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The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) will be holding a feral hog management hunt on the Lower Hillsborough Wilderness Preserve in Hillsborough County Nov. 17-19. The property will be closed to the public from dusk until dawn during the hunts. Normal daytime operations in the park will not be affected. Only permitted hunters will be allowed nighttime access on the property during these dates. All 20 permits for these hunts have been… Read more

Whether students are in the classroom or learning from home, the District’s Splash! school grants are the perfect way to provide a hands-on opportunity to learn about water resources. The District’s Splash! school grant program provides funding to public and charter school educators to help enhance knowledge of freshwater resource topics. Applications are due Aug. 31 and for the first time, these grants can be used to support both in-person and virtual experiences… Read more

Who: Southwest Florida Water Management District Governing and Basin Board members, District staff, members of the Withlapopka Civic AssociationWhat: The District and the association are celebrating the dedication of Withlapopka Community Park, which is located within the Flying Eagle Preserve. The park was built as a result of a partnership between the District and the civic association.When: Saturday, March 31, 10 a.m.Where: The park is located at 10357 East Gobbler Drive… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District and the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF)/Wheelin’ Sportsmen have agreed to continue a successful partnership that allows disabled outdoor enthusiasts the opportunity to participate in planned events on District land throughout the year.As part of a pilot program, three events were jointly organized by the District and the NWTF/Wheelin’ Sportsmen last year including a deer/hog hunt, a turkey hunt, and a fishing… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) will be closing the WeekiWachee Preserve, located in coastal Hernando County, effective Thursday, April 2 for all uses until further notice. The District took steps to remind recreational users to follow the direction of Governor Ron DeSantis and to uphold the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance to practice social distancing by avoiding gatherings larger than 10 people and distancing… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) will be holding a feral hog management hunt on the Lower Hillsborough Wilderness Preserve in Hillsborough County Jan. 14-16. The property will be closed to the public from dusk until dawn during the hunts. Normal daytime operations in the park will not be affected. Only permitted hunters will be allowed nighttime access on the property during these dates. All permits for these hunts have been sold.… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) will be holding a feral hog management hunt on the Lower Hillsborough Wilderness Preserve in Hillsborough County Nov. 19-22. The property will be closed to the public from dusk until dawn during the hunts. Normal daytime operations in the park will not be affected. Only permitted hunters will be allowed nighttime access on the property during these dates. All 20 permits for these hunts have been… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) will be holding a feral hog management hunt on the Lower Hillsborough Wilderness Preserve in Hillsborough County Nov. 13-15.  The property will be closed to the public from dusk until dawn during the hunts. Normal daytime operations in the park will not be affected. Only permitted hunters will be… Read more

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 year. That’s why the… Read more

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 year. That’s why the… Read more

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 year. That’s why the… Read more

The "Southwest Florida Water Management District":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/ (District) will hold a Recreation Ad Hoc Committee meeting Wednesday, March 5, at 9:30 a.m. The meeting will take place at the Tampa Service Office, located at 7601 U.S. Highway 301. The objective of this meeting is to provide the Ad Hoc Committee, made up of four Governing Board members, and stakeholders an overview of the findings and preliminary staff recommendations resulting from the… Read more

Above: Jerry and Pam Rice on vacation with their grandchildren. Right: Rice joined the District’s Governing Board in March 2003. The District’s new Governing Board chair knew early in life that his future lay in the citrus industry. Born in Avon Park and raised in Polk County, Talmadge G. “Jerry” Rice began his career at an early age. “I started working when I was very young. My dad worked in the citrus groves. My mom worked in the packinghouse. I did a… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District's Starkey Wilderness Preserve, which includes J.B. Starkey Wilderness Park and the Serenova Tract, will close early at 4 p.m. Dec. 1-3 for nighttime hog hunts.Only permitted hunters will be allowed on the preserve from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. during these dates. All of the permits for these hunts have been sold.J.B. Starkey Wilderness Park is located at 10500 Wilderness Park Boulevard in New Port Richey. The Serenova Tract is located… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District is searching for an organization to manage and maintain an environmental education center on the District’s Flying Eagle Preserve in Citrus County.The property was purchased from the Boy Scouts of America in December 2004. The entire parcel is 4,964 acres.The environmental education center is a 580-acre parcel that features a 2,100-square foot administration building, nine camping areas that accommodate 10 tents and include… Read more

The District’s Governing Board voted Tuesday for the latest slate of officers for the 2021-2022 term. Governing Board members are unpaid, citizen volunteers who are appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Florida Senate. The Governing Board sets policy for the District, whose mission is to protect water resources, minimize flood risks and ensure the public’s water needs are met. The new officers are:… Read more

With the growing popularity of social media, the District has turned to Facebook and Twitter as its newest communication tools for promoting its mission to protect water resources. Facebook is a free social networking web site that helps people communicate more efficiently with their friends, family and coworkers in a trusted environment. Users can support organizations, such as the District, by signing up to be a “fan” to receive information and interact on the web… Read more

The "Southwest Florida Water Management District":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/ (District) has launched a contest on the social media site Instagram to raise awareness of springs throughout the District. Springs sites are a popular hot spot with both local residents and tourists during the summer months and especially holiday weekends. This summer, whether you are tubing, kayaking, swimming or just relaxing near one of the many springs in our District, you can share those… Read more

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 June through September at the following Pasco County properties:

• Cypress Creek Preserve
…

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The Southwest Florida Water Management District and the City of Bradenton have increased the budget for a project that will reduce flooding along Wares Creek.The Wares Creek Bridge Replacement project involves replacing four bridges and improving the existing stormwater management systems at three locations. The bridges being replaced are at 9th, 12th, 14th and 17th Avenues West. The stormwater management facilities being improved are at 9th and 20th Avenues West and at… Read more