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From left: Lake Panasoffkee, Rainbow River, Clam Bayou and Tampa Bypass Canal During the spring, the District has experienced an influx of new Governing Board members. This change in leadership has led to the need for informational tours throughout the District. “Board members can read about a project or a water resource, but actually getting out to see a particular site to learn about it and ask questions of our staff gives our Board members a better…

From left: Kevin Stover, 33 years, Field Technician Supervisor, Resource Data & Restoration. Richard Gant, 34 years, Field Technician Supervisor, Resource Projects. Kevin Love, 35 years, Manager, Land Resources. Mike Holtkamp, 35 years, Director, Operations, Maintenance & Construction Division Five Staff Members Share Memories at a Roundtable Interview How would you describe the District when you first started working here? …

h2. District Suggests Six Easy and Fun Resolution Ideas That Help Promote Healthy Water Resources.Are you looking for ideas for a New Year's resolution? The "Southwest Florida Water Management District(Southwest Florida Water Management District)":/ has some suggestions for 2012 resolutions that will promote healthy water resources. This year make a resolution to:* Help promote water conservation and "skip at least every other week of watering your lawn in January and…

The District is building upon the success of its award-winning Water Conservation Hotel And Motel Program (Water CHAMP) by launching a new companion program for restaurants. The Water Program for Restaurant Outreach (Water PRO) was launched in May. Water PRO is a free program that helps restaurants conserve water by educating staff and customers. By implementing Water PRO, restaurant management agrees to only serve water upon request, display water conservation…

After decades of being impacted by trash and debris, Clam Bayou’s water quality and wildlife habitats will soon be restored. The largest and final phase of the Clam Bayou Habitat Restoration and Stormwater Treatment Project is currently under way, thanks to a cooperative effort between the District’s Surface Water Improvement and Management (SWIM) Program and the cities of St. Petersburg and Gulfport. Clam Bayou is a 170-acre estuary that makes up part of Boca Ciega…

From left: Andrea Roshaven, Tampa Water Department; Maritza Rovira-Forino, Governing Board member; Paul Rauch, Wildrose Lawncare Inc. co-owner; Pam Iorio, Tampa mayor; Christine Collins, Wildrose Lawncare Inc. co-owner; Hugh Gramling, Governing Board member; and April Genter, Charles Rutenberg Realty Inc. The wind and rain didn’t deter enthusiastic gardeners from attending the third annual Florida Yard Fandango in March. This year the gardening event…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District will be conducting "controlled, prescribed burns" during November and December for two District sites in Sarasota County – the Schewe Tract and the Deer Prairie Creek Preserve. Both properties are located to the north and south of I-75 between mile markers 186 and 190, with US 41 as the preserve's far southern boundary. The properties are also located between the Myakka River and the cities of North Port and Warm Mineral…

A new law signed by Gov. Charlie Crist promotes the installation of Florida-friendly landscaping. The law states that homeowners associations (HOAs) may not prohibit a homeowner from applying Florida-friendly landscaping to their property or create any requirement or limitation in conflict with state law.Florida-friendly landscaping emphasizes nine easy-to-accomplish principles that, when practiced, can have a significant positive impact on yards and the environment. The…

In an effort to conserve water during the ongoing drought, the Southwest Florida Water Management District is encouraging residents who irrigate their lawns to “skip a week” during the cooler months of January and February.According to research by the University of Florida, grass doesn’t need to be watered as often during the cooler months. In fact, three-quarters of an inch of water every 10–14 days is sufficient.“The cooler months are a good…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District will be conducting “controlled, prescribed burns” during the remaining days of August and September for two District sites in Sarasota County the Schewe Ranch property and the Deer Prairie Creek property.Both tracts are located to the north and south of I-75 between mile markers 186 and 190, with U.S. Hwy. 41 as its southern boundary. The properties are also located between the Myakka River and the cities of North…

Anyone interested in conducting a water resource education grant project is invited to apply online for a grant of up to $5,000 through the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Community Education Grant Program.The goal of the program is to motivate adults to get involved in education projects that promote water resources protection. Grants are awarded to projects that provide adults with an opportunity to learn about water-related issues pertaining to conservation…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Withlacoochee River Basin Board will hold its December meeting at the Villages.The meeting will be held Thursday, Dec. 15 at 9 a.m. at the Coconut Cove Recreation Center, 1398 Stillwater Trail.The basin board usually holds its meetings at the District’s Headquarters in Brooksville.“Holding the meeting at a new location within the basin benefits the board members and the community,” said Lou Kavouras,…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District is seeking public input about proposed minimum flows and levels (MFL) for the Middle Peace River from Zolfo Springs to Arcadia.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 a balance between meeting human water needs and those of Florida’s natural systems.A…

West Hernando Middle School students and teachers will get their hands dirty this month when they work side by side with Southwest Florida Water Management District staff restoring the Weekiwachee Preserve.The student workdays are April 13 and 20 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.During the workdays students will plant soft-stemmed bulrush along the banks of several water bodies within the preserve and monitor the water quality. The goal of the project is to revegetate and develop the…

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…

Whether they were operating structures, providing needed equipment or talking to citizens, staff members were busy last month responding to the record rainfall received in parts of the District. The rain event affected nearly every department at the District. The record rain that occurred from July 26 to Aug. 7 had many employees working around the clock. And nearly daily rainfall in some parts of the District has continued to keep staff busy. Robert Beltran, the District'…

The first phase of one of the largest ecosystem restoration projects to benefit Charlotte Harbor is complete. District staff and other community leaders recently celebrated the dedication of the first phase. The Coral Creek Ecosystem Restoration Project is a multi-phased initiative involving 2,600 acres within the Charlotte Harbor Preserve State Park. It was spearheaded by the District, in collaboration with Charlotte County and the Florida Department of Environmental…

Habitats are thriving at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa thanks to a District project aimed at restoring natural systems and improving water quality for Tampa Bay.  District staff completed the third and final phase of a restoration project at MacDill last fall, along the southern tip of Tampa’s Interbay Peninsula near the base’s golf course. Workers dug and expanded water channels, removed non-native plants and planted native species in an effort to improve…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District is launching a new public awareness campaign in the Crystal River/Kings Bay area that will help residents have green lawns, not green water.The multimedia campaign, which was developed to address increasing nitrate levels in Crystal River and Kings Bay, focuses on teaching Citrus and Marion county residents about proper fertilizer use.Excess fertilizer applied to public parks, golf courses and lawns can percolate through the…

Ten Citrus County teachers are among the educators who were awarded Splash! school grants through the "Southwest Florida Water Management District(Southwest Florida Water Management District)":/.This year 206 "Splash! grants(Splash! School Grants)":/education/schoolgrants were awarded to educators across "the District's 16-county region":/data/map.Mary Margaret Hull, lead communications coordinator, attributes the effectiveness of the grant program in Citrus County to the…