Search Content

Approximately 10 disabled hunters are expected to participate in a quail hunt, Feb. 9-11, at the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Gilley Creek Tract within the Lake Manatee Reserve. The property will be closed to the public during the event.The Lake Manatee Reserve is located east of the lake in Manatee County. The entrance is located north of Lake Manatee on SR 675.The event, which is organized by the National Wild Turkey Federation/Wheelin’…

Approximately 15 disabled hunters are expected to participate in a Hog Still Hunt, Feb. 2-4, on the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Alston Tract, which is part of the Upper Hillsborough. The event is organized by the National Wild Turkey Federation/Wheelin’ Sportsmen.The Alston Tract is located east of Zephyrhills in Pasco and Polk counties. The entrance is off S.R. 39. The property will be closed to the public during the event.This hunt is one of…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Alston Tract, which is part of the Upper Hillsborough Tract, will be reserved Dec. 1-3 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 Alston Tract is located east of Zephyrhills in Pasco and Polk Counties. The entrance is off S.R. 39.The hunt is a joint effort between the District and the National Wild Turkey Federation/…

Members of the Withlacoochee River Basin Board and the Lake Panasoffkee Restoration Council recently surveyed the progress of the four-step, multimillion dollar Lake Panasoffkee restoration project. The Lake Panasoffkee restoration project involves dredging approximately 8.2 million cubic yards of sediment from the lake, which will improve fish habitat, restore the historic lake shoreline and improve navigation. The project will also restore approximately 920 acres of…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Governing Board voted Tuesday to extendthe current Water Shortage Order, which restricts lawn watering throughout the District to one-day-per-week, until Nov. 30.The water shortage order, which was declared by the District’s Executive Director David L. Moore, went into effect Jan. 16 and was slated to expire July 31. It was…

“Betty Blade,” portrayed by Roberta Koutney, is featured in the District’s Florida-friendly landscaping campaign. An “adoring fan” gives her a kiss at the Green Trends show at the Southeast Building Conference. The beautiful blade of green grass that “starred” in the District’s “Florida-Friendly Landscaping — Grow Smart” campaign was a hit at a recent builders conference in Orlando. “Betty Blade,” portrayed by Roberta Koutney, attracted attendees to the…

Sixteen Pasco County teachers are among the record number of educators who applied for and received Splash! mini-grants through the Southwest Florida Water Management District.This year the District awarded Splash! mini-grants to 209 educators totaling more than $413,000. That’s 72 more grant recipients than last year.Mary Margaret Hull, lead communication coordinator, attributes the increase in awardees to an increase in promotion among the District’s school…

  Left: Kaylee Meadows, a student from Wiregrass Ranch High, plants longleaf seedlings; center: Sheila Hollahan helps volunteer Felix Renta. How long does it take to plant 1,000 trees? Only an hour if you are the 51 volunteers who recently came out to Conner Preserve to plant longleaf pine seedlings. The District donated the thousand trees, which were planted on an 11-acre restoration site in the preserve to help restore the ecosystem. Volunteers were…

As we prepare to "fall back" with the end of daylight saving time next weekend, it's not just your clocks that need adjusting—your irrigation system could use a quick check too! When we turn our clocks back an hour Saturday, Nov. 2, take a moment to ensure your sprinkler timers are set correctly. This simple step helps your system run efficiently and keeps you in line with water conservation practices.At the Southwest Florida Water Management District (District), we’re all…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) will hold a public meeting on Thursday, July 19 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the SouthShore Regional Library of Hillsborough County in Community Room 2, located at 15816 Beth Shields Way in Ruskin. The purpose of the meeting is for the public to learn more about the proposed restoration plans for public properties along…

We tried everything we could to find a peaceful resolution, but the Polk Regional Water Cooperative (PRWC) seems intent on fighting a legal battle. The PRWC filed a legal challenge to a proposed permit that would allow the Peace River Manasota Regional Water Supply Authority (PRMRWSA) to withdraw additional quantities from the Peace River. An administrative law judge ordered all parties to meet in an effort to amicably resolve the litigation. The parties agreed to engage…

Jarrod Bonnick says being able to participate in the hunt helped his rehabilitation. Hunters and volunteers celebrate the end of a successful day of hunting. A partnership between the District and the Outdoors Without Limits group provided a “soulful boost” to a former employee. Jarrod Bonnick worked as an environmental scientist in the District’s Bartow Service Office before joining the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 2005…

  H. Paul Senft Jr., Governing Board Chair This edition of WaterMatters Magazine celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Southwest Florida Water Management District. Created in 1961 through legislative action to serve as the local sponsor for a series of federal flood control projects, the District’s responsibilities have grown dramatically over time. Recognizing that our water resources — our coasts, rivers,…

Who: Southwest Florida Water Management District Basin Board members and staff; Mike Hickman, Hickman Homes, Inc. president; and the Polk County Builders AssociationWhat: The District will celebrate the completion of a Florida Water StarSM Gold (FWSG) certified home that will be featured in the Polk County Parade of Homes. The fall Parade of Homes is Oct. 17-18 and Oct. 24-25.FWSG is a certification program for builders and developers. The program encourages water…

A Sarasota condominium association received statewide recognition for a project it completed with the help of a Southwest Florida Water Management District Community Education Grant.The Pelican Cove Condominium Association was one of nine condominium and homeowners associations recognized at the Florida Community Association Journal’s Florida Communities of Excellence Awards. The associations were honored for their achievement in addressing the needs and concerns of…

Three Sarasota County projects expected to reach nearly 6,200 residents were awarded Community Education Grants from the Southwest Florida Water Management District. These grants offer up to $5,000 to help fund projects that provide communities an opportunity to learn about water resources.This year the District awarded 32 grants Districtwide. This is the 12th year Community Education Grants have been available.The overall goal of the Community Education Grant program is…

During the dry season, many homeowners are tempted to over-water their lawns and gardens. The Southwest Florida Water Management District would like to remind homeowners that more water is not the answer to their landscaping dilemmas.“Proper irrigation will conserve water and maintain a beautiful Florida-friendly landscape,” said Lou Kavouras, District deputy executive director.Make sure your sprinklers are watering the lawn, not the driveway and street and…

Do you belong to an organization whose members want to learn more about the drought?Southwest Florida Water Management District staff members are available to speak to community groups on the drought, what the District is doing to meet water needs, and what residents can do to help.The District’s rainfall deficit for the past two years is more than 20 inches. Forecasters are predicting a drier than normal winter and spring, which means this serious situation will…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District and the Wheelin’ Sportsmen are inviting disabled anglers to participate in a fishing derby.The derby takes place May 13 at the District’s Edward Medard Park and Reservoir, which is managed by the Hillsborough County Parks and Recreation Department. The Edward Medard Park and Reservoir is located in Hillsborough County on South Turkey Creek Road.The event is open to men, women and young adults who are disabled.Interested…

Applications are available for teachers interested in applying for the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s 2005-2006 Splash! Mini-Grant Program. These grants provide teachers with funding for classroom projects on water quality, water conservation, alternative sources, water supply, flood protection or watersheds. The goal of the mini-grant program is to promote hands-on water education that teaches students about their local watersheds and the water resources…