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The Southwest Florida Water Management District will be treating hydrilla on the Rainbow River from the Withlacoochee River to upstream of the Rainbow Springs State Park Campground during the week of November 2-6.Treatment involves the spot application of the aquatic herbicide Aquathol Super K to scattered infestations. Treatment areas will be posted with warning signs displaying treatment dates and applicable water use restrictions. Treated river water should not be used… Read more

A project funded by the Southwest Florida Water Management District and the Town of Dundee will bring reclaimed water to approximately 1,821 residential customers and several commercial customers within Dundee.The Dundee Reclaimed Water Use System Project includes the construction of 18,800 linear feet of reclaimed water transmission main line, a high service pump station and two 2.25 million gallon storage tanks.This project will provide approximately 370,000 gallons of… Read more

The District encourages residents who irrigate their lawns to take advantage of the summer rains and “watch the weather, wait to water.” During the summer months of June, July, August and September, yards need no more than 3/4 inch of water every two to three days. If your lawn has received enough water from rainfall, then you can turn off your irrigation system and turn it back on when needed. The simplest way to determine if your yard needs water is to look for these… Read more

table(webalert). |Who:|"Southwest Florida Water Management District(Southwest Florida Water Management District)":http://watermatters.org staff and approximately 100 children.||*What:*|The District's 14th Annual "Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day." Students between the ages of nine and 18 will spend the day at the "District headquarters(Google map)":http://maps.google.com/maps?oi=map&q=2379+Broad+Street,+Brooksville,+FL+34604 and service offices learning about… Read more

Scott Reappoints Three to Governing Board Gov. Rick Scott recently reappointed Albert Joerger, H. Paul Senft and Doug Tharp to the District’s Governing Board. Joerger is from Sarasota and is the founder and president of The Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast. His new term ends March 1, 2015. Joerger is also Governing Board treasurer. Senft is from Haines City and is a self-employed business and insurance consultant. His new term ends March 1, 2015. Senft is… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District, Polk County Utilities, and the cities of Lakeland, Winter Haven, Haines City, Auburndale and Polk City are offering city water customers a free landscape and irrigation system evaluation.The free Landscape and Irrigation Evaluation program provides evaluations for customers so they can learn how to make their landscaping and irrigation systems more efficient.Water customers who irrigate with reclaimed or drinking water, and… Read more

Whether it was about habitat restoration, geology or the water cycle, dozens of District staff shared their knowledge with students last week during the Great American Teach-In.  The annual event invites parents and other community members to share their work, hobbies and life experiences with students. The day is meant to give students exposure to various career options. The Teach-In, which started in 1990 as one of several events during American Education… Read more

A completed road project in Auburndale will help reduce flooding and improve water quality thanks to a partnership between the District and the city. Auburndale city leaders recently dedicated the PK Avenue project, which made improvements to the roadway that reduced residential flooding and helped improve water quality. The project was co-operatively funded by the District, the Auburndale Community Redevelopment Agency, and the City of Auburndale. This $4.5… Read more

A scientific review panel endorses the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s approach to setting minimum flows and levels (MFLs) for the Middle Peace River.“This was an important endorsement because the methodologies and science used to develop minimum flows and levels on the Middle Peace River are the same that will be applied to freshwater river segments throughout the District,” said Martin Kelly, manager of the District’s Ecological Evaluation section.A minimum… Read more

Polk County residents are invited to attend the "Southwest Florida Water Management District's(Southwest Florida Water Management District)":http://watermatters.org "Get Outside!" event at the Hampton Tract on Saturday, Feb. 27, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.The free event includes family-friendly activities such as guided nature hikes, "I Spy" scavenger hunts, a native plant raffle and more.The 11,052-acre "Hampton Tract(Hampton Tract)":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/recreation/… Read more

The "Southwest Florida Water Management District ":http://www.watermatters.org and the City of Frostproof are offering Frostproof Utilities 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 1,350 gallons per day or nearly half a million gallons per year. About 1,000 homes are eligible in the city's service areas for participation in the program.Customers must be current… Read more

Janey Baldwin, secretary of the Withlacoochee River Basin Board, left, talks with Jay Yingling, District senior economist, at the Regional Water Supply Plan public workshop for the Northern Planning Region. In an effort to plan for future water supplies and demands in our area, the District is updating the 2006 Regional Water Supply Plan (RWSP). This document was first published in 2001, in accordance with Florida Statute 373.0361, and is… Read more

Allen Yarbrough, graphics illustrator, and Melissa Roe, senior communications coordinator, accepting the award. A District communications project was recognized at the annual Florida Government Communicators Association (FGCA) Awards Banquet. The Crystal Awards recognize community groups and agencies that are taking positive steps to protect water resources. Partners in Watershed Education Awards The District’s “Partners in Watershed Education Awards”… Read more

Students at All Saints Academy in Polk County got to experience the water cycle first-hand on a recent rainy-day field trip to Circle B Bar Reserve in Lakeland. The rain didn’t prevent the fourth- and fifth-grade students from enjoying their field trip. And instead, they used the opportunity to set up their rain gauges. The field trip is funded by the District.  Students also hiked through the property stopping to test water quality and use dip nets to examine… Read more

Douglas B. Tharp was sworn into office at the District’s September Governing Board meeting. Tharp, a retired industrial engineer who lives in The Villages, was appointed by Gov. Charlie Crist to represent Citrus, Lake, Levy and Sumter counties on the District’s Governing Board. He will also serve as the co-chair ex officio of the Withlacoochee River Basin Board. Tharp joins the Governing Board with a strong interest in the environment as… Read more

Florida native and citrus grower Ronald E. Oakley took his oath of office during the July Board meeting to serve on the Governing Board. Gov. Charlie Crist appointed the Zephyrhills resident to succeed Talmadge G. “Jerry” Rice. Oakley’s term ends March 1, 2011. Oakley is the executive vice president of Oakley Groves, Inc. in Lake Wales. He believes his experience as a citrus grower and rancher will give him insight into managing the District’s water resources,… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board Tuesday approved a modification of a water use permit that will allow the City of Winter Haven to pump more water to meet the projected population growth through 2009.The permitted quantity was 10,565,300 gallons per day (gpd.) Under the modified permit, the city will now be able to withdraw 12,285,000 gpd. This permitted quantity will primarily supply potable water to single and multi-family developments and… Read more

World Water Monitoring Day is Sept. 18 and highlights the importance of monitoring water quality and protecting our water resources. The District’s Water Quality Monitoring Program (WQMP) collects data from waterbodies around the District so the information can be used to determine whether our water is suitable for drinking, recreational activities and wildlife.When monitoring water quality, staff evaluate factors like changes in water temperature, dissolved oxygen… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District has revised and extended the water shortage emergency order for the Peace River/Manasota Regional Water Supply Authority to protect the drinking water supply for more than 250,000 residents.The executive order signed Thursday will allow the Authority to continue withdrawals from the Peace River at an increased rate as a means of meeting current water demand and storing additional water in its reservoir and two aquifer storage… Read more

Visitors will find it easier to navigate some of their favorite trails thanks to new features at some of the Southwest Florida Water Management District's properties.The District created new trail maps and other information at kiosks on site to enrich the experience when exploring properties. The new trail maps were created for 16 of the District's most popular properties using detailed information including global positioning coordinates. The properties with the new maps… Read more