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The deadline to apply for the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Community Education Grant program is near. The grants, which offer funding up to $5,000 each, will be used for projects that provide adults with an opportunity to learn about water-related issues pertaining to conservation, protection and preservation.Government agencies, private individuals, educational facilities, business and industry, neighborhoods, homeowner and service organizations,…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District is inviting the public to participate in a workshop aimed at updating the management plan for the Cypress Creek Preserve property in Pasco County.The workshop will be held at the Land O’ Lakes Community Center on U.S. 41 (5401 Land O’ Lakes Boulevard) on Thursday, September 29, at 6 p.m.The Preserve property encompasses approximately 7,400 acres and protects an extensive area of floodplain along an 8-mile length of…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District will be treating water hyacinths and water lettuce on portions of Shell Creek and Prairie Creek Sept. 26-29. The sites are located upstream of the Henderson Dam in Charlotte County.Treatment involves the spot application of the aquatic herbicide Reward to scattered infestations. Treated areas will be posted with warning signs displaying treatment dates and applicable water use restrictions. Water treated with Reward should…

Applications for the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Community Education Grant program are now available. The grants, which offer funding up to $5,000 each, will be used for projects that provide adults with an opportunity to learn about water-related issues pertaining to conservation, protection and preservation.Government agencies, private individuals, educational facilities, business and industry, neighborhoods, homeowner and service organizations, research…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District is inviting the public to participate in a workshop aimed at updating the management plan for the Chassahowitzka Riverine Swamp Sanctuary property.The workshop will be held at the Homosassa Springs State Wildlife Park visitor center on U.S. 19 (4150 South Suncoast Blvd.) on Tuesday, July 26, at 6 p.m.The Sanctuary property encompasses approximately 5,700 acres, which protects an extensive area of coastal floodplain and…

Spring has sprung in Florida and that means gardeners and proud homeowners are busy sprucing up their lawns and gardens.By following Florida-friendly lawn and garden practices, “weekend warriors” can spend less time working on their lawns and more time enjoying the fruits of their labor.Fertilizers applied improperly can run off lawns into local springs, streams, lakes, rivers, and, ultimately into the gulf or ocean and harm our water resources. Proper…

_Emergency Operations Center at Level 2 Activation_Southwest Florida Water Management District officials are monitoring Tropical Storm Colin and have raised the activation level of the District's Emergency Operations Center (EOC) to Level 2. The EOC provides direction and controls District activities during an emergency weather event.The District is continuing to monitor potential flooding that could occur throughout our 16-county region due to heavy and sustained rainfall…

Groups and individuals interested in applying for a Southwest Florida Water Management District community education grant are invited to attend a grant advisory session for residents with questions about the grants.The advisory session will be held Wednesday, Aug. 25, from 9 a.m.- 3 p.m. at the Tampa Service Office in Conference Room B. The Service Office is located at 7601 U.S. Hwy. 301, Tampa.This “open-house style” session is aimed at answering questions…

Groups and individuals interested in applying for a Southwest Florida Water Management District community education grant are invited to attend a grant advisory session for residents who live in the area represented by the District’s Pinellas-Anclote River Basin Board. The area includes Pinellas County and the southern portion of Pasco County.The advisory session will be held Wednesday, Aug. 18, from 12 p.m.- 5 p.m. at the Countryside Library, which is located at…

Four Polk County projects that are expected to reach approximately 6,000 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…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District is providing children the opportunity to participate in a free youth camping trip at the District’sGreen Swamp Wilderness Preserve — West Tract in Pasco County.Thecamping trip is scheduled for Sept. 19-20. All campers must be accompanied by at least one adult.…

Southwest Florida Water Management District staff members are reaching out to community groups to answer questions about the ongoing drought, the tightened watering restrictions in the Tampa Bay area, and how residents can help.“The District is making every effort to make the public aware of the serious situation we are in,” said Robyn Felix, media relations manager. “We are urging everyone to do their part to conserve water.”After two years of…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District will be treating water hyacinth and water lettuce on portions of the Braden River Jan. 28-31. The sites are located south of State Road 70 in Manatee County.Treatment involves the spot application of the aquatic herbicide Reward to scattered infestations. Treatment areas will be posted with warning signs displaying treatment dates and applicable restrictions. Treated river water should not be used for drinking, watering…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District will be treating water hyacinth and water lettuce on portions of Shell Creek and Prairie Creek Sept. 10-13. The sites are located upstream of the Henderson Dam in Charlotte County.Treatment involves the spot application of the aquatic herbicide Reward to scattered infestations. Treated areas will be posted with warning signs displaying treatment dates and applicable water use restrictions. Water treated with Reward should not…

Governing Board urges water conservationDespite normal rainfall in April, west-central Florida remains abnormally dry. The Southwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board is urging residents to continue conserving the water resources.Since January 2006, the District has accumulated more than a 15-inch rainfall deficit. As a result, lake levels are below their annual low levels and rivers are flowing below normal ranges.Last month, the Governing Board declared…

A shallow well rebate program funded by the Southwest Florida Water Management District and Manatee County will conserve potable water by converting existing irrigation systems to shallow well systems, which draw water from the surficial or intermediate aquifers.The program will provide rebates to homeowners and business owners who currently use potable water for irrigation and live in western unincorporated Manatee County or the cities of Anna Maria, Bradenton Beach and…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Hampton Tract, which is part of the Green Swamp Wilderness Preserve, will be reserved Nov. 18-20 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 Green Swamp Wilderness Preserve’s Polk County entrance is at the intersection of Rockridge Road and Deen Still Road.The hunt is a joint effort between the District and…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District is seeking public input as it updates its long-range Water Management Plan.The District’s Water Management Plan addresses the District’s water supply, flood protection, water quality and natural systems goals and responsibilities. The current plan, developed in 2000, is being updated and will be provided to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection by May. The update will focus on key resource management…

Groups and individuals interested in applying for a Southwest Florida Water Management District community education grant are invited to attend a grant advisory session for residents who live in the area represented by the District’s Manasota Basin Board. The area includes Manatee and Sarasota counties.The advisory session will be held Thursday, Aug. 26, from 10 a.m.- 3 p.m. at the District’s Sarasota Service Office, in the Governing Board Room. The Service…

The "Southwest Florida Water Management District(Southwest Florida Water Management District)":/ is reminding residents to check the timers on their irrigation system controllers this weekend, which is the end of Daylight Savings Time.Saturday night is when we will turn our clocks back one hour. The time change is also a good time to make sure your irrigation system timer is set correctly to ensure that your system operates consistently with current water restrictions.Under…