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District Raises Activation Level of Emergency Operations Center »
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 Elsa. The EOC provides direction regarding District activities during an emergency weather event. The District is evaluating potential impacts from the storm that could occur throughout its 16-county region…
Cypress Creek Preserve: Natural, Peaceful and Nearby »
An expanse of peaceful campgrounds, wooded trails and cypress and hardwoods rise to pine flatwoods nestled in Pasco County’s Land O’ Lakes. The District’s Cypress Creek Preserve is an oasis of natural systems that stretches north from SR 54 between US 41 and I-75. Cypress Creek’s floodplain helps filter nutrients in runoff waters. The property was purchased to preserve Cypress Creek Swamp, provide flood protection, protect and improve water quality and serve as a…
Project Increases Minimum Flows to the Lower Hillsborough River »
  District staff and City of Tampa officials recently celebrated the opening of the Sulphur Springs Weir and Pumping Station. Engines hummed and water gushed marking the completion of a joint project and the beginning of new life for the lower Hillsborough River. District staff and City of Tampa officials recently celebrated the opening of the Sulphur Springs Weir and Pumping Station. The joint venture between the agencies began in 2007 when a…
Spanning the Hillsborough River Watershed Fact Sheet »
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…
Hernando County residents invited to watershed workshops »
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…
Pasco County residents invited to watershed workshops »
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…
Governing Board Elects Michelle Williamson as New Secretary for 2021-2022 Term »
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…
Help Your Yard Recover From the Freeze »
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 (District) has a few simple steps that residents can use to help their plants, lawns and irrigation systems recover from freezing temperatures. Wait to Water and Prune The need for watering decreases dramatically with cooler temperatures. Overwatering in the winter can encourage pests and disease in…
The 1960s — The District’s Beginning »
The District’s birth was prompted by a hurricane. Its initial mission was to provide flood protection; however, by the end of the decade, the fledgling agency was already maturing to address broad-based water management needs. During the 1960 hurricane season, Hurricane Donna hammered Florida with 128-mph sustained winds and massive flooding. Donna caused storm surges of up to 13 feet in the Florida Keys and 11-foot surges along the southwest coast of Florida. Portions of…
Controlled burns scheduled for Jack Creek property »
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…
Controlled burns scheduled for Prairie-Shell Creek property »
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.…
Controlled burns scheduled for Weekiwachee Preserve property »
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…
Controlled burns scheduled for Prairie-Shell Creek property »
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…
Controlled burns scheduled for Jack Creek property »
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…
Public Invited to Provide Comments on Minimum and Guidance Levels for Cypress, Garden and Halfmoon Lakes in Hillsborough County »
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…
District Approves Proposed Rolled Back Millage Rate Saving Taxpayers $6 Million »
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…
District May Activate Tampa Bypass Canal System to Help Prevent River Flooding »
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…
District Approves Proposed Millage Rate »
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…
District to Hold Workshop on Minimum and Guidance Levels and Operational Guidelines for Lakes Hanna, Keene, Kell, and Stemper »
"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…
Lake Panasoffkee Restoration Council to meet »
The Lake Panasoffkee Restoration Council will meet on Monday, Dec. 1, 5 p.m. at the Lake Panasoffkee Recreation Center’s West Wing, 1532 CR-459, Lake Panasoffkee.The council will discuss the completion of the lake dredging project, canal cleanup and the future of the spoil area. The public is also invited to share comments.The Lake Panasoffkee Restoration Council was created by the state Legislature in 1998 to develop a restoration plan for the lake. The council is…