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Fifteen Sarasota 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’s…

The "Southwest Florida Water Management District":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/ (District) will be treating water lettuce on the Rainbow River in Marion County during the week of January 27-30.District workers will treat scattered infestations on the river from Rainbow Springs State Park to the Withlacoochee River.Workers will apply the aquatic herbicide Tribune and post informational signs in the treatment areas noting treatment dates and applicable water use restrictions.…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District will be treating water lettuce on the "Rainbow River":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/projects/swim/rainbowriver.php in Marion County during the week of Jan 28-30.District workers will treat scattered infestations on the river from Rainbow Springs State Park to the Withlacoochee River.Workers will apply the aquatic herbicide Tribune and post informational signs in the treatment areas noting treatment dates and applicable water…

Geohydrologic DataGeohydrologic data includes aquifer test data, geohydrologic profile data (water level, slug test, and water quality), stratigraphic data, lithologic logs, geophysical logs, and geohydrologic well site reports and summaries. The majority of geohydrologic data are collected through the Regional Observation and Monitor-well Program (ROMP).  More information on the ROMP can be found on the…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) is encouraging residents who irrigate their lawns to take advantage of the summer rainy season and “watch the weather, wait to water.”During the summer months of June, July, August and September, yards need no more than ½ to ¾ inch of water every two to three days. If your lawn has received enough water from rainfall, turn off the irrigation system and turn it back on when needed.The simplest way to determine if your…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District honored Alton Cheatham of the Charlotte Harbor Environmental Center for his outstanding water resources education project. A total of 29 projects were recognized Wednesday during the “Partners in Watershed Education Conference” at the Crowne Plaza Tampa East Hotel.Cheatham was recognized for the Charlotte Harbor/Lemon Bay Surface Water Improvement and Management Watershed Education Program. This project educated…

This property was acquired to protect and preserve natural water resources and the water quality of the Withlacoochee River, Gum Slough and associated tributaries. The Withlacoochee River, Gum Slough and Gum Springs Run are located adjacent to the property and were designated Outstanding Florida Waters in 1989. Gum Slough is a four-mile-long spring run that flows into the Withlacoochee River. The water in Gum Slough comes from several springs, which makes it…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District will conduct a monthly audible test of the three sirens installed near the Edward Medard Park reservoir in southeast Hillsborough County this Saturday at noon.The audible testing takes place the first Saturday of each month at noon to ensure the sirens perform properly. During testing, the sirens sound for about 15 seconds. The hearing range of the sirens is dependent upon many factors including weather conditions and…

Four Citrus 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 Citrus County to the strong partnership with Citrus County Schools. Gayle Nobles, the coordinator of special academic programs for Citrus County Schools, serves as the District's liaison to…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District recently recognized the Hardee Jr. High Water Study as an outstanding water resources education program.This project taught students about the importance of the Peace River. The project focused on water quality and factors that affect it. The primary water quality studies were turbidity, dissolved oxygen, phosphate and nitrate levels and pH. Geographical and geologic topics were also discussed.The project was one of 52 projects…

Sometimes Florida yards need fertilizer to help keep them healthy, but don't just empty a bag of fertilizer into your spreader without doing your homework. The "Southwest Florida Water Management District(Southwest Florida Water Management District)":/ recommends that you follow the directions on the package when choosing and applying fertilizers. Applying too much fertilizer, too often or at the wrong time can cause water pollution. Use Florida-friendly fertilizing…

Rutter Earns Professional Certification Roger Rutter, a tradesworker at the District Headquarters in Brooksville, was recently certified by the Florida Nursery, Growers and Landscape Association as an FNGLA Florida Certified Horticulture Professional. The certification measures horticulture knowledge on everything from plant and pest identification to landscape management, and it promotes professionalism among horticulture professionals, including nursery, greenhouse,…

As more than 1,000 people move to Florida each day, it’s more important than ever to protect the natural resources that make our state so special. One small action – how you fertilize your lawn – can have a big impact on water quality in your neighborhood and beyond.That’s why the Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) launched Fertilizing 101, a seasonal campaign based on UF/IFAS fertilizing best practices. It’s designed to help…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District will observe National Tourism Week May 12-20 by promoting the award-winning Water Conservation Hotel And Motel Program (Water C.H.A.M.P.) to the hospitality industry. The goal is to show that by implementing the Water C.H.A.M.P. program, the savings can really add up for local businesses.Water C.H.A.M.P. is the District’s linens and towel reuse program.According to VISIT FLORIDA, the states official tourism marketing…

The Alafia River is a major tributary of Tampa Bay. Conservation of the lands along the Alafia River will protect the river, its floodplain and wildlife habitat for future generations. The river’s natural floodplain is a mixture of hardwood swamps and upland hammocks. Trails meander through natural areas as well as areas that were formerly phosphate mine pits, which are mostly revegetated. Jointly purchased by the District and Hillsborough County, the property is managed…

The Florida black bear is the largest native land mammal in Florida. It is shy and secretive, hiding in dense vegetation and rarely seen in the wild. The Florida black bear has a shiny, black coat of long fur and a light brown nose and snout. Some black bears have white diamond-shaped patterns on their chests. The black bear has a short tail that is almost always hidden by its long fur, and long, sharp claws that help the bear climb trees or dig for food. Bears are…

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 34 grants awarded, 11 were given to groups in Hillsborough County.The overall goal of the Community Education Grant Program is…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board Tuesday modified a water use permit (WUP) for the City of Lake Wales.The modified permit increases the permitted quantities. The previous annual average permitted quantity was 3,797,300 gallons of water per day (gpd.) The new permitted quantity is 3,821,000 gpd, which is an increase of 23,700 gpd.The quantity was increased because the city began providing potable water to the Waverly service area, which used to…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) has rescheduled the workshop to allow for public comment on the proposed minimum flow for the Pithlachascotee River in Pasco County. The workshop will take place on Thursday, Feb. 15 from 6 – 7:30 p.m.at the New Port Richey Public Library, located at 5939 Main Street in New Port Richey. The Florida Legislature requires the District to set minimum flows and levels for priority water bodies within the District. A…

Hernando County students at two schools will study the issues surrounding our freshwater resources thanks to "Splash! school grants":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/education/schoolgrants/ from the Southwest Florida Water Management District.The Hernando County awardees are:* David Peitzman, *Gulf Coast Academy of Science*, was awarded $1,520. Students will visit several river and spring locations to test water quality and learn about human impacts to Florida's diverse…