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June 2025Q: What are seagrasses? A: Seagrasses are flowering plants that have leaves, flowers, seeds, and roots. Unlike land plants, seagrasses do not have strong stems to hold themselves up. Instead, they are supported by the buoyancy of the water surrounding them. Another unique characteristic of seagrasses is that they are “halophytes,” meaning they only grow in saltwater. Of the…

The Chassahowitzka Springs form the headwaters of the Chassahowitzka River in the town of Homosassa. It is considered one of the more scenic rivers in Florida as it flows nearly seven miles through mostly undeveloped area before discharging into the Gulf of America near the Citrus and Hernando County border. Most of the lands adjacent to the river are in public ownership, meaning they will retain much of their natural beauty for generations to come.…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board Tuesday approved a new District policy to further incorporate a commitment to superior environmental stewardship and efficiency into the District’s day-to-day operations in support of the state’s Climate Change Initiative.Last July, Governor Crist signed several executive orders establishing Florida’s energy policy. These executive orders call for all state agencies to implement plans to reduce…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District manages controlled burns on its lands. Which are carefully planned burns used to manage forests. These controlled fires reduce wildfire risks by reducing excess vegetation, improving wildlife habitats and promoting new plant growth. The District ensures safety and efficiency in these operations, balancing ecological benefits with public safety. Fire in FloridaFire is one of the dominant forces that shape…

Left to right: Pinky Mathew retrieves samples from storage. Jackie Robbins prepares samples for testing for alkalinity concentrations. Matt Jablonski loads the auto sampler for the Inductively Coupled Plasma Spectrophotometer. Ron Lubosco configures the auto analyzer that tests for nitrogen concentrations. The District’s chemistry laboratory recently ranked No. 1 overall in a study that tested the quality of several laboratories in the southeast region of the…

Your Questions Answered December 2021 Q: Why does the District issue permits? A: Water is a public resource that belongs to all of us. However, fresh water is not limitless. Excessive water withdrawals can harm the resources. Other human activities also pose threats. Without the proper safeguards for wetlands, floodplain encroachment and stormwater runoff can cause pollution and flooding. District permitting…

 In nearly every part of the home, there are ways to save water. If we don’t conserve, we’re pouring water and money down the drain.Each person in our region uses about 111 gallons of water per day. You can reduce your water consumption by taking just a few simple steps at home. For example, there are many ways to conserve water in the laundry room: 

• When doing your laundry, pretreat stains to avoid rewashing.
• Choose the right setting for water…

Sixty-nine Hillsborough County teachers are among the record number of educators who applied for and received Splash! mini-grants through the Southwest Florida Water Management District.This year the District awarded Splash! mini-grants to 209 educators totaling more than $413,000. That’s 72 more grant recipients than last year.Mary Margaret Hull, lead communications coordinator, attributes the increase in awardees to an increase in promotion among the District’…

Governing Board urges water conservationDespite normal rainfall in April, west-central Florida remains abnormally dry. The Southwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board is urging residents to continue conserving the water resources.Since January 2006, the District has accumulated more than a 15-inch rainfall deficit. As a result, lake levels are below their annual low levels and rivers are flowing below normal ranges.Last month, the Governing Board declared…

Left: The group toured the tailwater recovery system at Strawberry Red Ranch. Top right:Bill Orendorff, FARMS Program manager, describes the tailwater recovery project to the group. Bottom right: Glenn Harrell of Harrell’s Nursery, right, speaks with Bruce Wirth, District deputy executive director. District Governing Board and staff members got a firsthand look at ways to reduce the use of groundwater for freeze protection during a recent tour of agricultural…

Scientists with the District’s Surface Water Improvement and Management (SWIM) Program are optimistic about an overall increase in the growth of seagrass in Tampa Bay, as well as nearby Sarasota Bay, Charlotte Harbor and St. Joseph Sound. Seagrass generally grows in waters less than six feet deep and is an important barometer of a bay’s health because it requires relatively clean water to flourish. Seagrass beds serve as “nurseries of the bay,” sheltering and…

Scientists with the "Southwest Florida Water Management District's ":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/ "Surface Water Improvement and Management (SWIM) Program":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/projects/swim/ released the results of the 2012 seagrass mapping study showing a 5.3 percent increase in seagrass coverage in Tampa Bay. This is the fourth consecutive survey to show increases for the Tampa Bay system. The study also shows gains in Lemon Bay and Charlotte Harbor. The…

Built on the concept of collaboration, the Central Florida Water Initiative (CFWI) works with the area's 83 utilities to scale water conservation efforts and promote alternative water supplies for a growing population. "The CFWI is focused on regional, multijurisdictional solutions that serve more than one utility, and by extension more residents, businesses, the agricultural community and other water users in the region," said St. Johns River Water Management District…

Eight Pinellas County projects that have the potential to reach approximately 298,800 people were awarded Community Education Grants from the Southwest Florida Water Management District. These grants offer up to $5,000 to help fund projects that provide communities an opportunity to learn about water resources.This year the District awarded 32 grants Districtwide. This is the 12th year Community Education Grants have been available.The overall goal of the Community…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District is proud to announce the recipients of the 2006 Community Education Grant Program. The grants, which are up to $5,000 each, will help fund projects that provide communities the opportunity to learn about water resources.This year the District awarded 34 grants Districtwide for a total of $151,278. Of those 34 grants awarded, five were awarded to groups in Pinellas County.The overall goal of the Community Education Grant…

Over time, the springs’ water quality and amount of water they discharge have been threatened by both human activities and natural factors. The challenges facing our springs include:  

• Increases in nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus due to development in springsheds, excessive fertilizer use and failing septic tanks. Excess nitrate levels in water can be harmful to aquatic insects, amphibians and fish. If algae have an…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) is offering six easy ways to prepare for your holiday meals and travels without running up your water bill.During the holidays, water plays a role in everything from preparing your food to prepping your home for time away during this festive season. Here’s how to incorporate water conservation into your holiday plans:

• Defrost frozen foods in the refrigerator or the microwave instead of running hot water…

Looking for a New Year’s Resolution you’ll keep in 2016? Resolve to conserve water in the new year with these easy ideas: 

1. Reduce daily showers by two minutes and save up to 240 gallons per month. 
2. Fix dripping faucets and save around 1,650 gallons per month.
3. Replace showerheads with low-flow models and save about 480 gallons per month.
4. Turn off the faucet while brushing teeth and shaving, and save up to 225…

The Florida House of Representatives and Senate each adopted a resolution last week declaring April 14 through April 21 Peace River Watershed Awareness Week.The Senate resolution was sponsored by Sen. J.D. Alexander. Sens. Michael Bennett, Lisa Carlton and Rhonda Storms co-sponsored the resolution.The House resolution was sponsored by Rep. Michael Grant. Reps. Frank Attkisson, Marty Bowen, Seth McKeel and Dennis Ross co-sponsored the resolution.“We’re pleased that our…

A national program sponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) calls the District’s Water Conservation Hotel and Motel Program (Water C.H.A.M.P.) a “Gulf Guardian.” The District’s water conservation program took second place among government programs at the Gulf Guardian Awards in Corpus Christi, Texas. Water C.H.A.M.P. began in September 2002 as a two-year pilot program in the Pinellas-Anclote River Basin of the Southwest Florida Water Management…