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The Southwest Florida Water Management District is seeking public input about proposed minimum and guidance levels for selected Pasco County lakes.A public workshop will be held to discuss proposed levels for Crews Lake, Lake Iola, Jessamine Lake, Pasco Lake, Pierce Lake, and Unnamed Lake Number 22, known as Loyce Lake. The meeting will be held Tuesday, Nov. 21, 7 p.m., at the Land O’ Lakes Community Center, 5401 Land O’ Lakes Blvd. (U.S. Highway 41), Land O…

Hundreds of volunteers were honored this weekend for the valuable contribution they have made to help improve public lands and restore Tampa Bay.The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Volunteer Appreciation Day, which was held at the Green Swamp West Field Office, featured an awards presentation, exhibits, live music, a picnic lunch and a nature hike.Approximately 300 volunteers are involved with the District’s Land Resources Volunteer Program. More…

Emergency Operations Center to OpenSouthwest Florida Water Management District officials began preparations today to activate its Emergency Operations Center (EOC) in anticipation of the possible landfall of Hurricane Wilma in Florida.District officials today discussed coordination of activities with staff, state coordinators and the other water management districts.The District plans to fully activate its Emergency Operations Center (EOC) in Brooksville Friday or Saturday…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Serenova Tract, which is part of the Starkey Wilderness Preserve, will be closed to the public Dec. 19-21. The District is limiting access to the property for an event that allows disabled hunters the opportunity to experience the outdoors during a bow/archery hunt.The Serenova Tract is located in Pasco County, adjacent to the Tampa Bay Water Starkey wellfield. The entrance is just west of the Suncoast Parkway on the…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Alston Tract, which is part of the Upper Hillsborough, will be reserved Nov. 4-6 for an event that allows disabled hunters the opportunity to experience the outdoors. The property will be closed to the public during this time.The hunt, which is organized by the National Wild Turkey Federation/Wheelin’ Sportsmen, is one of more than 24 events the group holds throughout Florida each year. Other outings include…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Serenova Tract will be reserved Oct. 21-23for an event that allows disabled hunters the opportunity to experience the outdoors. The property will be closed to the public during this time.The hunt, which is organized by the National Wild Turkey Federation/Wheelin’ Sportsmen, is one of more than 24 events the group holds throughout Florida each year. Other outings include fishing events, recreational shooting, and other…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Serenova Tract will be closed to the public Oct. 22-24. The District is limiting access to the property to prepare for an event that allows disabled hunters the opportunity to experience the outdoors.The hunt, which is organized by the National Wild Turkey Federation/Wheelin’ Sportsmen, is one of more than 24 events the group holds throughout Florida each year. Other outings include fishing events, recreational…

Hurricane season started and that means people should be stocked up on batteries and bottled watered for the storm season. But people also should be thinking about preparing their yards. Not only does it protect homes and people, it could also reduce water pollution caused by stormwater runoff. Here are some ways to prepare your landscaping for a hurricane: 

• Choose wind-resistant trees. Some trees are more wind-resistant than others so do…

Funding will help restore water quality and natural systems, and create sustainable water supplies in the Southern Water Use Caution AreaThe Florida Legislature passed the 2008-09 budget, including $15 million for the Southwest Florida Water Management District's West-Central Florida Water Restoration Action Plan (WRAP.)More than 1.5 million people in this region will benefit from water supply development and environmental restoration in the Southern Water Use…

The Polk County Builders Association board of directors signed a resolution last week supporting the Southwest Florida Water Management Districts West-Central Florida Water Restoration Action Plan (WRAP.)The WRAP is a long-term water resource protection, restoration and water sustainability initiative developed by the District to address water resource concerns in the Southern Water Use Caution Area (SWUCA), which encompasses the southern eight counties of the District.…

Funding will help restore water quality and natural systems, and create sustainable water supplies in the Southern Water Use Caution AreaGovernor Charlie Crist and Lieutenant Governor Jeff Kottkamp released their 2008-09 budget recommendations today, which included $25 million for the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s West-Central Florida Water Resource Action Plan (WRAP.)The WRAP is a long-term water resource protection, restoration and water…

The "Southwest Florida Water Management District(Southwest Florida Water Management District)":http://watermatters.org is inviting the public to comment on the draft of an updated "Regional Water Supply Plan(Regional Water Supply Plan)":http://www.WaterMatters.org/rwsp that assesses projected water demands and identifies potential sources of water to meet those demands through the year 2030. The District is eager to receive comments from the public on the content of the plan…

Note: The new year-round water conservation measures will not go into effect until the current water shortage order, which restricts lawn watering to one-day-per-week, is lifted.The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Governing Board voted in December to approve revisions to the District’s two-day-per-week year-round water conservation measures to coincide with similar measures in other areas of the state.Compared to the state’s…

Above left: This series of pictures shows the dredging machine, the pipe through the lake that carried dredged material to the spoil site and the spoil site. Above right: Anglers enjoy Lake Panasoffkee. The recently completed Lake Panasoffkee restoration project is being hailed as a huge success by Lake Panasoffkee residents and anglers. The $26.9 million, ten-year project restored Lake Panasoffkee’s historic fish bedding areas and lake shoreline by removing…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District), in cooperation with Hillsborough County, will hold a dedication event to celebrate the completion of the Rock Ponds Ecosystem Restoration Project. This is the largest coastal habitat restoration project ever done in the history of Tampa Bay, with approximately 1,043 acres of uplands and wetlands. This project will help offset habitat losses suffered throughout Tampa Bay and will prove valuable for the public and…

Three Manatee County projects expected to reach nearly 5,000 residents were awarded Community Education Grants from the Southwest Florida Water Management District. These grants provide up to $5,000 to help fund projects that provide communities an opportunity to learn about water resources.This year the District awarded 38 grants Districtwide for a total of $136,598. This is the 11th year Community Education Grants have been available.The overall goal of the Community…

Homeowners and gardening enthusiasts are invited to “play in the dirt” at this year’s Florida Yard Fandango March 10, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.This is the second year the Florida-friendly gardening event is being held at the Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI.)The goal of the Fandango is to promote Florida-friendly landscaping and lawn maintenance because it is beautiful and saves water, time and energy. Participants will enjoy touring the butterfly gardens and…

Citrus County residents are invited to attend the "Southwest Florida Water Management District's(Southwest Florida Water Management District)":/ "Get Outside!" event at "Potts Preserve(Potts Preserve)":/recreation/areas/potts.html on Saturday, Oct. 23, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.The free event includes guided nature hikes, a native animal presentation, an archery adventure for all ages, children's activities, waterless fishing and more. Scenic boat tours of the Withlacoochee…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District is seeking public input about the order in which minimum flows and levels (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 part of achieving the delicate balance between meeting human water needs and…

At its June 4 meeting, the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Pinellas-Anclote River Basin Board adopted a proposed fiscal year 2009 (FY2009) millage rate of 0.3701 mill, which is the same as the current fiscal year.This millage rate, combined with a reduction in property values as estimated by the Pinellas and Pasco county property appraisers, will result in an estimated 9 percent decrease. These estimates will be updated when the property appraisers…