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Governor Rick Scott appointed Joel Schleicher and Rebecca Smith to the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Governing Board. Schleicher represents Charlotte and Sarasota counties and Smith represents Hillsborough and Pinellas counties. Schleicher, 65, of Sarasota, is the founder and executive chairman of Focal Point Data Risk, LLC. Schleicher received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Minnesota. He is appointed for a term beginning May 12, 2017, and…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District is seeking public input about proposed minimum flows for the upper segment of the Hillsborough River. The Upper Hillsborough River is the portion of the river from Crystal Springs to Morris Bridge Road.A minimum flow or level (MFL) 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…

District prepares for Hurricane FrancesBartow Service Office to closeThe Southwest Florida Water Management District is preparing for the possible landfall of Hurricane Frances in Florida. The Districts Bartow Service Office will be closed on Friday, September 3, 2004, and the Peace River Basin Board meeting, scheduled for Friday, has been cancelled. The meeting has tentatively been rescheduled for Friday, September 10, 2004, at the Districts Bartow Service Office. All…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s (District) Governing Board voted to decrease property taxes by adopting a proposed rolled-back millage rate of 0.1909 mill for the fiscal year 2025 budget.The millage rate is 6.6% lower than the current fiscal year adopted millage rate of 0.2043 mill, a savings to taxpayers of approximately $9.5 million.For the owner of a $150,000 home with a $50,000 homestead exemption, the District tax would be $19.09 a year, or…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Governing Board Tuesday celebrated a District cooperatively funded project with the City of St. Petersburg that received an Outstanding Achievement Award from the Florida Stormwater Association for restoring Lake Maggiore.This is the first year the Florida Stormwater Association recognized six projects and programs during the association’s annual conference in June.The projects were recognized for demonstrating…

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has awarded more than $7.5 million in grants for water-quality enhancement projects in Citrus County to protect the health of Kings Bay and Crystal River's unique spring-fed systems comprised of more than 70 freshwater springs throughout a 600-acre bay. "We are pleased to provide springs funding for projects that will help restore and protect these important waterways," said DEP Secretary Jon Steverson. "This suite…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District is seeking public input about proposed minimum levels for Citrus County lakes.A public workshop will be held to discuss proposed levels for Fort Cooper Lake and the Floral City, Hernando and Inverness Pools of Tsala Apopka Lake in Citrus County. The meeting will be held Wednesday, Dec. 14, at the Citrus County Auditorium, 3610 South Florida Avenue (U.S. Highway 41), Inverness. The meeting, which is being held in cooperation…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District is seeking public input about proposed minimum flows and levels (MFL) for Lake Deaton, Lake Okahumpka, Lake Miona and Big Gant Lake in Sumter County.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…

The Florida Senate has confirmed the appointments of seven Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) Governing Board members.

• Bryan K. Beswick represents DeSoto, Hardee and Highlands counties and his term ends March 1, 2020.
• John Henslick represents Manatee County and his term ends March 1, 2021.
• James G. Murphy represents Polk County and his term ends March 1, 2021.
• Joel Schleicher represents Charlotte and Sarasota…

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…

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…

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…

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…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) invites the public to a virtual workshop Tuesday, April 9, at 5:30 p.m. to collect public comment on the proposed minimum levels for Lake Tulane and Lake Verona in Highlands County.Members of the public may join the meeting via Microsoft Teams at https://bit.ly/minimumlevels. The Google Chrome browser is recommended for best compatibility with…

 Veronica Craw, District environmental section manager, accepts the award from Blake Guillory, Florida Stormwater Association (FSA) president, and Kurt Spitzer, FSA executive director. The Florida Stormwater Association (FSA) recognized District stormwater and restoration projects at the group’s annual conference in June. The Weeki Wachee Springs Stormwater, Sediment Removal, and Revegetation Projects are improving water quality in Weeki Wachee Springs…

  With the rainy season upon us, now is the perfect time to build a rain barrel. The water savings from using stored rainwater rather than municipal or well water can be substantial over a period of time. A rain barrel also can help reduce the amount of water that may settle around the foundation of your home. A typical ½-inch rainfall will fill a 50-gallon barrel. In fact, during a ½-inch rainstorm, a normal roof of about 1,000 square feet can fill more…

A cooperative project between the Southwest Florida Water Management District and Hillsborough County will restore more than 160 acres within the county’s 2800-acre Fish Hawk Creek Preserve. Portions of the preserve are adjacent to District-owned lands and are within the Fish Hawk Creek watershed.This project will restore natural vegetation to upland habitat areas within the preserve. In addition to providing habitat for wildlife, the restoration of natural vegetation…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District is inviting the public to comment on proposed minimum flows and levels (MFLs) for Gum Slough Spring Run and associated springs in northwestern Sumter County and southwestern Marion County at a public meeting on Wednesday, April 4.The rule development public workshop will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Marion Oaks Community Center, 294 Marion Oaks Lane, Ocala.The state Legislature requires the "District":http://www.watermatters…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District is asking outdoor enthusiasts to take extra precautions to prevent wildfires when visiting District lands.The region is experiencing the effects of a three-year drought and October through May is Florida’s dry season. In addition, several freezes over the past month have made grasses and other light vegetation extremely dry and volatile.The District is asking campers and other outdoor enthusiasts to take the following…