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  Cockroach Bay before and after (top right) restoration.                   Gazing from atop the crest of “Mount Cockroach,” visitors were treated to the views of lush wetlands, uplands and coastal habitats of Cockroach Bay. They saw birds and other wildlife freely roam through the flourishing vegetation that surrounded the calm waters. But the distant view of city…

A change in the global weather pattern in 2016 meant residents also saw a change in rainfall patterns. Most areas of the District saw above-average rainfall in the first part of the year caused by a mild El Nino. But the development of a La Nina cycle caused drier-than-normal conditions the second half of the year. The La Nina event is expected to dissipate by February, and climatic conditions are expected to turn to neutral conditions. That means rainfall patterns aren’t…

Eric Miller (top left) chose to build a wheelchair accessible dock at Serenova for his Eagle Scout project. An Eagle Scout project has made it possible for disabled anglers to cast their lines at the District’s Serenova Tract. Eric Miller chose to build an accessible dock for his Eagle Scout project after he and his sister volunteered on the property during a disabled hunt last year. “He wanted to do something for the disabled and he likes to fish, so he…

Homeowners and gardeners looking to perk up their yard can learn a lot about landscaping at the Green Thumb Festival in St. Petersburg. In fact, they can even pick up Florida-friendly landscaping tips when they use the restroom!The Southwest Florida Water Management District is bringing its water conservation restrooms to the festival being held April 29-30. Community festivals allow the District to spread the word about water conservation to a variety of audiences.In…

At a time when most news reports about the economy are negative, a District program is providing a boon to the local economy. A project funded through the District’s Facilitating Agricultural Resource Management Systems (FARMS) Program, a cost-share reimbursement program that conserves water and improves water quality, created work for ten local contractors and subcontractors. The project involved the design, permitting and construction of a five-acre surface water…

Whether they were operating structures, providing needed equipment or talking to citizens, staff members were busy the past 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…

At today’s meeting, the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Withlacoochee River Basin Board adopted a fiscal year 2006 (FY2006) millage rate of 0.265 mill, which is the same as the current fiscal year.The budget for FY2006 is $8,656,121, which is a decrease of $2,656,217 from the approved FY2005 budget. The main reason for the decrease is a reduction in the state appropriation for the Lake Panasoffkee Restoration Project from $4.3 million in FY2005 to…

District staff is asking agricultural and recreational water use permit holders for their input on how the District can make the online permit data submittal process more user-friendly. Reported permit data is used by the water management district to help manage the state’s water resources and can be used by permit holders to conserve water and energy. The District’s goal is to streamline this process and make information easily accessible for the public and District…

The "Southwest Florida Water Management District's":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/ (District) team of springs experts will begin the Chassahowitzka Springs sediment removal project the week of May 27, 2013. Eliminating the sand and organic materials that have deposited at the bottom of the spring over time will improve the recreational, economical and ecological value of the Chassahowitzka waterway, resulting in a cleaner, more historic looking body of water.The District…

h3. Overwatering in winter can encourage pests and diseaseThe "Southwest Florida Water Management District(Southwest Florida Water Management District)":/ is reminding residents who irrigate their lawns to "Skip a Week" of watering during the cooler months of December, January and February.According to research by the University of Florida, grass doesn't need to be watered as often during the cooler months. One-half to three-quarters of an inch of water every 10–14 days is…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District will be conducting “controlled, prescribed burns” during the months of June, July and August for two District sites in Sarasota County — the Schewe Ranch and the Deer Prairie Creek properties.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 far southern boundary. The property is also located between the Myakka River and the cities of North Port…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District is reminding residents that they do not need to water their lawns because of the recent rain.Your lawn only needs one-half to three-quarters of an inch of water.Most of the District received several inches of rain within the last week and more rain is forecasted for this week, so residents can skip their irrigation day.Outdoor water use can account for up to fifty percent of residential water use. Skipping a week of irrigation…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District will be conducting “controlled, prescribed burns” during the rest of January through March for two District sites in Sarasota County — the Schewe Ranch and the Deer Prairie Creek properties.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 far southern boundary. The property is also located between the Myakka River and the cities of North Port…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District will be conducting “controlled, prescribed burns” during the remaining days in November and December for two District sites in Sarasota County — the Schewe Ranch and the Deer Prairie Creek properties.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 far southern boundary. The property is also located between the Myakka River and the cities of…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District will be conducting “controlled, prescribed burns” during the remaining days of September and October for two District sites in Sarasota County — the Schewe Ranch and the Deer Prairie Creek properties.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 far southern boundary. The property is also located between the Myakka River and the cities of…

Did you know that outdoor water use can account for up to 50 percent of water consumed by households?While the Southwest Florida Water Management District advocates water conservation year-round, an extra effort is being made to promote conservation throughout April. Governments and water management districts throughout the state have declared April Water Conservation Month because the month typically marks the start of the peak demand season for public water suppliers.…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District is seeking public input about proposed minimum and guidance levels for selected Highlands County lakes.A public workshop will be held to discuss proposed levels for Lakes Angelo, Anoka, Denton, Placid, Tulane and Verona. The meeting will be held Tuesday, Nov. 20, 6:30 p.m. at the Highlands County Agri-Civic Center, 4509 George Boulevard, Sebring.A minimum flow or level (MFL) is the limit at which further water withdrawals will…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District is seeking public input about proposed minimum and guidance levels for Crooked Lake in Polk County.Two public workshops will be held Monday, Nov. 5, at Weber International University in the Rex Yentes Conference Center, 1201 North Scenic Highway, Babson Park, FL 33827. The workshops will be held at 2:30 and 6:30 p.m.A minimum flow or level (MFL) is the limit at which further water withdrawals will cause significant harm to the…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Governing Board recently approved plans to move forward on a restoration project with the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) to improve water quality in the Palm River.Palm River is located near the Tampa Bypass Canal in central Hillsborough County. The canal stretches from north of Tampa where the Hillsborough River crosses I-75 to McKay Bay. During the canal’s construction in the 1960s, an underwater…