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The Southwest Florida Water Management District is inviting the public to come out and “Make a Splash” at a special event focusing on the Brooker Creek watershed on Saturday, Oct. 23 at the Kash N’ Karry located at the corner of Gunn Highway and Van Dyke Road. The event is being held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.This Make a Splash with Projec – Water Education for Teachers) event allows kids of all ages to learn about water through hands-on activities that…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District is inviting the public to come out and “Make a Splash” at a special event focusing on the Brooker Creek watershed on Saturday, Oct. 23 at the Kash N’ Karry located at the corner of Gunn Highway and Van Dyke Road. The event is being held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.This Make a Splash with Projec – Water Education for Teachers) event allows kids of all ages to learn about water through hands-on activities that…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District is inviting the public to come out and “Make a Splash” at a special event focusing on the Brooker Creek watershed on Saturday, Oct. 23 at the Kash N’ Karry located at the corner of Gunn Highway and Van Dyke Road. The event is being held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.This Make a Splash with Projec – Water Education for Teachers) event allows kids of all ages to learn about water through hands-on activities that…

Susanna Martinez Tarokh1-800-423-1476, ext. 2008 orCell Phone: (813) 781-9817The Southwest Florida Water Management District's Governing Board voted today to exchange properties with Hillsborough County in an effort to work together to protect conservation land. The Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners voted to approve this same effort at their regular meeting on April 20.The District agreed to exchange approximately 205 acres of land with the County for…

District scientists already are seeing benefits from the Hunters Cove Revegetation Pilot Project after just a couple months.  Senior environmental scientists from the District, with assistance from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, conducted fish surveys in January of the fenced areas of eelgrass, which are part of the District’s revegetation project. They found 11 different species of freshwater, estuarine and saltwater fish in the fenced…

Left: Competitors in the Nature Coast Envirothon. Right: Pictured from left: Clay Black, senior professional engineer; Robin Coburn, staff engineer; and Michelle Dachsteiner, environmental scientist, were among the District staff that volunteered at this year’s Envirothon. Each year high school students from Citrus, Hernando, Pasco and Sumter counties compete in a battle of the brains. The contest, known as Envirothon, is organized by Canon, with $2,500 in…

A District employee who has devoted his career to reclaimed water has been recognized for his dedication. The Florida Water Environment Association (FWEA) recently named Anthony Andrade, District project manager and senior water conservation analyst, the “Water Reuse Person of the Year” when he was presented with the David W. York Reuse Award at the Florida Water Resources annual conference in Orlando. The annual award is given to the person who has been an…

A reclaimed water project funded by the Southwest Florida Water Management District and Marion County will provide approximately 500,000 gallons of water per day (gpd) to the Oak Run Golf Course, which will offset an estimated 375,000 gpd of potable water currently being used for irrigation.This project involves the design, permitting and construction of a reclaimed water storage and transmission system for the golf course. The system will include approximately 13,500 feet…

The Southwest Florida Management District’s Governing Board agreed to increase funding for a cooperative funding project with the city of Belleair Beach to reduce flooding and improve water quality.The project’s budget has been increased from $100,000 to $192,000 because the bids the city received for the project exceeded the available funding. The cost will be divided equally between Belleair Beach and the District’s Pinellas Anclote River Basin Board…

Governing Board Chair H. Paul Senft, Jr. addresses dignitaries at the dedication of the Integrated Loop System Phase 3A Interconnect Project at the T. Mabry Carlton, Jr. Water Treatment Plant in Venice. Four counties in the District’s southern region have moved closer to a regional water system with the completion of a series of transmission pipelines. The Integrated Loop System Phase 3A Interconnect Project includes nine miles of new drinking water…

Who: Representatives from the Southwest Florida Water Management District and the City of InvernessWhat: The city is holding a groundbreaking ceremony to celebrate the start of construction on a reclaimed water transmission line. This $2 million project is being funded by the District’s Withlacoochee River Basin Board and the city.When: Monday, Feb. 4, 5 p.m.Where: The Inverness Wastewater Treatment Plant, located at 3900 S. Florida Ave., Inverness.Why: The District and the…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) awarded $119,000 in grants to 65 schools 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…

Left, Harry Downing accepts a first-place award for equitation at a horse show in Homosassa, FL; Center, Harry and wife Diane; Right, Harry waterskiing on Hunter’s Lake in Hernando County. A Florida native with a love of the outdoors, Harry Downing was drawn to work in support of the environment. Downing was born in St. Petersburg and moved with his family to Brooksville at age 10. He took to his new environment right away, naturally favoring the outdoors and…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District and Pasco County recently signed an agreement to work together on a project that will supply up to 5,500 additional residential customers with reclaimed water.The Pasco County Wet Weather Reclaimed Water Reservoir – Boyette project involves constructing a reservoir on the old Boyette Mine property. This 140-acre parcel is located approximately one mile northeast of the Wesley Center Wastewater Treatment Facility. The…

A project funded by the Southwest Florida Water Management District and Aqua Utilities Florida, Inc. will bring reclaimed water to residents and agriculture in the eastern portion of Lakewood Ranch, a development in Manatee and Sarasota counties.The project includes the design and construction of more than 24,000 linear feet of reclaimed water transmission lines and a pump station.This project is expected to provide approximately 1.15 million gallons per day (mgd) of…

With spring break season approaching, the Southwest Florida Water Management District (District), along with other local and state partners, wants to remind Weeki Wachee River visitors about the recreational best practices that will help protect the river and reduce ecological impacts.  A recent ecologically based study found direct links between recreational use on the river and environmental damage. For example, visitors leaving kayaks while on the river have…

Just east of New Tampa’s subdivisions is an area where riders can wander through shaded forested wetlands and sunny pine flatwoods. The Oak Ridge Equestrian Area is a 1,000-acre wilderness made to order for equestrian enthusiasts. The area is part of the Lower Hillsborough Wilderness Preserve, one of the largest premier contiguous recreation areas in Hillsborough County. While the Hillsborough County Parks, Recreation and Conservation Department manages many park…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District), along with other local and state partners, launched the Chassahowitzka River Education Campaign to inform river visitors about the recreational best practices that will help protect the river and reduce ecological impacts.  Recreational activities can have a direct impact on the health of the river. For example, visitors leaving kayaks while on the river have trampled vegetation and eroded riverbanks.…

ORLANDO, Fla., Sept 18, 2013 – The St. Johns River, South Florida and Southwest Florida water management districts are working with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and regional utilities to address near and long-term water supply needs in the central Florida region.Through the "Central Florida Water Initiative ":http://cfwiwater.com/ (CFWI), the agencies are engaging stakeholders in the development…

As teachers go back to school, the Southwest Florida Water Management District would like to remind them about another important date to add to their calendar. The deadline to "apply for a Splash! mini-grant":/education/minigrants/ is Sept. 11, 2009.The goal of the mini-grant program is to promote hands-on water resources education that teaches students about their local watersheds and the freshwater resources within them. Splash! mini-grants provide up to $5,000 per school…