held… Read more

Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio is planning to proclaim March 10 “Florida-friendly Landscaping Day.”This proclamation will take place in the Mayor’s office on Monday, Feb. 5 at 2:30 p.m. It is being made in conjunction with the Florida Yard Fandango, a Florida-friendly gardening event being held March 10, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.This is the second year homeowners and gardening enthusiasts are invited to “play in the dirt” at the Museum of Science and… Read more

The "Southwest Florida Water Management District(Southwest Florida Water Management District)":/ will be conducting "controlled, prescribed burns" during August and September on the District's Jack Creek property in Highlands County.The "Jack Creek(Jack Creek)":/recreation/areas/jackcreek.html property is located six miles northwest of Lake Placid, west of US Highway 27. Approximately 100 acres of land will be burned in small, manageable units. The scheduled, managed burns… Read more

The "Southwest Florida Water Management District(Southwest Florida Water Management District)":/ will be conducting "controlled, prescribed burns" during August and September on the District's Prairie-Shell Creek property in Charlotte County.The "Prairie-Shell Creek(Prairie-Shell Creek)":/recreation/areas/prairie_shell_creek.html property is located to the west of US Highway 17, north of Shell Creek. Approximately 100 acres of land will be burned in small, manageable units.… Read more

The "Southwest Florida Water Management District(Southwest Florida Water Management District)":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us will be conducting ""controlled, prescribed burns"(Prescribed Fire - a Tool of Nature)":/publications/files/prescribed_fire.pdf during June and July on the District's Weekiwachee Preserve property in Hernando County.The Weekiwachee Preserve property is located approximately one mile west of Spring Hill. Approximately 825 acres of land will be burned in… Read more

The "Southwest Florida Water Management District(Southwest Florida Water Management District)":/ will be conducting "controlled, prescribed burns" during May and June on the District's Prairie-Shell Creek property in Charlotte County. The "Prairie-Shell Creek(Prairie-Shell Creek)":/recreation/areas/prairie_shell_creek.html property is located to the west of US Highway 17, north of Shell Creek. Approximately 100 acres of land will be burned in small, manageable units. The… Read more

The "Southwest Florida Water Management District(Southwest Florida Water Management District)":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us will be conducting "controlled, prescribed burns" during May and June on the District's Jack Creek property in Highlands County.The "Jack Creek(Jack Creek)":/recreation/areas/jackcreek.html property is located six miles northwest of Lake Placid, west of US Highway 27. Approximately 100 acres of land will be burned in small, manageable units. The… Read more