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 Proximity to the Charlotte Harbor estuary is reflected in the tidal nature of the river and its associated floodplain wetlands. The Peace River is highly braided in these lower reaches and the name of the property is derived from a prominent branch of the river, known historically as "Deep Creek," which parallels the eastern boundary of the site.About half of the property is pine flatwoods consisting of longleaf pines and a diverse mixture of native shrubs and herbs. A…

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…

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…

Gov. Charlie Crist recently reassigned one member and appointed two new members to the Governing Board of the Southwest Florida Water Management District.

• Judy Whitehead of Brooksville was reassigned to succeed Patsy C. Symons. Last year the state legislature reassigned Symons’ seat to represent Hernando and Marion counties and added two new seats to the Governing Board for a total of 13 members. Whitehead, the owner of Residential Appraisal Service, was first…

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…

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…

According to the National Weather Service, parts of the Tampa Bay area may see freezing temperatures during early morning hours on Sunday. This has prompted the Southwest Florida Water Management District to advise residents who live near Plant City and Dover to switch off the pumps on their wells Saturday night and leave the pumps off until the temperatures warm up in the morning. Temperatures are expected to drop below 34 degrees for several hours early Sunday morning.…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Governing Board will hold its monthly meeting Tuesday, Nov. 18 at 9 a.m. at the Tampa Service Office, located at 7601 U.S. Highway 301 North. To view the Governing Board meeting online, click on the live video stream link. The video stream link becomes active and the live video feed begins…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District will be conducting “controlled, prescribed burns” during October on the District’s Weekiwachee Preserve and the Annuteliga Hammock.The Annuteliga Hammock tract is located in Hernando County, near Royal Highlands and U.S. Hwy. 19. Approximately 260 acres of land will be burned in small, manageable units.The Weekiwachee Preserve is located in Hernando and Pasco counties, approximately one mile west of Spring…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District will be conducting “controlled, prescribed burns” during January and February for two District sites in Sarasota County the Schewe Ranch property and the Deer Prairie Creek property.Both tracts are located to the north and south of I-75 between mile markers 186 and 190, with U.S. Hwy. 41 as its far southern boundary. The property is also located between the Myakka River and the cities of North Port and Warm Mineral Springs.…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District will be conducting “controlled, prescribed burns” during October and November for two District sites in Sarasota County the Schewe Ranch property and the Deer Prairie Creek property.Both tracts are located to the north and south of I-75 between mile markers 186 and 190, with U.S. Hwy. 41 as its far southern boundary. The property is also located between the Myakka River and the cities of North Port and Warm…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District will be conducting “controlled, prescribed burns” July and August for two District sites in Sarasota County Myakka River Project property and the Deer Prairie Creek property.Both sites are located to the north and south of I-75 between mile markers 186 and 190, with U.S. Hwy. 41 as its far southern boundary. The property is also located between the Myakka River and the cities of North Port and Warm Mineral Springs…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District will be conducting “controlled, prescribed burns” during the months of February through April 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 North Port. The scheduled, managed burns are a part of routine maintenance of lands managed by the District.There is the potential to burn approximately 2,000 acres of land in small,…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District will be conducting “controlled, prescribed burns” during March and April on four District sites in Pasco County. The sites are the Upper Hillsborough property, the Conner Preserve, the Starkey property and the Cypress Creek property.The Upper Hillsborough property is approximately 3 miles east of Zephyrhills. Approximately 300 acres of land will be burned in small, manageable units.The Conner Preserve is…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District will be conducting “controlled, prescribed burns” during January and February on four District sites in Pasco County. The sites are the Upper Hillsborough property, the Conner Preserve, the Starkey property and the Cypress Creek property.The Upper Hillsborough property is approximately 3 miles east of Zephyrhills. Approximately 300 acres of land will be burned in small, manageable units.The Conner Preserve is…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District will be conducting “controlled, prescribed burns” February through May on the Myakka River Project property in Sarasota County.The District’s Myakka River Project property is located to the north and south of I-75 between mile markers 186 and 190. The property is also located between the Myakka River and the cities of North Port and Warm Mineral Springs. There is the potential to burn more than 2,500 acres of…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District will be conducting “controlled, prescribed burns” during January and February on three District sites in Pasco County. The sites are the Upper Hillsborough property, the Conner Preserve, and the Starkey property.The Upper Hillsborough property is approximately 3 miles east of Zephyrhills. The scheduled, managed burns are a part of routine maintenance of lands managed by the District. Approximately 300 acres of…

The "Southwest Florida Water Management District(Southwest Florida Water Management District)":/ is gathering input needed to improve identification of flooding risks in the Gamble Creek watershed.The District is serving as a cooperating technical partner for the "Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)(Federal Emergency Management Agency)":http://www.fema.gov on its national effort to "update and modernize the FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs)(Federal Flood Map…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) is gathering information to improve identification of flood prone areas in Polk County. The District will provide a virtual public comment period now through March 5 at WaterMatters.org/Floodplain…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District will be removing vegetation near a portion of the "Flatwoods Park Trail":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/recreation/areas/lh-flatwoods.html starting Dec. 11.The work, which involves some tree removal, is required to put the Lower Hillsborough Levee in compliance with requirements of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Failure to meet the requirements would mean a loss of possible federal funding in an emergency.Vegetation…