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The Southwest Florida Water Management District recognized two leaders in landscape education for their efforts to teach residents and landscape professionals about the connection between their landscape and protection of the water resources. The awards were presented Wednesday at the “Partners in Watershed Education Conference” at the Crowne Plaza Tampa East Hotel.

• Dr. Terril Nell, director of the University of Florida’s Center for Landscape…

Community leaders in Sarasota County kick off the construction of the Dearborn Street Stormwater Project. Michael Peck, professional engineer with the District, recently helped community leaders in Sarasota County kick off the construction of the Dearborn Street Stormwater Project. The low-impact design (LID) project for the Englewood Community Redevelopment area will incorporate environmentally friendly “green” features such as bioswales, prepared or mixed…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board voted unanimously today to approve two agreements that will pave the way for Weeki Wachee Springs to become a state park.The Governing Board approved a settlement agreement between Weeki Wachee Springs and the District that will end four years of litigation between the two parties. In addition, the Board approved an agreement between Weeki Wachee Springs and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District is seeking public input about proposed minimum lake levels for Lake Panasoffkee, Lake Deaton, Lake Okahumpka, Lake Miona, Black Lake and Big Gant Lake in Sumter County.Minimum lake levels are established to protect lakes from significant harm due to water withdrawals from a lake or the groundwater system. The District Governing Board sets these limits as part of achieving a balance between meeting human water needs and those…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District will be conducting “controlled, prescribed burns” during December on the District’s Weekiwachee Preserve and the Annuteliga Hammock.The Weekiwachee Preserve is approximately one mile west of Spring Hill. Approximately 400 acres of land will be burned in small, manageable units.The Annuteliga Hammock is approximately five miles south of Chassahowitzka. Approximately 100 acres of land will be burned in small,…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District is asking for the public’s input on creating a land use and management plan for the Chito Branch Reserve in eastern Hillsborough County.A workshop will be held at Pinecrest Elementary School on Wednesday, Aug. 29 from 6:30 until 8 p.m. in the school cafeteria. The school is located at 7950 Lithia-Pinecrest Road in Lithia.The Chito Branch Reserve encompasses more than 4,100 acres of land, which was purchased by the…

Gov. Jeb Bush recently reappointed one member and appointed two new members to the Governing Board of the Southwest Florida Water Management District.*Todd Pressman of Clearwater was reappointed for a term beginning March 3, 2006 and ending March 1, 2010. He has served on the Governing Board since April 2005. Pressman is president of Pressman and Associates, Inc.*Sallie Parks of Palm Harbor was appointed to succeed Watson L. Haynes II, whose term expired March 1, 2006.…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District is seeking public input about proposed minimum lake levels for Lake Panasoffkee, Lake Deaton, Lake Okahumpka, Lake Miona and Big Gant Lake in Sumter County.Minimum lake levels are established to protect lakes from significant harm due to water withdrawals from a lake or the groundwater system. The District Governing Board sets these limits as part of achieving a balance between meeting human water needs and those of Florida’s…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) will train students at the Academy of Environmental Science to collect algal samples during future algae blooms in Kings Bay in Crystal River.Kings Bay has a history of algae blooms that negatively impact water clarity, cause habitat degradation and result in odor problems. Effective watershed management requires the identification of the types of algae. Due to the limited time frame available for sampling and the…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District will be conducting “controlled, prescribed burns” during February and March on two District sites in Hillsborough County. The sites are the Alafia Reservoir property and the Lower Hillsborough property.The Alafia Reservoir property is approximately 2 miles south of Lithia. Approximately 285 acres of land will be burned in small, manageable units.The Lower Hillsborough property is approximately 1 mile southeast of…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District will be conducting “controlled, prescribed burns” during January and February on the District’s Jack Creek property in Highlands County. The property, which is in the Leisure Lakes area, is approximately 1 mile west of U.S. Hwy. 27, 3 miles south of S.R. 66 and 6 miles northwest of Lake Placid. The scheduled, managed burns are a part of routine maintenance of lands managed by the District. Approximately 200 acres of land will…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District will be conducting “controlled, prescribed burns” during October and November on the Prairie-Shell Creek property. The Charlotte County site is west of U.S. Hwy. 17 and east of the Peace River, approximately 8 miles northeast of Punta Gorda. Approximately 300 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 District.…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District will be conducting “controlled, prescribed burns” October and November on the Jack Creek property in Highlands County.The Jack Creek property is located in the Leisure Lake area, which is approximately one mile west of U.S Highway 27, three miles south of State Road 66 and six miles northwest of Lake Placid. There is the potential to burn more than 200 acres of land in small, manageable units.The scheduled, managed…

Gov. Jeb Bush recently reappointed one member and appointed three new members to the Governing Board of the Southwest Florida Water Management District.Edward W. Chance of Palmetto, retired, was reappointed for a term beginning April 14 and ending March 1, 2009. He has served on the Governing Board since September 2000.C. A. Neil Combee, Jr. of Lakeland was appointed to succeed Ronald C. Johnson whose term expired March 1, 2005. Combee is a cattleman and realtor with…

The Southwest Florida Management District recently signed an agreement with Hillsborough County to move forward on a project that will reduce flooding near Lake June.The Lake June Wetlands Restoration and Wee Lake Outfall Improvements project will improve conveyance and provide additional storage within the watershed by relocating and upgrading existing ditches and culverts, and removing an earthen land bridge built across Lake June for peat mining. Lake June and Wee Lake…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District will be conducting “controlled, prescribed burns” during the remainder of August on the District’s Jack Creek property in Highlands County. The property, which is in the Leisure Lakes area, is approximately 1 mile west of U.S. Hwy. 27, 3 miles south of S.R. 66 and 6 miles northwest of Lake Placid. The scheduled, managed burns are a part of routine maintenance of lands managed by the District. Approximately…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District will be conducting “controlled, prescribed burns” during July and August on the Deep Creek property. The site, which is located in DeSoto County, is approximately 3 to 4 miles north of the Kings Highway on-ramp to I-75. The parcel is east of the Kings Highway and north of the Deep Creek subdivision.Approximately 700 acres of land will be burned in small, manageable units.The scheduled, managed burns are a part of…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District will be conducting “controlled, prescribed burns” during July and August on the Prairie-Shell Creek property. The Charlotte County site is west of U.S. Hwy. 17 and east of the Peace River, approximately 8 miles northeast of Punta Gorda. Approximately 300 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 District.According…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District will be conducting “controlled, prescribed burns” during March and April on the Prairie-Shell Creek property. The Charlotte County site is west of U.S. Hwy. 17 and east of the Peace River, approximately 8 miles northeast of Punta Gorda. Approximately 300 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 District.According…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District will be conducting “controlled, prescribed burns” during the months of October through December on the District’s Myakka River Project property. The property is located between I-75 and U.S. Hwy. 41 and between Myakka River and the North Port. The scheduled, managed burns are a part of routine maintenance of lands managed by the District. Approximately 1,000 acres of land may be burned in small, manageable…