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Two District education projects were honored during the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council’s 16th Annual Future of the Region Awards program. The awards recognize notable achievements in resource planning and management in the region.“Bring Back the Bayou”The “Bring Back the Bayou” project received second place in the community service category. Funding from the District ’s Community Education Grant Program helped Kurt Zuelsdorf, owner of… Read more

The District’s Governing Board recently voted in a new slate of officers for the 2018-2019 term. Governing Board members are unpaid, citizen volunteers who are appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Florida Senate. The Governing Board sets policy for the District, whose mission is to protect water resources, minimize flood risks, and… Read more

Setting prescribed fires in controlled settings can reduce the risk of wildfires burning out of control, as many Floridians witnessed during the state’s wildfire emergency in 2017. That’s why the Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) will be conducting prescribed burns June through September at Annuteliga Hammock and Weekiwachee Preserve in Hernando County. Annuteliga Hammock… Read more

Setting prescribed fires in controlled settings can reduce the risk of wildfires burning out of control, as many Floridians witnessed during the state’s wildfire emergency in 2017. That’s why the Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) will be conducting prescribed burns February and March at Annuteliga Hammock and Weekiwachee Preserve in Hernando County. Annuteliga Hammock is located east of U.S. Highway 19, north of Centralia Road and south of the county… Read more

Setting prescribed fires in controlled settings can reduce the risk of wildfires burning out of control, as many Floridians witnessed during the state’s wildfire emergency in 2017. That’s why the Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) will be conducting prescribed burns July through September on the Edward W. Chance Reserve - Gilley Creek Tract (Gilley Creek) and Coker Prairie… Read more

Setting prescribed fires in controlled settings can reduce the risk of wildfires burning out of control, as many Floridians witnessed during the state’s wildfire emergency in 2017. That’s why the Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) will be conducting prescribed burns now through December on the Edward W. Chance Reserve - Gilley… Read more

Setting prescribed fires in controlled settings can reduce the risk of wildfires burning out of control. That’s why the Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) will be conducting prescribed burns June through September on the Lower Hillsborough Wilderness Preserve and Chito Branch Reserve in Hillsborough County. The Lower Hillsborough Wilderness Preserve is located south of Cross Creek… Read more

Former District Governing Board Chairman Jeff Adams was recognized Tuesday for his service to the District. The District's current Governing Board members recognized Adams during its meeting, noting all the work he completed while serving on the Board. He was appointed to the District’s Governing Board in April 2010 representing Pinellas County. He served on the Board through May 2019 and as the Governing Board’s treasurer from 2012 through 2014,… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) will host a public workshop Wednesday, Feb. 27, to share information about changes to the current structure operational guidelines for the North Winter Haven Chain of Lakes in Polk County. The meeting will take place at the UF/IFAS Citrus Research and Education Center’s Ben Hill Griffin, Jr. Citrus Hall, located at 700 Experiment Station Road in Lake Alfred. Lakefront residents of Lakes Conine, Fannie, Haines… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Alston Tract, which is part of the Upper Hillsborough property, will be the site of hog hunts Feb. 6-8 and Feb. 20-22. The tract will be temporarily closed to the public and only permitted hunters will be allowed on the property during these dates. All of the permits for these hunts have been sold.The Alston Tract is located southeast of Zephyrhills in Pasco and Polk counties. The entrance is off of Deems Road.The… Read more

table(webalert). |*Who:*|Restore America's Estuaries, Southwest Florida Water Management District and Tampa Bay Watch||*What:*|Restore America's Estuaries' 6th National Conference on Coastal and Estuarine Habitat Restoration kicks off on Saturday, October 20 at the Tampa Convention Center. The conference is expected to bring together approximately 1,000 attendees and exhibitors from around the world.150 conference attendees will have the opportunity to help restore a local… Read more

The "Southwest Florida Water Management District's Governing Board":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/ voted on Tuesday to expand hunting opportunities at two District-managed lands. Hunting opportunities will be expanded on these District properties: • The Lake Panasoffkee property will offer 21 days of small game hunting.• The Weekiwachee Preserve will offer 30 days of archery in its southern portion. In addition, the northern portion of the property will be included in the… Read more

Setting prescribed fires in controlled settings can reduce the risk of wildfires burning out of control, as many Floridians witnessed during the state's wildfire emergency last spring. That's why the Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) will be conducting prescribed burns March through September 2018 at Annuteliga Hammock and Weekiwachee Preserve in Hernando County. Annuteliga Hammock is located east of U.S. Highway 19, north of Centralia Road and south… Read more

Setting prescribed fires in controlled settings can reduce the risk of wildfires burning out of control. That’s why the Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) will be conducting prescribed burns April through June on Starkey Wilderness Preserve and Cypress Creek Preserve.Starkey Wilderness Preserve is located east of New Port Richey, west of the Suncoast Parkway, north of State Road 54 and south of State Road… Read more

Lesley Touchton, District emergency operations coordinator; Elaine Kuligofski, District human resources director; Lucy Petrucelli, District risk manager; Gary Kuhl, Hernando County administrator; and Eugene Schiller, District deputy executive director, were on hand for the dedication of the county’s new Emergency Communications and Operations Center. An agreement between Hernando County and the Southwest Florida Water Management District allows the District… Read more

A sold-out crowd at the Tampa Theatre erupted in thunderous applause after an hour of stunning scenery, funny moments in nature and important messages about conservation. It was the premiere of “The Forgotten Coast: Return to Wild Florida,” a documentary of the Florida Wildlife Corridor Expedition that took a team of explorers across 1,000 miles of natural lands… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District is working with the group “Outdoors Without Limits,” to provide disabled outdoor enthusiasts the opportunity to go hunting on District lands.“Outdoors Without Limits” is an organization built around communities creating opportunities for disabled individuals to enjoy outdoor activities. The group organizes hunting and fishing events, as well as recreational shooting and other outdoor activities.Here… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) will reopen the Weekiwachee Preserve to the public effective Friday, May 8, 2020 for all uses. Weekiwachee Preserve is located in coastal Hernando County and has no affiliation with Weeki Wachee Springs State Park. In keeping with Gov. Ron DeSantis’ "Safe. Smart. Step-By-Step. Plan" to reopen Florida, visitors to the Weekiwachee Preserve should maximize physical distance from others and avoid socializing in… Read more

Clark Hull, the District’s environmental resource permitting program director, was asked to join the Stormwater Management Academy’s board of directors. Clark Hull, the District’s environmental resource permitting program director, accepted an invitation to join the prestigious Stormwater Management Academy’s board of directors. The Academy is supported by the University of Central Florida, the Florida Department of Transportation and the Florida Department of… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District's (District) Chito Branch Reserve in Hillsborough County will be temporarily closed to the public for feral hog hunts Nov. 8-10. Only permitted hunters will be allowed on the property during these dates. All 10 permits for these hunts have been sold. Chito Branch Reserve is located at 11254 Browning Road in Lithia. This activity is one of a series of feral hog hunts being held on District lands to control the… Read more