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Lower Hillsborough Wilderness Preserve »
 The Lower Hillsborough Wilderness Preserve (LHWP) contains one of the largest premier contiguous recreation areas in Hillsborough County. Within the LHWP are park sites managed by the Hillsborough County Conservation and Environmental Lands Management Department: Dead River Park, Flatwoods Park,…
DeSoto County school receives mini-grant for water resources education project »
Sheri Glastonbury from Laurel Oaks Academy is 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.Glastonbury will receive $3,000. Students will take field trips to the Peace River and the Everglades, establish a water-conserving garden…
Water Restrictions Remain in Place »
Tampa Bay Water Service Area Remains at Highest Alert Level The District’s Governing Board voted in June to continue the Modified Phase IV (or Critical) water shortage restrictions for potable water use in the Tampa Bay Water service area until July 31, 2009. “While the region is out of the immediate crisis, we are still contending with the effects of the long-term drought,” said David Moore, District executive director. “The May rainfall helped, but the summer…
District issues new water use permit to Sun 'n Lake Improvement District »
The Southwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board last week issued a new public supply water use permit (WUP) for the Sun ‘n Lake Improvement District.The service area includes approximately 7,150 acres located four miles south of the intersection of State Road 64 and U.S. Highway 27 in Highlands County.The Sun ‘n Lake Improvement District had an existing permit that included public supply and golf course irrigation. Its annual average was 1,006,200 gallons of…
Flooding and Drainage Contact Information »
Flooding during a storm eventNeed assistance? Contact your local emergency management center by calling the number listed below. Charlotte County: (941) 833-4000Citrus County:
Polk County water resources projects receive recognition »
The Southwest Florida Water Management District honored four outstanding Polk County water resources education projects. A total of 26 projects were recognized Wednesday during the “Partners in Watershed Education Conference” at the Crowne Plaza Tampa East Hotel.
  • Johnna Martinez was recognized for her work with the Lakes Education/Action Drive program, which informed Polk County residents about water resource and water quality issues, as well as lake…
Stormwater Ponds – Your Questions Answered »
August 2024Q:  What are stormwater ponds and why do we need them?A:  A stormwater pond is designed to collect and manage runoff from rainwater. When rainwater lands on rooftops, parking lots, streets, driveways and other hard surfaces, the rainfall that doesn’t soak into the ground (stormwater runoff) flows into your neighborhood stormwater pond through grates, pipes, shallow swales or ditches. Stormwater ponds are required for…
Public workshop on Regional Water Supply Plan in Tampa »
The Southwest Florida Water Management District has completed a draft of an updated Regional Water Supply Plan that assesses projected water demands and identifies potential sources of water to meet those demands through the year 2025.The updated plan also addresses the need to sustain water resources and the related natural systems, and includes estimated costs for potential projects. The current plan was developed in 2001.The challenge will be meeting growing water supply…
District Increases Water Restrictions in Tampa Bay Area »
Due to below normal rainfall, reduced river levels and increasing water supply concerns, the Southwest Florida Water Management District's "Governing Board":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/about/governingboard/ voted today to increase "water restrictions":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/conservation/restrictions/TBphase3.php in the Tampa Bay area. Even though December rainfall was near normal for our region, rainfall in January and February was 3.5 inches below normal.The…
District Declares Phase II Water Shortage in Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas »
The "Southwest Florida Water Management District's Governing Board ":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/about/governingboard/ voted today to declare a Phase II Water Shortage and implement one-day-per-week watering restrictions in the Tampa Bay area, due to reduced river levels and increasing water supply concerns.The Governing Board enacted Phase II restrictions for lawn watering throughout Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties. The tighter restrictions begin December 26 and…
Master Gardener's Spring Festival: An Education Celebration »
The 11th Annual Marion County Master Gardeners’ Spring Festival is the place where gardeners will have the opportunity to learn about water conservation in several ways. The festival is being held March 12 and 13 at the Marion County Extension Service Office in Ocala.Gardeners can learn about water conservation through micro-irrigation and rain barrel workshops. Other workshop topics include weed control, pest control, types of fertilizer, native plants, and how to…
Homosassa River »
 Highlights
  • Homosassa Springs is the headwaters of the Homosassa River and is known as the Homosassa Springs State Wildlife Park
  • The park serves as a rehabilitation center and refuge for orphaned or injured manatees.
  • Located in Citrus County
  • 270-square-mile springshed
ChallengesThe river has numerous canals and seawalls that have had a negative impact on water quality and habitat.StrategiesThrough cooperation with other government…
Pinellas County Teachers Awarded Grants for Water Resources Education Projects »
Pinellas County students at 12 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 Pinellas County awardees are:* Irene Seybold, *Cross Bayou Elementary*, was awarded $3,000. On a field trip to Fort De Soto Park, students will learn about water quality while discovering how water drains across a watershed and picks up…
Sarasota home meets Florida Water Star<SUP>SM</SUP>Gold standard »
A Sarasota home was certified on Aug. 16 as "Florida Water StarSM Gold(Florida Water Star Gold)":/conservation/florida_water_star_gold by the "Southwest Florida Water Management District(Southwest Florida Water Management District)":/.The home, built by Michael K. Walker & Associates, is located in Sarasota's Harbor Acres subdivision. It is equipped with water efficient appliances and fixtures, and no high volume irrigation system. "Florida-Friendly Landscaping™(Florida-…
District will begin testing Medard Reservoir Sirens in October »
Public meetings scheduled this monthThe Southwest Florida Water Management District will begin monthly audible testing in October of three sirens installed near the Edward Medard Park reservoir in southeast Hillsborough County.The sirens were installed as an additional safety procedure for the unlikely event of an emergency that could result in the failure of the reservoir’s dam. The 700-acre reservoir is part of Edward Medard Park, a popular recreation area located…
Lake Tarpon »
 Highlights
  • Lake Tarpon is the largest freshwater lake in the Tampa Bay area
  • 2,534 acres of surface area
  • Designated an Outstanding Florida Water and a Fish Management Area
  • Located in Pinellas County
  • 52-square-mile watershed
ChallengesThree main challenges exist in the Lake Tarpon watershed:
  • Decline in water quality due to highly urbanized watershed inputs
  • Imbalanced fish communities
  • Increased…
District renews and modifies Polk County's water use permit for the Northeast Regional Utility Service Area »
The Southwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board Tuesday approved the renewal and modification of a water use permit (WUP) for Polk County’s Northeast Regional Utility Service Area (NERUSA) to meet the projected population growth through 2013.Polk County’s NERUSA is a high-growth area that extends north and south of the intersection of U.S. Highway 27 and Interstate 4 in northeast Polk County.The renewed WUP combines two permits, increases the…
Sarasota County water resources education projects honored »
The Southwest Florida Water Management District honored two outstanding Sarasota County projects that focus on water resources education. A total of 27 projects were recognized during the “Partners in Watershed Education Conference” at the Lake Mirror Complex in Lakeland.Here are the Sarasota County recipients. Sarasota County is in the District’s Manasota Basin, which also includes Manatee County.Myriam Springuel, with the Science and Environment Council…
Southwest Florida Water Management District Receives $1 Million for FARMS Program »
State Sen. Michael Bennett and Rep. Nancy Detert recently presented a $1 million check to the Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) in support of the Facilitating Agricultural Resource Management Systems (FARMS) program.The FARMS program is a cost-share reimbursement program that conserves water and protects water quality.Through accurate and efficient irrigation utilizing the latest technology, farmers are able to save water and fuel, said David Brown,…
Youth Education Team Trains Staff for School Outreach »
Ted Gates takes a sixth-grade school group on a tour of Gator Sink. Ted Gates, District professional geologist, recently led Polk County’s Southwest Middle School sixth-grade teachers and students on a field trip to observe a sinkhole firsthand at Gator Sink. Gates was given the opportunity to work with the school after joining the District’s Youth Education Team. Youth Education staff formed the Youth Education Team to provide training and instruction for…