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The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) is gathering information to improve identification of flood prone areas in Manatee County. The District will provide virtual outreach now through Sept. 20 at WaterMatters.org/Floodplain for the public to view preliminary data for flood prone areas within the Pearce Drain/Gap Creek Watershed… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) is gathering information to improve identification of flood prone areas in Sumter County. The District will provide a virtual public comment period now through Oct. 19 at WaterMatters.org/Floodplain for the public to view preliminary data for flood prone areas within the Nichols Pond Watershed.… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s (District) Flying Eagle Nature Center in Citrus County will be temporarily closed to the public for feral hog hunts March 11-13.Only permitted hunters will be allowed on the property during these dates. All 20 permits for these hunts have been sold.Flying Eagle Nature Center is located at 12650 East Boy Scout Road in Inverness.This activity is one of a series of feral hog hunts being held on District lands to control the… Read more

The "Southwest Florida Water Management District(Southwest Florida Water Management District)":/ is gathering information to improve identification of flooding risks for six Marion County watersheds.This information is being developed as part of the *Blichton*, *Martel*, *SR 200* and *Cotton Plant 1, 2 and 3* watershed management plans. The plans were cooperatively funded by the District and Marion County.The District is holding an open house in Marion County to present… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) and Hernando County will hold a public workshop Wednesday, Feb. 5, at 5:30 p.m. to share the results of the Weeki Wachee Natural System Carrying Capacity Study. The meeting will take place at the Coast Guard Auxiliary Meeting Hall, located at 4340 Calienta St. in Hernando Beach. This ecologically-based study evaluated how recreational use affects the river. During the workshop, staff from the District, Hernando… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) is gathering information to improve identification of flood prone areas in Manatee County. The District will provide a virtual public comment period now through June 24 at WaterMatters.org/Floodplain… Read more

 Gov. Rick Scott (right) with new Governing Board appointee George Mann. Gov. Rick Scott recently appointed George Mann to the District’s Governing Board. Mann, of Polk City, is a retired business development manager at Treatt USA, which processes citrus products. Mann was appointed to succeed Neil Combee, and his term ends March 1, 2013. Mann is currently serving as a board member of Anchor House Ministry. Previously, he served on the Florida Citrus… Read more

Kendra Antoine and Sylvia Durell, senior communications coordinators, with their Crystal Awards. Kendra Antoine and Sylvia Durell, senior communications coordinators, received top honors from the Florida Government Communicators Association. Two District communications projects were recognized at the annual Florida Government Communicators Association (FGCA) Awards Banquet. The Crystal Awards recognize businesses, community groups, individuals and agencies… Read more

At its August 4 meeting, the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Peace River Basin Board adopted a fiscal year 2007 (FY2007) millage rate of 0.195 mill, which is the same as the current fiscal year.The budget for FY2007 is $15,976,982, which is an increase of $2,655,463 from the approved FY2006 budget. The increase is primarily due to an increase in property values. FY2007 will run from Oct. 1, 2006, through Sept. 30, 2007.The Peace River Basin Board area… Read more

Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) land management staff have completed evaluations of all District-managed campgrounds and properties after Hurricane Helene and all trails and day use areas and the majority of campgrounds throughout its 16-county region are now open to the public. However, several campgrounds will remain closed until further notice, including Hampton Tract in Polk County, McNeil primitive campground in Pasco County and the Hooty… Read more

Volunteers Remove Invasive Plants Volunteers from the Tampa Bay Sea Aquarium, University of Tampa, and Sexton and 74th Street elementary schools picked air potatoes during a recent cleanup event at the park. Twenty-nine volunteers recently plucked potatoes at Sawgrass Lake Park, but these aren’t the spuds you’ll find on your dinner table. Volunteers from the Tampa Bay Sea Aquarium, University of Tampa, and Sexton and 74th Street elementary schools picked… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) is gathering information to improve identification of flood prone areas in Manatee County. The District will provide a virtual public comment period now through Nov. 30 at WaterMatters.org/Floodplain… Read more

The Southwest Florida Management District recently signed an agreement with Polk County to move forward on a project that will help reduce flooding associated with heavy rains in the Saddlebag Lake Watershed.The Saddlebag Lake Watershed spans approximately 9.5 miles in southeast Polk County. Water levels in Saddlebag Lake and Lake Thomas rose dramatically after three hurricanes and four years of above average rainfall. More than 300 homes in the area were flooded and roads… Read more

A project aimed at restoring the Weeki Wachee headsprings and river is moving into its second phase.The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s project involves removing sediment and re-planting native aquatic plants to improve the water quality and habitat within the headsprings and river.The Weeki Wachee headspring and the upper reaches of the river have an accumulation of sand, silt, muck and litter in the headspring, which also spreads downstream. Excessive… Read more

Dazed But Not Defeated   West-central Florida was rocked against the ropes by a one-two punch combination — Hurricanes Charley and Frances. Charley was a quick, compact, uppercut with winds in excess of 145 mph ramming into the underbelly of the Southwest Florida Water Management District and ripping through the rural Peace River Basin. Then, still reeling from Charley, the area was slammed by Frances, a large, infuriatingly slow but devastating roundhouse… Read more

Governor Charlie Crist recently appointed Kelly S. Rice to the Withlacoochee River Basin Board of the Southwest Florida Water Management District.Rice was appointed to succeed Paul M. Mazak. He lives in Webster and is president of the Rice Cattle Company. His term began Feb. 9 and ends March 1, 2011.The Withlacoochee River Basin includes portions of Citrus, Hernando, Marion, Pasco, Levy and Sumter counties.The District has seven regional Basin Boards that provide guidance… Read more

Hurricane season started and that means people should be stocked up on batteries and bottled watered for the storm season. But people also should be thinking about preparing their yards. Not only does it protect homes and people, it could also reduce water pollution caused by stormwater runoff. Here are some ways to prepare your landscaping for a hurricane: 

• Choose wind-resistant trees. Some trees are more wind-resistant than others so do…

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Southwest Florida Water Management District Executive Director David L. Moore issued an emergency order for all areas within the District that were impacted by Hurricane Frances.The District’s emergency order allows staff and District equipment to be available to carry out emergency operations for Division of Emergency Management and any other government agency in managing any emergency resulting from Hurricane Frances.The emergency order also allows field… Read more

A Polk County Builders Association (PCBA) program aimed at teaching residents about Florida-friendly landscaping was recognized as a finalist in the nonprofit best practice category of the 2009 Sustainable Florida Best Practice Awards. The “Polk Is Florida-Friendly” program, which received funding from the District’s Alafia River, Hillsborough River and Peace River basin boards, promotes widespread adoption of Florida-Friendly Landscaping® best management practices… Read more

At its August 12 meeting, the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Manasota Basin Board adopted a fiscal year 2010 (FY2010) millage rate of 0.1484 mill, which is the same as the current fiscal year. The Manasota Basin Board area includes Manatee and Sarasota counties.This millage rate, combined with a reduction in taxable property values as certified by the county property appraisers, will result in an estimated 11.31 percent decrease in ad valorem property… Read more