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Learn about the District's founding and highlights of our 60+ years in this interactive timeline of the District's history.
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Florida Green Lodging Program »A voluntary initiative of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), this program designates lodging facilities that make a commitment to conserve and protect Florida’s natural resources.Note: Your hotel can receive 13 points towards the Florida Green Lodging designation by joining Water CHAMP,… Read more
Your Questions Answered
December 2021
Q: Why does the District issue permits?
A: Water is a public resource that belongs to all of us. However, fresh water is not limitless. Excessive water withdrawals can harm the resources. Other human activities also pose threats. Without the proper safeguards for wetlands, floodplain encroachment and stormwater runoff can cause pollution and flooding. District permitting… Read more
Water plays an important role in our lives. Because we live in a state surrounded by so much water, we often forget about the importance of conservation.
All of us can become better at saving water. Have your class pledge to save at least 10 gallons of water per day by using the pledge to the right and we will send you a free conservation challenge kit!
Each kit includes a class set of:
- Water Conservation pledge cards
- "Save Water We Do!"… Read more
February 2023
Q: What is Florida-Friendly Landscaping™?
A: Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ is a set of nine guiding principles which help protect natural resources and preserve Florida’s unique beauty. A Florida-friendly landscape is beautiful yet saves water and protects the environment too.
Q: What are the nine guiding principles of Florida-Friendly Landscaping™?
A: The nine guiding principles of Florida-… Read more
These documents are helpful for estimating costs for inclusion in Regional Water Supply Plans or our Cooperative Funding Initiative.
The guidelines manual and spreadsheets below are provided to assist entities in estimating the costs of alternative water supply projects (including conservation and reuse) for inclusion in Regional Water Supply Plans or for submittal for inclusion in the District’s Cooperative Funding Initiative program.
Cost Guidelines Model User Manual… Read more
Fixing leaks and installing a few inexpensive water-saving devices in your home could save up to 20,000 gallons of water each year.If you use utility or county water, your efforts could cut your monthly water and sewer bill in half. Unless your house was built after 1995, you probably have pre-conservation era plumbing that guzzles water. Fixing leaks and replacing old plumbing fixtures with water-saving models are two easy ways to conserve water and save money at the same… Read more
Your Questions Answered
December 2019
Florida’s climate makes it ideal for growing a wide variety of crops, which makes the state’s agricultural industry one of the strongest in the country. The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) believes working with the agricultural community to conserve water through our Facilitating Agricultural Resource Management Systems or FARMS program is essential to help ensure future water supplies.… Read more
Your Questions Answered
November 2020
Q: What are seagrasses?
A: Seagrasses are flowering plants that colonized the ocean some 70 to 100 million years ago. Seagrasses have leaves, flowers, seeds and roots. Unlike land plants, seagrasses do not have strong stems to hold themselves up. Instead they are supported by the buoyancy of the water surrounding them. Another unique… Read more
August 2023Q: What is FARMS?A: The Facilitating Agricultural Resource Management Systems, or FARMS program for short, is designed to serve as an incentive to the agricultural community to promote water quantity, water quality and natural systems BMPs to conserve groundwater use and promote resource sustainability. The program is an agricultural cost-share reimbursement program that reduces groundwater withdrawals from the Upper Floridan… Read more
Federal flood maps — used to assess flooding risks — are being updated for our area with your help and input.
Why These Maps Need Updating
This national effort of map modernization will produce more reliable flood risk data and in a digital format. This new format will enable communities to overlay and analyze new flood data with street layouts, demographics, infrastructure and evacuation routes. It also provides more timely access to update maps as flood risks change… Read more
Your Questions Answered
January 2020
The Weeki Wachee River has been a popular site for recreational activities for many years. Recently, both public and private stakeholders agreed to take a closer look at what steps should be taken now to ensure the waterway is protected for years to come. Randy Smith, Natural Systems & Restoration Bureau Chief for the Southwest Florida Water Management District, explains the results of the recently… Read more
Stormwater SystemsA stormwater system is designed to collect and manage runoff from rainwater. They are specifically designed to help prevent flooding and remove pollutants from the water, and they are required for most new development since the 1980s. When rainwater lands on rooftops, parking lots, streets, driveways and other hard surfaces, the rainfall that doesn’t soak into the ground is called stormwater runoff. Stormwater runoff carries pollutants such as litter… Read more
1. Summary
This grant will encourage elementary students to become citizens who are aware of the importance of conserving water. This will be a cross-curricular project for the 2015-2016 school year that includes literature connections, letter and pamphlet writing, scientific concepts linked to the NGSSS, mathematics, technology-based research and engineering/building skills. The students will be actively engaged in learning about watersheds, the water… Read more
Floodplain Map Viewer The Southwest Florida Water Management District, in cooperation with local governments, is developing flood risk information for watersheds throughout west-central Florida. The floodplain map viewer is an interactive tool that allows you to view flood risk information that has been developed to date as part of the District’s Watershed Management Program. The information is provided as an advisory tool for… Read more
Learn From the Experts
Through the Speakers Bureau, professional staff share their knowledge and expertise with a wide variety of audiences. Programs are presented at no charge within the District’s 16-county area.
Topics
Some of the most frequently requested topics are:
“Get Outside!”
The District and its partners acquire conservation lands to protect the region’s water… Read more
Your Questions Answered
October 2020
If you received your property tax assessments recently, you may have noticed a line item from the Southwest Florida Water Management District (District.) The District manages the water resources through a variety of activities that support water supply, water quality, flood protection and natural systems. The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Budget Manager Mike Cacioppo explains how your tax dollars… Read more
About the FARMS ProgramFARMS is an agricultural cost-share reimbursement program that reduces groundwater withdrawals from the Upper Floridan aquifer through conservation and alternative water supply best management practices (BMPs). In conjunction with water conservation BMPs, water quality and natural systems improvement BMPs also may be cost-shared in priority areas.The program is designed to serve as an incentive to the agricultural community to promote water… Read more
1. Summary
Our grant will continue the flower, herb and vegetable gardening we started two years ago in containers by transitioning to in-ground gardening utilizing drip irrigation. Students in our Enrichment Learning Program — grades three, four and five — will continue to maintain this project by preparing, planting, maintaining and harvesting produce. As part of the process students will prepare the ground, plan and setup a drip irrigation… Read more