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Five counties within the "Southwest Florida Water Management District's ":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/16-county region are now under a Modified "Phase III":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/conservation/restrictions/phase3.php water shortage order due to below normal rainfall this winter.The District's Governing Board voted today to declare the Phase III order for northern counties in the District's region which are: Citrus, Hernando, Lake, Levy, and Sumter as well as the City… Read more

TheFriends of the Dunnellon Public Library will receive a $4,550 Community Education Grant from the Southwest Florida Water Management District for a Florida-friendly demonstration garden.This demonstration garden and signage at the new public library will be designed by the Marion County Florida Yards & Neighborhoods (FYN) coordinator and maintained by the Friends of the Library organization. The library will offer four FYN workshops to residents and at least two… Read more

Asks the public to help our water resources recoverThe Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Governing Board voted unanimously today to extend the current Water Shortage Order, which restricts lawn watering throughout the District to one-day-per-week, through Sept. 30.The Governing Board chose to extend the term of the water shortage order because impacts from the two-year drought continue despite the start of the annual rainy season. In… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s (District) Hampton Tract, including closed area tracts at Green Swamp Wilderness Preserve in Polk County, will be temporarily closed to the public for feral hog hunts March 18-20.Only permitted hunters will be allowed on the property during these dates. All 30 permits for these hunts have been sold.The Green Swamp Wilderness Preserve Hampton Tract is located at 14301 Rock Ridge Road in Lakeland.This activity is one of a… Read more

It is the intent of the District Governing Board that environmental criteria be implemented in a manner that achieves a goal of no net loss of wetlands or other surface water functions (unless otherwise exempted by statute or rule). (Condensed and modified from Environmental Resource Permit Information Manual, Part B – Basis of Review, Chapter Three – Environmental) Wetlands serve as spawning, nursery and feeding habitats for many species of fish and… Read more

It towers more than 10 stories and its canopy shades various species deep in the Green Swamp in Polk County. “Cattle once roamed around him,“ said Paul Elliott, senior land management specialist. “Seminole Indians once camped beside him. Ace has seen a lot.“ District officials aren’t exactly sure the age of “Ace,“ a red maple tree, but they know it’s a Florida Champion. Ace, short for its scientific name Acer rubrum, was recently designated a… Read more

Your Questions Answered August 2019 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. Chris Reed, Land Management Manager for the Southwest Florida Water Management District, explains why the District’s prescribed burn efforts are critical to keeping Florida’s ecosystem in balance. Q: What is a… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District and Winter Haven recently signed an agreement to begin a master plan that will identify ways to use reclaimed water and conserve the groundwater supply.“The master plan will ultimately recommend how the City of Winter Haven should focus its efforts to best accomplish its goals and use its reclaimed water reuse resources from its two wastewater treatment plants,” said Tammy Antoine, District staff water conservation… Read more

*Who:*Southwest Florida Water Management District staff, Stages Productions, kindergarten and first-grade students from Kenly Elementary School*What:*This watershed awareness week event targets grade-school students. The goal is to teach students about the Hillsborough River watershed through an interactive theatre performance about water conservation and protection. The play “Water Pigs” is a fun take-off on the classic story of the three little pigs.The presentation is… Read more

Sixteen Polk County teachers were awarded Splash! school grants through the Southwest Florida Water Management District.This year 157 Splash! grants were awarded across the District's 16 county region to educate students on Florida's water.Mary Margaret Hull, District lead communications coordinator, attributes the effectiveness of the grant program in Polk County to the strong partnership with Polk County Schools. Milt Huling, senior curriculum coordinator of science for… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board Tuesday approved the purchase of a perpetual conservation easement for a 652-acre parcel of land located near the Myakka River State Park, contingent upon cooperative funding with the United States Department of Agriculture, Natural Resource Conservation Service (USDA-NRCS) Farm and Ranchland Protection Program (FRPP.)The transaction includes the property owner, the Myakkahatchee Ranch, LLC., making a 25 percent… Read more

The purpose of the Environmental Advisory Committee (EAC) is to provide input into District programs and activities.This includes regulatory programs, rule revisions, water conservation activities, water resource planning, water resource and supply development projects, research and other water resource management projects that relate to the environment. Subject matter considered by the EAC shall relate to the statutory duties and responsibilities of the District.EAC members… Read more

Explore the deepest wildlands of a Florida blackwater cypress swamp, or float down the crystal clear waters of a pristine spring-fed stream. District lands preserve hundreds of miles of pristine shoreline along many of the beautiful rivers and lakes in the region. Whether it is a great blue heron stalking its prey, an alligator sunning on a log or a deer getting a drink from the cool, clear waters of a spring-fed river, there are endless opportunities to view wildlife in… Read more

The District’s Governing Board approved the purchase of a perpetual conservation easement of more than 1,088 acres of Triangle Ranch in Manatee County, in the upper Myakka River watershed. This action will prevent future development on this property by securing $2 million toward the purchase of the conservation agreement, and is a key part in the permanent protection of this important piece of land. Executive Director Brian Armstrong said the purchase increases the… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District and the City of North Port are working together on an innovative alternative water supply project that will allow the city to use the Myakkahatchee Creek as a year-round water supply source, improving the quality of drinking water to customers and providing a more reliable water supply to the city and the region.The project includes the design, permitting and construction of a facility with river bank filtration (RBF) and… Read more

Your Questions Answered  January 2022 Q: What is a prescribed burn? A: A prescribed burn, also known as a prescribed fire or a controlled burn, is a fire intentionally ignited by land managers to meet specific land management goals. The burns follow a written prescription which outlines: the defined fire treatment area, goals and objectives of the burn, specific weather conditions that are required, the tactics staff will use,… Read more

Each year, the District conducts annual surveys of public and private potable water suppliers. These surveys are an important source of data and information that are used to support the District’s water resource programs and initiatives, including water supply planning, water use permitting and water conservation.2024 Public Supply Annual Reports (PSARs)Getting Started: Data Validation

• Review your service area map- The quality of population estimates depends on the…

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The Southwest Florida Water Management District recently recognized four Sarasota County projects as outstanding school, community grant or volunteer programs that focus on water resources education. A total of 52 projects were recognized during the October 7 Reflect, Connect, Celebrate Water Resources Education Conference at the Brooker Creek Preserve Environmental Education Center in Tarpon Springs.To select the awardees, District staff reviewed grants applied for by… Read more