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Website Enhancement The District recently launched two new WaterMatters.org microsites featuring information on the Alafia River watershed and the Florida Water StarSM program. Alafia River Watershed Excursion WaterMatters.org/alafia takes you on a virtual journey… Read more

Public water supply facilities, agriculture, wildlife habitat conservation and passive recreation characterize the diversity of the working landscape at the RV Griffin Reserve. The reserve offers vistas of pine flatwoods, freshwater marshes, wet prairies and glimpses of forested wetlands and oak hammocks. Much of the flatwoods have a sparse overstory of pines and resembles Florida dry prairie, one of North America's most imperiled ecosystems. The property is managed by… Read more

Rainbow Springs is known for its outstanding water clarity and is popular for swimming and paddling. About the SpringsThe Rainbow River is a first-magnitude spring system originating in Marion County. Rainbow Springs is the headwaters of this short, freshwater river flowing nearly 6 miles from the… Read more

Virginia Frissell, a science resource teacher at the Twin Lakes Elementary School in Tampa, will be presented with the Districtwide Water Steward of the Year Award at the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Governing Board’s meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 28. The meeting will be held at the District’s Bartow Service Office, located at 170 Century Boulevard.The District’s Governing Board chose Frissell’s “Water Everywhere Put It First… Read more

This second SWUCA Five-Year Assessment has found that the District and its partners have achieved further progress toward:

• Continuing to meet the water supply needs of the region for all use categories;
• Achieving further reductions in overall groundwater use from the Upper Floridan aquifer to…

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Homosassa Springs has been a tourist attraction since the early 1900s and is now located within a state park that features a fishbowl observatory and manatee rehabilitation. About the SpringsThe Homosassa River is a first-magnitude spring system originating in western Citrus County. Homosassa Springs is at the headwaters of this short, slow moving tidal river, which flows 8 miles from the headsprings to where it meets the Gulf of America.Many springs make up the… Read more

 Learn more about District Planning Regions on our Regional Water Supply Plan page. Read more

Housekeeper proudly displays Water C.H.A.M.P. materials at the Holiday Inn Express. The District’s award-winning Water Conservation Hotel And Motel Program (Water C.H.A.M.P.) reached a major milestone in July when the Holiday Inn Express Hotel &Suites on North Dale Mabry Highway in Tampa signed up as its 300th hotel. Water C.H.A.M.P. is the District’s linens and towels reuse program, which began in September 2002 as a pilot project in the Pinellas- Anclote… Read more

On Tuesday, the Southwest Florida Water Management District's (District) Governing Board adopted a $224.8 million budget for fiscal year (FY) 2024, including approximately $92.4 million for Cooperative Funding Initiatives and District grants for water resources projects. The budget reflects the District’s commitment to protect Florida’s water resources and to improve Florida’s economic vitality. Some of the key initiatives in the District’s FY2024 budget include: … Read more

The "Southwest Florida Water Management District(Southwest Florida Water Management District)":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us is encouraging residents who irrigate their lawns to "watch the weather, wait to water" during the summer months of June, July, August and September.According to research by the University of Florida, an average of three-quarters of an inch of water every three to five days is enough to replenish grass during the summer. West-central Florida receives… Read more

The "Southwest Florida Water Management District":http://www.watermatters.org and participating members of the East Pasco Water Coalition are offering water customers rebates of up to $100 for replacing their high-flow toilets.Replacing older high-flow toilets with water-efficient toilets could save an estimated 27 gallons per household or 10,000 gallons per year. About 9,500 homes in the Town of Saint Leo and the cities of Zephyrhills and Dade City are eligible for… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) is reminding residents who irrigate their lawns to “Skip a Week” or more of watering during the cooler months of January and February.According to research by the University of Florida, grass doesn’t need to be watered as often during the cooler months. One-half to three-quarters of an inch of water every 10–14 days is sufficient. In fact, if your lawn has received any significant rainfall, then you can turn off your… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District recently recognized two Pasco 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

The Southwest Florida Water Management District is announcing the recipients of the 2005 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 29 grants Districtwide for a total of $107,667.The overall goal of the Community Education Grant Program is to actively engage adults in water-related issues pertaining to conservation,… 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 through… Read more

Governing Board Chair Neil Combee (second from right) joined former Governing Board chairs Joe Davis, Jim Allen, Mike Zagorac, Judy Whitehead, Tom Dabney, Heidi McCree and Jerry Rice on a discussion panel at the State of the Water Resources conference. The state of the District’s water resources was the focus of a one-day workshop that brought together decision-makers from across the region and the state. The November workshop provided attendees an update on… Read more

Left to right: (1) A Lake Placid resident reviews a map of potential flooded areas associated with a catastrophic failure at the G-90 structure. (2) The G-90 water control structure is located on Jack Creek in Lake Placid. (3) David Crane, District structures operations manager (right), answers questions from residents about the flood inundation area. (4) Steve Clardy, District analyst (right), uses GIS technology to locate a Lake Placid resident’s property.… Read more

Project Summaries Project summaries provide insight into project details as well as final results of campaigns, studies, pilots and programs that the District funds.   Florida-Friendly Fertilizing 2011 Year of Study The "Florida-Friendly Fertilizing" campaign's goal was to increase District residents’ knowledge about proper fertilizing procedures and the negative aspects of over-fertilizing or failing to follow package directions. A resulting… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District has contracted with Team Spirit, Inc. to help coordinate the District’s Water Conservation Hotel and Motel Program (Water C.H.A.M.P.) in Citrus and Hernando counties.As part of the program, the District invites hotel and motel owners, operators and management to participate in a “linens and towels reuse program.” The District supplies printed materials for guest rooms and educational materials for employees… Read more

The District’s Regulation Division recently received two awards from the Florida Sterling Council, an organization promoting excellence in business management. Michelle Maxey, Regulatory Support Bureau chief, received the Examiner Excellence Award, which is given annually to one examiner who demonstrated extraordinary service to the Florida Sterling Council and the Examiner Corps.… Read more