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*Overwatering in winter can encourage pests and disease*The Southwest Florida Water Management District recently launched a new campaign to encourage residents who irrigate their lawns to "Skip a Week" of watering during the cooler months of December, January and February.According to research by the University of Florida, grass doesn't need to be watered as often during the cooler months. In fact, one-half to three-quarters of an inch of water every 10–14 days is sufficient…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District will be treating water hyacinth and water lettuce on portions of Lake Tarpon July 31 through Aug. 3.Scattered infestations of these plants will be treated within shoreline areas and canals on Lake Tarpon.Treatment in the canals involves spot application of the aquatic herbicide Rodeo, which requires no water use restrictions. Treatment along the shoreline involves the spot application of the aquatic herbicide Reward. Treatment…

The "Southwest Florida Water Management District":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/ (District) has approved a contract for the purchase of 410.74 acres that is a connector between the Tsala Apopka/Two-Mile Prairie projects situated at the northern end of the Lake Tsala Apopka system in Citrus County. The property is generally situated between State Road 200 and the Tsala Apopka Outfall Canal. The Tsala Apopka/Two-Mile Prairie project is an environmentally sensitive piece of…

Sebring Homeowners Get Irrigation Recommendations The District’s Peace River Basin Board partnered with the Highlands Soil and Water Conservation District to help homeowners improve the efficiency of their irrigation systems. The pilot project brought a mobile irrigation lab to homeowners residing in the city of Sebring. The lab is evaluating residential irrigation systems and developing customized recommendations on irrigation equipment, management…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District will be treating water hyacinth and water lettuce on a portion of the Peace River Jan. 17-19. The treatment area is located between Bartow and Wachula in Polk and Hardee counties.Treatment involves the spot application of the aquatic herbicide Reward to scattered infestations. Treated areas will be posted with warning signs displaying treatment dates and applicable restrictions. Restrictions on Reward include no livestock…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District will be treating water hyacinths and water lettuce on portions of Lake Tarpon May 16-19.Scattered infestations of these plants will be treated within shoreline areas and canals on Lake Tarpon.Treatment involves the spot application of the aquatic herbicide Reward. Treatment areas will be posted with warning signs displaying treatment dates and applicable restrictions. Restrictions on Reward include no livestock watering for…

table(webalert). |Who:|Citrus, Marion and Sumter county residents, Inverness Mayor Ron Plaisted, "Citrus County Airboat Alliance(Citrus County Airboat Alliance)":http://www.citrusairboat.org/ and representatives from the "Southwest Florida Water Management District(Southwest Florida Water Management District)":/, "Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission(Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission)":http://myfwc.com and the Citrus County Extension office.||*…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District will be treating water hyacinths and water lettuce on portions of the Peace River August 29-Sept. 1. The treatment area is located between State Road 17 and County Road 640 in Polk County.Treatment involves the spot application of the aquatic herbicide Reward to scattered infestations. Treated areas will be posted with warning signs displaying treatment dates and applicable restrictions. Restrictions on Reward include no…

Two Hardee County projects expected to reach up to 2,200 people were awarded Community Education Grants from the "Southwest Florida Water Management District(Southwest Florida Water Management District)":http://watermatters.org. 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 "35 grants Districtwide(2010 Community Education Grant Projects)":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.…

Two Southwest Florida Water Management District projects will help two Hardee County citrus groves reduce groundwater pumping.The first project involves installing two soil moisture sensors and a weather station at the Groves of Peace River, Inc. and the second project involves installing four soil moisture sensors and two weather stations at Las Lomas Holdings, Inc.Soil moisture sensors increase irrigation efficiency by only irrigating when water is needed. Weather…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District is working with Pinellas County Utilities to promote water conservation by providing toilet rebates of up to $100 for each high-volume toilet replaced with a low-flow model.High-volume toilets can use three gallons or more per flush, while low-flow toilets use up to 1.6 gallons per flush.The program targets residential and commercial customers of Pinellas County Utilities and the cities of Clearwater, Pinellas Park, Safety…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District's (District) Governing Board declared April Springs Protection Awareness Month during its March meeting. The Governing Board also emphasized that springs are vital to the environment, economy, citizens and visitors of the state. Earlier this month, the District launched an education campaign to help protect the Weeki Wachee River in Hernando County, which begins at the world-famous springs. The Weeki Wachee River education…

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…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) is encouraging residents who irrigate their lawns to take advantage of the upcoming 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…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board today approved a project to reduce groundwater pumping up to 1,358,400 gallons per day (gpd) at a Charlotte County citrus grove.The Facilitating Agricultural Resource Management Systems (FARMS) program is a cost-share reimbursement program that conserves water and protects water quality.The FARMS project, proposed by Ben Hill Griffin, Inc., C & S Grove, is located within the Shell Creek Watershed in…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board Tuesday approved a project to reduce groundwater pumping up to 200,000 gallons per day (gpd) at a Manatee County citrus grove.The Facilitating Agricultural Resource Management Systems (FARMS) program is a cost-share reimbursement program that conserves water and protects water quality.The FARMS project, proposed by CFI USA, Inc., is located upstream from Lake Manatee on its 332-acre citrus grove. Lake Manatee is…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board today approved a project to reduce groundwater pumping up to 1,076,100 gallons per day (gpd) at a Highlands County citrus grove.The Facilitating Agricultural Resource Management Systems (FARMS) program is a cost-share reimbursement program that conserves water and protects water quality.The FARMS project, proposed by Turner Groves Limited Partnership-Hickory Grove, has an existing water use permit that…

Choose from hundreds of establishmentsThe Southwest Florida Water Management District is encouraging summer vacationers to stay at a hotel or motel that participates in the District’s Water Conservation Hotel and Motel Program (Water CHAMP).“July is a popular time of year for family vacations but leaving home doesn’t mean travelers should take a vacation from being environmentally responsible,” said Amy Harroun, Water CHAMP coordinator.More than 450…

 Chair McCree and her assistants demonstrate the water cycle at St. Mary's Episcopal Day School. Chair McCree used two volunteers, a cotton ball, water and a pan to demonstrate the water cycle. One student volunteer was the “sun,” while another held a cotton ball and was a “cloud.” The exercise showed the kindergarteners the process of evaporation, how rain is made and how water moves in a continuous cycle. Afterward, Chair McCree modeled water…

Governing Board member Wendy J. Griffin. From the lot they parked on to the prairie landscape they walked by, guests were surrounded by the messages of water conservation. Archbold Biological Station recently unveiled its new education exhibits and signs during a dedication ceremony. The facility, located in Highlands County, is a not-for-profit independent research institution in central Florida. The station is dedicated to long-term ecological research…