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Florida Communities Trust (FCT), the state’s premier program for helping local communities preserve parks and recreational space, is accepting grant applications until May 7, 2008. An expected $66 million in Florida Forever funds will be available to local governments and nonprofit environmental organizations to acquire land for green space, conservation and recreation purposes. This is the program’s eighth year of being funded. The FCT is administered by the…

The District has been receiving questions about its ability to move water out of Lake Thonotosassa through the Flint Creek water control structure. The lake was lowered to the maximum amount possible before the storm. However, due to historic rainfall from Hurricane Milton, the Flint Creek water control structure on Lake Thonotosassa is completely under water and the water is flowing over the land around the structure. Under normal circumstances, water naturally…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District,) in cooperation with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will be treating a boat access trail along the western shoreline (Outlet River side) of Lake Panasoffkee to improve boat access and navigation through areas of dense aquatic plants.The 4-mile-long, 100-feet-wide trail on the 3,300 acre lake will be treated the week of June 16-20, 2014. The treatment involves the application of the aquatic…

As part of a phased approach, the Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) will reopen all campgrounds throughout its 16-county region Wednesday, June 3. Reopening of District campgrounds is consistent with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s reopening of camping at many Florida State Parks. To help protect staff and visitors from the spread of COVID-19, the following guidelines will be in place at all District campgrounds:

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Citrus County Utilities earned this year’s bragging rights for having the tastiest tap water in West Central Florida. The utility won the annual Best Tasting Drinking Water Contest for Florida Section Region 4 of the American Water Works Association. The District’s Water Supply manager, Jason Mickel, was one of the judges for Region 4 which includes: Citrus, Hernando, Hillsborough, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk and Sumter counties. Twenty-two public water supply contestants…

The deadline is near for community members who want to apply for a Community Education Grant from the Southwest Florida Water Management District. The application deadline is Aug. 21.Individuals, organizations or volunteer groups interested in organizing an education project for their neighborhood, community group or members of the general public are encouraged to apply. Grant recipients may receive up to $5,000 to help fund their water resources education projects.…

Focusing on Florida's Future This September, water managers, state and local government officials, representatives from academia, the business community and other interested people will come to Tampa to attend Florida’s 28th Annual Conference on Water Management. The conference, which is being held September 3–5 at the Tampa Marriott Waterside Hotel, will provide a forum for attendees to share information on emerging technologies, discuss policy and social issues,…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board Tuesday approved a water use permit to increase Charlotte County’s water supply from the Burnt Store Wellfield to an average of 3.1 million gallons per day (gpd) of brackish ground water to meet its needs.The county was previously permitted 914,000 gpd. The increase in quantities is due to an increase in the projected population through 2012.This water use permit will allow construction of three new wells…

The "Southwest Florida Water Management District(Southwest Florida Water Management District)":/ is seeking public input about the order in which "minimum flows and levels(Minimum Flows and Levels)":/mfl (MFLs) for lakes, rivers, streams and aquifers in the District will be determined.A minimum flow or level is the limit at which further water withdrawals will cause significant harm to the water resources and/or environment. The District Governing Board sets these limits as…

The District took to the air this spring to treat hydrilla on selected areas of Lake Panasoffkee. The aquatic herbicide Aquathol K was applied to approximately 200 acres of the 4,000-acre lake. Aerial application by helicopter is used when large, open-water areas require treatment and is much more efficient than by boat. The helicopter was able to treat approximately 10 acres per trip, completing the 200-acre area in a couple hours. This treatment would have taken…

The District took to the air this spring to treat hydrilla on selected areas of Lake Panasoffkee. The aquatic herbicide Aquathol K was applied to approximately 200 acres of the 4,000-acre lake. Aerial application by helicopter is used when large, open-water areas require treatment and is much more efficient than by boat. The helicopter was able to treat approximately 10 acres per trip, completing the 200-acre area in a couple hours. This treatment would have taken…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) will hold two virtual public workshops seeking feedback on the draft 2025 Regional Water Supply Plan (RWSP). The virtual workshops will take place at 10 a.m. Wednesday, June 25 and at 5 p.m. Thursday, June 26.A new plan is developed every five years and presents the projected water demands across the District and all water use sectors for a 20-year planning period. The plan also identifies water supply sources and…

A pirate obsessed with water resources will be looking for a few good “mateys” at World Rivers Day Fest, Saturday Sept. 17 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Brooker Creek Preserve Environmental Education Center.Captain Brackish will talk to his new friends about his three main water concerns – conservation, pollution and monitoring.Water monitoring is one of the key topics at World Rivers Day.The first 200 attendees will receive water friendly care packages…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Governing Board Tuesday renewed a water use permit (WUP) for the City of Venice.The renewed permit maintains an annual average permitted quantity of 6,864,000 gallons of water per day (gpd).The sole source of water authorized for use by this permit is brackish ground water from the city’s two Intermediate aquifer wellfields.The permit requires the city to carefully manage water levels and water quality at each…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board Tuesday approved a water use permit to increase the City of Lake Alfred’s water supply to 1.38 million gallons of water daily (mgd). The previous annual average permitted quantity was 1 mgd.This permit provides water for both public supply and agricultural purposes. The modified permit will increase groundwater supply for residential use and decrease its proportion for agricultural purposes.A small…

Eases Pressure Washing Limits The District remains under Modified Phase II water shortage restrictions, as the Governing Board extended the restrictions through June 30, while lifting restrictions on pressure washing. Board Member Paul Senft started…

A project funded by the Southwest Florida Water Management District and the City of Oldsmar will bring reclaimed water to up to 200 residents who live near the downtown area.The project includes the design and construction of more than 13,000 linear feet of reclaimed water distribution lines and the installation of an automated system that will regulate the supply of reclaimed water, allowing for more efficient use and enabling the expansion of reclaimed water service.This…

The "Southwest Florida Water Management District(Southwest Florida Water Management District)":http://watermatters.org and the University of Florida are offering a free seminar on using advanced irrigation tools to save water. The University's "Florida Automated Weather Network(Florida Automated Weather Network)":http://fawn.ifas.ufl.edu/ (FAWN) is holding the seminar from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., May 13, at the Hillsborough County Extension office, 5339 County Road 579, Seffner.…

A project funded by the Southwest Florida Water Management District and the City of Zephyrhills will expand the use of reclaimed water in Zephyhills.The project includes the construction of approximately 6,000 feet of transmission and distribution line from an existing reclaimed water transmission line to irrigate landscaping along the city’s streets.This project will provide approximately 8,000 gallons per day (gpd) of reclaimed water for irrigation, which is expected…

A project funded by the Southwest Florida Water Management District and Aqua Utilities Florida, Inc. will bring reclaimed water to the Corporate Park in Lakewood Ranch.The Lakewood Ranch Reuse Transmission Project includes the construction of 3,900 linear feet of 12-inch reclaimed water transmission main line and upgrading an existing pump station.This project will provide approximately 570,000 gallons of reclaimed water per day for irrigation. This reclaimed water, along…