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The "Land Management Section of the Southwest Florida Water ManagementDistrict ":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/documents/plans/landusemgmt/ (District) will be conducting prescribed burns from November through March on the Starkey, Conner and Cypress Creek Preserves in Pasco County. These properties are located in central and west Pasco County near Land O' Lakes and New Port Richey. Approximately 1,200 acres will be burned in small, manageable units. The District will also…

The "Southwest Florida Water Management District":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/ (District) will dedicate Phase 1 of the Terra Ceia Ecosystem Restoration Project on Monday, May 12th at 10:30 a.m. in Terra Ceia. Invited speakers include representatives from the District, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and Manatee County government. In addition to the program speakers, representatives from the Wildlife Education and Rehabilitation Center, Inc. in Anna…

The Land Management Section of the "Southwest Florida Water Management District":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/ (District) will be conducting prescribed burns during the months of April, May and June on both the Deer Prairie Creek Preserve and neighboring Schewe Tract. Deer Prairie Creek Preserve, which is jointly owned and managed by the District and Sarasota County, is located between Interstate 75 and US Highway 41. The Schewe Tract, which is located north and south of…

Setting prescribed fires in controlled settings can reduce the risk of wildfires burning out of control, as many Floridians witnessed during the state’s wildfire emergency in 2017. That’s why the Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) will be conducting prescribed burns January through March at Annutteliga Hammock and Weekiwachee Preserve in Hernando County. Annutteliga Hammock is…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) will host a public workshop Wednesday, Feb. 27, to share information about changes to the current structure operational guidelines for the North Winter Haven Chain of Lakes in Polk County. The meeting will take place at the UF/IFAS Citrus Research and Education Center’s Ben Hill Griffin, Jr. Citrus Hall, located at 700 Experiment Station Road in Lake Alfred. Lakefront residents of Lakes Conine, Fannie, Haines…

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 Oct. 31 through Nov. 2.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…

Setting prescribed fires in controlled settings can reduce the risk of wildfires burning out of control, as many Floridians witnessed during the state’s wildfire emergency in 2017. That’s why the Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) will be conducting prescribed burns October through December at Annutteliga Hammock and Weekiwachee Preserve in Hernando County. Annutteliga…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Edward W. Chance Reserve’s Gilley Creek Tract in Manatee County will be closed to the public Oct.17 and Oct. 24 during two youth hog hunts.Only youth hunters, their parent or guardian, and volunteers will be allowed on the property during these dates.Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World in Orlando and the “American Disability Adventures” group are partnering with the District on the hunts, which are being held…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Hálpata Tastanaki Preserve will be the site of a hog hunt Jan. 15-18. The preserve will be temporarily closed to the public and only permitted hunters will be allowed on the property during these days. All of the permits for this hunt have been sold.The property is approximately six miles east of Dunnellon, south of the Dunnellon Municipal Airport. Public access is located off County Road 484.The hunt is one of…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Schewe Tract, which is part of the Myakka River property, will be the site of a hog hunt Dec. 19-21 and Jan. 6-8. The tract will be temporarily closed to the public and only permitted hunters will be allowed on the property during these dates.The Schewe Tract is located in Sarasota County off Border Road and South Moon Drive, east of the Myakka River.The hunt is one of a series of hog hunts being held on District lands…

Setting prescribed fires in controlled settings can reduce the risk of wildfires burning out of control, as many Floridians witnessed during the state's wildfire emergency last spring. That's why the Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) will be conducting prescribed burns March through September 2018 at Annuteliga Hammock and Weekiwachee Preserve in Hernando County. Annuteliga Hammock is located east of U.S. Highway 19, north of Centralia Road and south…

Lesley Touchton, District emergency operations coordinator; Elaine Kuligofski, District human resources director; Lucy Petrucelli, District risk manager; Gary Kuhl, Hernando County administrator; and Eugene Schiller, District deputy executive director, were on hand for the dedication of the county’s new Emergency Communications and Operations Center. An agreement between Hernando County and the Southwest Florida Water Management District allows the District…

The Southwest Florida Management District recently signed an agreement with Sarasota County to move forward on a project that will help reduce flooding associated with heavy rains in the Alligator Creek watershed.The Alligator Creek watershed spans approximately nine miles in Sarasota County and includes Banyan Drive, Bal Harbour Drive, Venice East Drive, Venice East Boulevard and the Briarwood area. These areas become impassable during 10-, 25- and 100-year storm events.…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Hampton Tract will be reserved March 23-25 to allow disabled hunters the opportunity to enjoy the outdoors during a turkey hunt. The property, which is located at the intersection of Rockridge Road and Deen Still Road in Polk County, will be closed to the public.The hunt is organized by the National Wild Turkey Federation/Wheelin’ Sportsmen and is one of seven planned outdoor events held on District land…

Approximately 14 disabled hunters are expected to participate in a Hog Still Hunt, Jan. 27-29, on the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Alston Tract, which is part of the Upper Hillsborough. The event is organized by the National Wild Turkey Federation/Wheelin’ Sportsmen.The Alston Tract is located east of Zephyrhills in Pasco and Polk counties. The entrance is off S.R. 39. The property will be closed to the public during the event.During a hog…

Setting prescribed fires in controlled settings can reduce the risk of wildfires burning out of control, as many Floridians witnessed during the state’s wildfire emergency in 2017. That’s why the Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) will be conducting prescribed burns July through September at Annutteliga Hammock and Weekiwachee Preserve in Hernando County. Annutteliga…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District's (District) Hálpata Tastanaki Preserve in Marion County will be temporarily closed to the public for feral hog hunts Jan. 24-26. Only permitted hunters will be allowed on the property during these dates. All 25 permits for these hunts have been sold. Hálpata Tastanaki Preserve is located at 15430 SW Highway 484 in Dunnellon. This activity is one of a series of feral hog hunts being held on District lands to control…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District's Governing Board will hold its monthly meeting Tuesday, May 25, at 9 a.m. at the Tampa Service Office, located at 7601 U.S. Highway 301 North. The meeting is open to the public. Based on new guidance from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) regarding fully vaccinated people, wearing masks and social distancing will be optional at the meeting. To view the Governing Board meeting online, click on the…

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 Jan. 10-12. 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…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District and Sarasota County continue to work diligently to gather input needed to update the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs). The county is also working with staff from the cities of North Port, Venice, Sarasota and the Town of Longboat KeyMost of the current FIRMs are 10 to 30 years old and are outdated because of natural and physical changes caused by land use, development and erosion.…