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Who: Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) staff, state and City of Winter Haven elected officials and staffWhat: The District will host an event on the Winter Haven Chain of Lakes to celebrate 20 years since the Florida Legislature passed the Surface Water Improvement and Management (SWIM) Act. The District will provide a tour starting at Lake Hartridge Nature Park and heading south to Lake Howard. The tour will cover… Read more

Getting a well construction permit now can be just a point and click away thanks to a new online application process developed by the Southwest Florida Water Management District.The District issues more than 20,000 well construction permit applications each year.“This application revolutionizes the way that we conduct business by reducing paperwork, streamlining our business processes, and placing more power in the hands of the individual computer users,” said Terry Redman,… Read more

With the growing popularity of home improvement shows, the Southwest Florida Water Management District believes it has found a way to promote Florida-Friendly landscaping.The District is cooperating in “Curb Appeal,” a contest created by Cox Radio for Stanek Windows. One homeowner will win home and landscaping improvements, including up to $5,000 in new windows and a front yard makeover of up to a $10,000 value using Florida-Friendly plants and landscaping techniques.“The… Read more

Some areas of the District are still seeing rising floodwater. Flooding can occur days and even weeks after a storm due to numerous factors. Where, when and how much rainfall occurred are just some of the reasons for post-Milton flooding.When: The District has experienced an above-average year of rainfall. Hurricane Milton brought heavy rains at the end of the summer rainy season when the ground was already saturated and water levels were already high, preventing further… Read more

 Acquired in 2003 for preservation of natural systems, groundwater recharge, water quality and flood protection, the preserve offers a stunning landscape of steep sandhill ridges, expansive marshes, dense cypress sloughs and lush pine flatwoods. The preserve is a vital part of a wildlife habitat corridor envisioned by Pasco County and the District that will eventually connect the Starkey… Read more

The "Southwest Florida Water Management District(Southwest Florida Water Management District)":/ will be conducting "controlled, prescribed burns" during August on the District's "Weekiwachee Preserve(Weekiwachee Preserve)":/recreation/areas/weekiwachee.html in Hernando County.Weekiwachee Preserve is located one mile west of Spring Hill. Approximately 360 acres of land will be burned in small, manageable units. The scheduled, managed burns are a part of routine maintenance… Read more

The "Southwest Florida Water Management District(Southwest Florida Water Management District)":/ will be conducting "controlled, prescribed burns" during August on the District's "Hálpata Tastanaki Preserve(Hálpata Tastanaki Preserve)":/recreation/areas/halpata.html in Marion County.Hálpata Tastanaki Preserve is located five miles east of Dunnellon. Approximately 1,535 acres of land will be burned in small, manageable units. The scheduled, managed burns are a part of… Read more

The "Southwest Florida Water Management District(Southwest Florida Water Management District)":/ will be conducting "controlled, prescribed burns" during August on the District's "Conner Preserve(Conner Preserve)":/recreation/areas/conner.html in Pasco County.Conner Preserve is located four miles north of Land O' Lakes. Approximately 830 acres of land will be burned in small, manageable units. The scheduled, managed burns are a part of routine maintenance of lands managed by… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District is seeking public input about proposed minimum flows and levels (MFL) for Citrus and Levy County lakes.The first public workshop will be held to discuss the Fort Cooper Lake and the Floral City Pool of Tsala Apopka Lake in Citrus County and Lake Marion in Levy County. The meeting will be held Wednesday, Nov. 2, at the District’s Brooksville Headquarters, 2379 Broad Street.The second public workshop will be held to discuss… Read more

h2. Rules Will Reduce Impacts From Future Frost/Freeze EventsThe "Southwest Florida Water Management District's(Southwest Florida Water Management District)":/ new regulatory rules took effect today for existing and future water use permit holders in the Dover/Plant City area with crops that require frost/freeze protection.The District developed the new rules in response to the unprecedented 11-day January 2010 freeze event, which resulted in more than 750 dry wells and more… Read more

Gov. Rick Scott reappointed five members of the District’s Governing Board: Jeffrey Adams, 56, of St. Petersburg, is an attorney with Abbey, Adams, Byelick, and Mueller LLP. He is reappointed for a term ending March 1, 2018. Elijah “Ed” Armstrong, 58, of Dunedin, is an attorney with Hill Ward Henderson. He is reappointed for a term ending March 1, 2018. Randall “Randy” Maggard, 51, of Zephyrhills, is the vice… 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 both the Deer Prairie Creek Preserve and neighboring Schewe Tract."Deer Prairie Creek Preserve(Myakka River - Deer Prairie Creek Preserve)":/recreation/areas/myakka-deerprairie.html, which is jointly owned and managed by the District and Sarasota County, lies between Interstate 75… Read more

According to the National Weather Service, parts of the Tampa Bay area are expected to see freezing temperatures Thursday morning.This has prompted the "Southwest Florida Water Management District ":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/ to advise residents who live near Plant City and Dover who have well pumps without automatic cutoff switches to turn off the pumps Wednesday night.During a freeze or near-freezing temperatures, water is pumped to protect crops and fish farms,… Read more

The Land Management Section of the "Southwest Florida Water Management District":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/ (District) will be conducting prescribed burns during the months of July, August and September on lands acquired by the District known as the Annuteliga Hammock in Northwest Hernando County. Close to 100 acres will be burned, in small, manageable units, including an area located off of Knuckey Road near U.S. 19. According to Will VanGelder, the District's Land… Read more

Gov. Charlie Crist on March 22 appointed Richard Matassa and Fritz Musselmann to the Southwest Florida Water Management District's "Coastal Rivers Basin Board(Coastal Rivers Basin Board)":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/about/basinboards/coastal.php.Matassa is from Spring Hill in Hernando County. He is the managing director of A Civil Design Group, and was appointed to succeed Elaine Perry. His term ends March 1, 2012. Musselmann is from Spring Hill in Pasco County. He was the… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District will be conducting “controlled, prescribed burns” during June, July and August on the District’s Chito Branch Reserve and the District’s Lower Hillsborough Flood Detention Area, which includes Flatwoods Park and the Oak Ridge and Washburn Equestrian areas.The Chito Branch Reserve is approximately 10 miles south of Plant City and borders Tampa Bay Water’s C.W. “Bill” Young Regional… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District has begun construction on four projects to restore natural systems and improve the water quality at the Charlotte Harbor Buffer Preserve.The Charlotte Harbor Buffer Preserve has been significantly impacted by human activities, such as construction of miles of mosquito ditches and berms, which have altered historic wetland hydroperiods and flow patterns into Charlotte Harbor.The projects will fill mosquito ditches to restore… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District is seeking public input about proposed minimum flows and levels (MFL) for the Middle Peace River from Zolfo Springs to Arcadia.A minimum flow or level is the limit at which further water withdrawals will cause significant harm to the water resources and/or environment. The District Governing Board sets these limits as part of achieving a balance between meeting human water needs and those of Florida’s natural systems.A… Read more

According to the National Weather Service, parts of the Tampa Bay area are expected to have below freezing temperatures tonight into Friday morning, Feb. 20.This has prompted the "Southwest Florida Water Management District":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/ to advise residents who live near Plant City and Dover who have well pumps without automatic cutoff switches to turn off the pumps tonight.During a freeze or near-freezing temperatures, water is pumped to protect crops and… Read more

According to the National Weather Service, parts of the Tampa Bay area are expected to have near freezing temperatures Saturday morning.This has prompted the "Southwest Florida Water Management District ":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/ to advise residents who live near Plant City and Dover who have well pumps without automatic cutoff switches to turn off the pumps Friday night.During a freeze or near-freezing temperatures, water is pumped to protect crops and fish farms,… Read more