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The best and brightest minds in water reuse from around the world will converge in Tampa this week to take part in the 22nd Annual WateReuse Symposium, which focuses on water reuse and desalination.More than 700 representatives are expected to attend the symposium, which is being held Sept. 9-12 at the Waterside Marriott. This is the first time the WateReuse Association has held its annual event in the Tampa Bay area. The association is a non-profit organization whose… Read more

**Manatee County students at 11 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 Manatee County awardees are:* Reinhardt Badow, *Bayshore High*, was awarded $1,986. Students will learn about native versus invasive plants as they design, install and maintain native vegetation on the school's campus and wetland area… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District is urging residents to skip their next watering day if they’ve received at least a half-inch to three-quarters of an inch of rain today.Outdoor water use can account for up to fifty percent of residential water use and skipping a week of irrigation will help conserve our limited drinking water supplies.All 16 counties within the District are feeling the effects of the three-year drought.“Even if it is your assigned… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) awarded $108,937 in grants to 51 educators within the District as part of the Splash! school grant program. The program provides up to $3,000 per school to enhance student knowledge of freshwater resources in grades K-12.Splash! grants encourage hands-on student learning through STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) activities as well as engagement of the greater school community through awareness… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) awarded $108,304 in grants to 51 educators within the District as part of the Splash! school grant program. The program provides up to $3,000 per school to enhance student knowledge of freshwater resources in grades K-12.Splash! grants encourage hands-on student learning through STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) activities as well as engagement of the greater school community through awareness… Read more

This first SWUCA Five-Year Assessment found that the District and its partners:

• Succeeded in meeting the water supply needs of the region despite an increase of more than 325,000 residents;
• Succeeded in reducing overall groundwater use from the Upper Floridan aquifer by more than 50 mgd; and…

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The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) invites the public to a workshop on Thursday, Feb. 23 at 4:30 p.m. at Dunnellon City Hall, located at 20750 River Drive in Dunnellon. The purpose of the workshop is to allow for public comment on the proposed minimum flow for the Rainbow River System in Marion County. The Florida Legislature requires the District to set minimum flows and levels (MFLs) for priority water bodies within the District. A minimum flow or… Read more

Ten Hillsborough County projects that will reach up to 64,500 people were awarded Community Education Grants from the Southwest Florida Water Management District. These grants provide up to $5,000 to help fund projects that provide communities an opportunity to learn about water resources.This year the District awarded 38 grants Districtwide for a total of $136,598. This is the 11th year Community Education Grants have been available.The overall goal of the Community… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) invites the public to a workshop on Thursday, April 27 at 5 p.m. at Crystal River Middle School, located at 344 N.E. Crystal Street in Crystal River. The purpose of the workshop is to allow for public comment on the proposed minimum flow for the Crystal River/Kings Bay system in Citrus County. The Florida Legislature requires the District to set minimum flows and levels for priority water bodies within the District.… Read more

Above left: A certified custom riverfront home in Hernando County. Right: Governing Board Member Ron Oakley, right, and Pasco County Commissioner Ted Schrader, left, help Ricky Chiles break ground on a Florida Water Star℠ Gold home. The Florida Water Star℠ Gold (FWSG) program is certifying more homes and getting more builders involved in the… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board Tuesday modified a water use permit (WUP) for the Southeastern Regional Utility Service Area of Polk County. The service area is approximately 1.5 miles west of the city of Frostproof, adjacent to Highway 27 and includes town of Babson Park.The modified permit increases the permitted quantities. The previous annual average permitted quantity was 928,900 gallons of water per day (gpd.) The new permitted quantity… Read more

6000 B.C.While archaeologists report evidence of human activity in the Green Swamp dating back to as early as 6000 B.C., permanent ancient human settlements have never been discovered. However, it has always been home to an abundance of plant and animal life, making it attractive for human use. The land was used by ancient peoples for hunting and food gathering, as well as collecting material to make weapons.1513-1542 A.D. Hernando de Soto explored the area  … Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District honored Angela Maraj yesterday during a District ceremony that recognized outstanding programs that focused on water resources education. Maraj serves as the Florida Yards & Neighborhoods Builders/Developers Outreach coordinator in Charlotte, Manatee and Sarasota counties. A total of 27 projects were recognized during the “Partners in Watershed Education Conference” at the Lake Mirror Complex in Lakeland.In… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board Tuesday approved the consolidation of three water use permits (WUP) for Sarasota County Utilities.The consolidated permit does not include an increase in quantities. The three permits that were consolidated allowed an annual average permitted quantity of 13,737,400 gallons per day (gpd). Additional quantities needed during the term of the permit will be met by the Peace River/Manasota Regional Water Supply… Read more

The Citrus County Task Force is inviting the public to a stakeholders conference to discuss Citrus County water resources.The conference is being held Saturday, May 19, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Citrus Springs Community Center, located at 1570 W. Citrus Springs Blvd. in Citrus Springs.During the conference representatives from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Florida Department of Transportation, Citrus… Read more

Who: Southwest Florida Water Management District Governing and Basin Board members and staff; City of Dunedin and Pinellas County elected officials and staff; Carl Krave, Pocket Neighborhoods, Inc. president; Tampa Bay Builders Association and the Greater Tampa Bay Association of RealtorsWhat: The District is launching its Florida Water StarSM Gold (FWSG) certification program for builders and developers. The program encourages water efficiency in household appliances,… Read more

 The Chito Branch Reserve is a unique natural sanctuary situated in the heart of rapidly developing southeastern Hillsborough County. As part of the greater Alafia River Corridor of public conservation lands, its natural habitats provide a haven for native Florida wildlife and plant life, many becoming increasingly rare in the region. Outdoor enthusiasts can observe fox squirrels,… Read more

In an effort to continue to improve water clarity in Lake Panasoffkee, the Southwest Florida Water Management District is temporarily lowering the lake level by operating the Wysong-Coogler Water Conservation Structure.The District is in the process of dredging approximately 8.4 million cubic yards of sediment from the lake to improve fish habitat, restore the historic lake shoreline and improve navigation.However, the process of dredging the sediment is also removing… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) awarded $107,969 in grants to 58 educators within the District as part of the Splash! school grant program. The program provides up to $3,000 per school to enhance student knowledge of freshwater resources in grades K-12. Splash! grants encourage hands-on student learning through STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) activities as well as engagement of the greater school community… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District recently recognized two Sumter 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 teachers… Read more