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Tampa Bay has the largest amount of seagrass measured in more than 60 years, an indication the health of one of Tampa’s major water bodies continues to improve. Scientists with the District’s Surface Water Improvement and Management, or SWIM program, released the results of their 2014 seagrass mapping study showing Tampa Bay now supports 40,295 acres of seagrass beds. Those are levels not seen in Tampa Bay since the 1950s. This increase in seagrass has now…

A two-year project aimed at measuring the effectiveness of the McIntosh Park enhanced stormwater treatment wetland (ESTW) is about to begin. The ESTW is a cooperatively funded project completed by Southwest Florida Water Management District, Plant City and Hillsborough County.Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc. has been contracted to monitor the water quality and flow rates at the McIntosh Park ESTW, which removes sediment and pollutants from a 6,000-acre watershed that drains…

Fifty-two Hillsborough County teachers were awarded Splash! school grants through the "Southwest Florida Water Management District(Southwest Florida Water Management District)":/.Mary Margaret Hull, District lead communications coordinator, attributes the effectiveness of the grant program in Hillsborough County to the strong partnership with Hillsborough County Schools. Four school district staff serve as the District's liaisons to teachers: Pam Caffery, middle school…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District moved one step closer to more effectively measuring how efficiently utility customers are using water.Last week, the District’s Governing Board approved proposed rules that standardize Districtwide public supply per capita and related reporting requirements, which currently are in place in the southern eight counties of the District known as the Southern Water Use Caution Area (SWUCA.)The Governing Board voted in January…

Excellence in Engineering Florida’s five water management districts were recently honored as national “trendsetters” for irrigation conservation issues. The Irrigation Association collectively recognized all five of Florida’s water management districts by presenting the districts with the association’s 2002 National Water & Energy Conservation Award. The award was presented at the international organization’s annual meeting in New Orleans. “The work done in…

Much progress has been made to restore Sarasota Bay since it was designated an "estuary of national significance" by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 1987. That same year, the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program was formed and remains very active today. It is one of three cooperative partnerships along Florida’s Gulf Coast that includes local communities, researchers and government agencies all…

In honor of Springs Protection Awareness Month, Madison Trowbridge shares what it’s like to be a springs scientist at the District, the important work she does and why she loves it. When I was a kid, I decided to be a scientist after our teacher read us a story about the famous marine biologist, Sylvia Earle. I pictured myself on a research vessel in the middle of the ocean, writing down measurements on a notepad. Many years later, I did become a…

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…

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…

 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…

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…

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’…

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 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…