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Who: Representatives from Hillsborough County Parks, Recreation, and Conservation Department, Keep Hillsborough County Beautiful, the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Surface Water Improvement and Management (SWIM) Program staff and volunteersWhat: As part of the 24th annual International Coastal Cleanup, the District’s SWIM Program staff is helping coordinate a volunteer work day at Marsh Creek in Ruskin. More than 100 volunteers are needed to help… Read more

Hotels, motels and restaurants in Charlotte County can conserve water with the help of three Southwest Florida Water Management District programs.The District’s Water Conservation Hotel And Motel Program (Water CHAMP), Water Program for Restaurant Outreach (Water PRO), and Charlotte County Toilet Rebate Program are designed to help businesses conserve water through training and retrofitting.Water CHAMPWater CHAMP is the District’s linens and towel reuse program… Read more

Danger Down Below Remember that an aquifer is an underground layer of spongelike rock that holds water. Since the water lies hidden underground, most people can only imagine what an aquifer looks like. Here in Florida, highly-trained experts can visit an aquifer! Of course, it’s not that simple. Cave diving requires expensive equipment, plenty of knowledge and special skills. Even then it is very dangerous. Windows into the Aquifer… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District recently approved an agreement to continue to help fund the St. Petersburg Sensible Sprinkling Program, which focuses on outdoor water conservation.As part of the program, approximately 300 residents may participate at no charge. Those who participate will receive an irrigation system evaluation, site-specific recommendations, rain sensor installation if an operable sensor is not present, Florida-friendly landscaping… Read more

We’re halfway through Water Conservation Month, and the Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) encourages citizens to do their part to save water in and around their homes. While we shelter at home to stay safe, here’s more water saving tips to lower your monthly water bill and save hundreds of gallons of water:

• Ensure rain sensors are operating properly. Irrigating during or after significant rainfall is a major cause of outdoor…

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Environmentally conscience residents can learn about water conservation, Florida-friendly landscaping and composting at a Haines City Earth Day Celebration.The event, which is Saturday, April 11 from 10am-6pm, is being held at The Health Chic House, 12 N. 5th St. in Haines City.Workshops include Florida-friendly landscaping, composting, rain barrels, micro-irrigation, aquaponics, and other water saving tips.Additional workshops are available as well as several activities,… Read more

Every year about 2.5 million people visit public conservation lands obtained by the Southwest Florida Water Management District and its partners to protect Florida’s water resources.Balancing water needs.Protecting the environment. The District was created in 1961 by the Florida Legislature to protect the water resources of the region. The District includes roughly 10,000 square miles in all or part of 16 counties in west-central Florida that were home to a population… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Water Program for Restaurant Outreach (Water PRO) is off to a great start thanks to support from dozens of area Beef O’ Brady’s restaurants.Water PRO is a free program that helps restaurants conserve water by educating staff and customers. By implementing Water PRO, the restaurant management agrees to only serve water upon request, display water conservation materials on tables, conduct self-audits and… Read more

During the summer months of June, July, August and September in Florida, yards need no more than ½ to ¾ inch of water every 2 to 3 days, which includes both rainfall and irrigation. The frequency and duration of watering will depend on several factors, such as the type of grass, soil conditions and local weather patterns. Here are some general guidelines:How often can I water my lawn?If your lawn hasn't received enough water from rainfall, watering… Read more

 With nearly 30 percent of the watershed being conservation lands, there are many opportunities for recreation throughout the Withlacoochee River watershed. Many people enjoy visiting public conservation lands obtained by the Southwest Florida Water Management District and its partners to protect Florida’s water resources. The lands are open to the public for family activities such as hiking, bicycling, hunting, horseback riding, fishing, camping, nature study, paddling… Read more

Hernando County residents who completed a rain barrel class at the county Extension office each took home their own rain barrel. Darcy Paust used to collect rainwater in buckets placed around her Spring Hill home to water her plants. Then she read about a rain barrel class in the paper and thought having a rain barrel would be easier than collecting the water from her buckets. Paust joined the thousands of residents who attend rain barrel classes at their… Read more

A change in the global weather pattern in 2016 meant residents also saw a change in rainfall patterns. Most areas of the District saw above-average rainfall in the first part of the year caused by a mild El Nino. But the development of a La Nina cycle caused drier-than-normal conditions the second half of the year. The La Nina event is expected to dissipate by February, and climatic conditions are expected to turn to neutral conditions. That means rainfall patterns aren’t… Read more

David Moore, District executive director, and Kirby Green III, St. Johns River Water Management District executive director, discussed regional collaboration and water supply issues during the summit. More than 160 people representing local governments, utilities and various industries came together Friday, March 23, at the Hilton Ocala Hotel for the District’s first northern Water Conservation Summit. Held in partnership with the Suwannee River and St. Johns… Read more

Learn more about the District’s history and mission in a new exhibit at the Tampa Bay History Center. The museum recently opened the exhibit “A History of Conservation: A Bird’s Eye View.” The History Center and Audubon Florida’s Coastal Islands Sanctuaries have teamed up for the exhibit highlighting birdlife in Florida and the conservation movement in the Tampa Bay area. Artifacts featured in the new exhibit trace both humankind’s reverence for and decimation of… Read more

With the rainy season still a few weeks away, the Southwest Florida Water Management District would like to remind residents that conservation is the key to maximizing our water supply. Approximately 60 percent of our annual 52 inches of rain falls from June through September.“We’re at the height of our dry season when our water levels are at their lowest, so it’s important that we make an extra effort to conserve,” said Lou Kavouras, District deputy… Read more

A love of nature led to Bob and Sharon Blanchard’s decision to work with the District on two perpetual conservation easements for the Little Everglades Ranch. “So many people move here for the beauty and wildlife, so it is sad to see all the rural farmland disappearing,” said Sharon Blanchard. “We truly love this property and wanted to make sure it is preserved for future generations.” District Governing Board members and staff joined the Blanchards in celebrating… Read more