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The City of Clearwater recently celebrated the grand opening of its second reverse-osmosis water treatment plant.  District staff joined the celebration of the plant that treats brackish water using state-of-the-art technology to produce more than 5 million gallons per day of potable water. Reverse osmosis is a process that purifies water by removing dissolved particles, minerals and ions.  This $34 million project includes three major components: the…

The Rotonda West Homeowners Association, Inc. will receive a $2,875 Community Education Grant from the Southwest Florida Water Management District for a project that will enhance water quality in the area’s canal system.The grant will be used to plant aquatic plants along the White Marsh Park canals. In addition, the homeowners association will help homeowner volunteers in building and installing a brochure demonstration box that will include information on what…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) is celebrating February as Florida Hiking Trails Month by inviting the public to explore the more than 850 miles of hiking trails on District lands. Florida Hiking Trails month, recognized by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, encourages Floridians to take advantage of Florida's extensive trail system. Many trails on District lands are nearby and are also open for related activities such as nature…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District is proud to announce the recipients of the 2006 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 is the ninth year community education grants have been available.The overall goal of the Community Education Grant Program is to actively engage adults in water-related issues pertaining to conservation,…

Portions of Citrus County received more than 10 inches of rain in the last four days, including more than six inches Monday night. This prompted District staff to raise the gates of the Inglis Main Dam to increase flows out of Lake Rousseau. Citrus County has nearly reached its historical average rainfall of 30.8 inches for the entire wet season (June through September) having received an average of 30 inches of rain the past two months. District staff have been…

Three Manatee County projects expected to reach up to 148,000 people were recently awarded Community Education Grants from the "Southwest Florida Water Management District(Southwest Florida Water Management District)":/.This year the District approved 29 grants Districtwide for a total of $120,471. This is the 14th year "Community Education Grants(Community Education Grant program)":/business/communitygrants have been available. These grants offer reimbursement up to $5,000…

The District continues to monitor lake and river levels and manage its water control structures around the clock during this historic flooding event caused by Hurricane Milton.Lake and River Level Update

• Lake water levels in most areas are starting to decline and most structures are discharging at maximum capacity. 
• Upper portions of the Hillsborough River have crested and are beginning to decline while the lower portions are…

Tampa residents have new living options that offer water efficiency and affordability.District leaders celebrated Earth Day last week by awarding Florida Water Star℠ Community certification to the latest apartment building in the Encore!, a mixed-used redevelopment complex in downtown Tampa. The Reed is the third building in…

A Clearwater reclaimed water project is receiving continued support from the Southwest Florida Water Management District.The Clearwater Morningside Reclaimed Water Transmission and Distribution project consists of the design and construction of reclaimed water transmission lines and distribution lines.The project will supply reclaimed water to the Morningside service area, which includes approximately 760 residential homes, eight commercial customers and the Morningside…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) awarded $108,304 in grants to 51 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 awareness…

District staff, members of the academic community, elected officials, the Florida Federation of Garden Clubs and other members of the community joined together in Tampa during March to share ideas about water supply and alternative supply sources. The Water Rally featured informative presentations, an interactive panel, and a behind-the-scenes look at the making of Wes Skiles’ video. Heidi McCree, Governing Board chair, provided opening comments while David Moore,…

The Governing Board declared April Springs Protection Awareness Month at today’s Governing Board meeting. The move is part of the District’s ongoing effort to restore and protect area springs and encourage community involvement.  The Governing Board also recognized the Springs Coast Steering Committee, which is made up of members of local, regional and state agencies. One of their main goals is to develop management plans tailored for each spring system to identify…

Maritza Rovira-Forino, Governing Board member, assists visitors at the District’s display. The District celebrated the Hillsborough River and the Hillsborough River watershed by holding a series of events along the river during “Hillsborough River Watershed Awareness Week” in October. The District’s Hillsborough River Basin Board and the participating city and county governments declared the week of October 20–27 as Hillsborough River Watershed Awareness Week…

District Senior Water Conservation Analyst Anthony Andrade (far right) stands with members of Boy Scout Troop 311 of San Antonio. Torrential rains only added to the adventure for members of Boy Scout Troop 311 of San Antonio on their recent camping trip to the District’s Green Swamp Wilderness Preserve’s West Tract. The troop set out on Friday, Sept. 11, for the property’s Cumpressco campsite. “We were really happy with the site,” said Randy Emberg,…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District and the City of Crystal River recently signed an agreement for another project that will improve water quality within Kings Bay.The project will construct a stormwater treatment system for runoff from Crystal Center, a large commercial center located just west of the intersection of U.S. 19 and S.E. 5th Terrace. Untreated stormwater runoff from the center currently enters a canal that discharges directly into Kings Bay, which…

A project in Marion County featuring educational sessions about the ecology and other environmental issues surrounding Rainbow Springs was recently awarded a Community Education Grant from the "Southwest Florida Water Management District":http://www.watermatters.org.Twelve grants were awarded Districtwide this year for a total of $50,319. This is the 15th year Community Education Grants have been available. These grants currently help fund projects that provide communities…

A project in Citrus County featuring educational sessions about the ecology and other environmental issues surrounding Rainbow Springs was recently awarded a Community Education Grant from the "Southwest Florida Water Management District":http://www.watermatters.org.Twelve grants were awarded Districtwide this year for a total of $50,319. This is the 15th year "Community Education Grants":http://www.WaterMatters.org/CommunityGrants have been available. These grants help fund…

Tampa Tribune food critic Jeff Houck, left, and Governing Board Secretary Paul Senft, right, put water samples to the test. Governing Board Secretary Paul Senft set out to find the best drinking water in the region. When he found it, he helped crown Hernando County as the winner of the Region IV 2010 Best-Tasting Drinking Water Contest on Feb. 26 in Zephyrhills. The contest was sponsored by Region IV of the Florida Section of the American Water Works…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board Tuesday amended and extended a permit that allows Tampa Bay Water to withdraw water from the Tampa Bypass Canal for water supply needs.Tampa Bay Water, the region’s wholesale water supplier, provides water to Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties, as well as the cities of New Port Richey, St. Petersburg and Tampa.The modified permit allows Tampa Bay Water to increase the diversion rate from 30 percent…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District has reached an agreement with four homeowners to purchase their property as part of the Lake Hancock Lake Level Modification Project, which was authorized by the District’s Governing Board on Sept. 25.The Lake Hancock Lake Level Modification Project, will raise the lakes water level to store additional water that later can be released into the Upper Peace River during dry periods. The project is a critical component of…