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A joint acquisition effort between the District and the state, the preserve consists of various noncontiguous parcels that partially surround the Charlotte Harbor estuary and its major tributaries. All lands are managed as a state park. The preserve is regionally important because it provides protection to the Gasparilla…

Mangroves are crucial to the health of the Charlotte Harbor estuary. They stabilize shorelines, prevent erosion during storms and provide perches for nesting seabirds. But their greatest contribution occurs when they shed their leaves, which sink and rot, supplying nutrients to a huge variety of microscopic creatures and forging links in a multitude of food chains. Falling at an average rate of 3.5 tons per acre, mangrove leaf litter sustains fungi, bacteria, protozoans…

The watershed includes a rich mosaic of natural habitats: hardwood swamps, pine flatwoods, sandhills, oak hammocks, salt barrens and cypress domes. Saw palmetto thrives in the watershed’s flatwoods and sandhills where the sandy soil is well-drained. It forms dense colonies with ground-hugging, serpentine trunks and clusters of green, fanlike fronds. A variety of trees also make their home here, including sweet gum, water locust, laurel oak, slash pine and the bald…

According to the National Weather Service, parts of the Tampa Bay area are expected to have near to below-freezing temperatures early Tuesday and Wednesday morning. The Southwest Florida Water Management District advises residents who live near Plant City and Dover who have well pumps without automatic cutoff switches to turn off the pumps before temperatures dip. Aquifer levels have recovered from the previous freeze…

Why does the District surplus land?The District’s Governing Board policy 610-4 requires an assessment of District lands every two years for potential surplus opportunities. The objective of the assessment is to identify and sell lands that no longer meet the original acquisition purposes of providing substantive water resource benefits. Proceeds from the sale of land may only be used to purchase lands meeting the Districts land acquisition goals or debt service associated…

Four rivers impressively emerge from the Green Swamp. They are the Hillsborough, Withlacoochee, Ocklawaha and Peace rivers. These rivers provide much of central Florida’s water supply. Check out these stats and visit our other virtual watershed excursions to learn more about these rivers.Hillsborough River 

• Total length: 55 miles
• …

The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Governing Board will hold its monthly meeting Tuesday, March 24 at 9 a.m. at the Tampa Service Office, located at 7601 U.S. Highway 301 North. To view the Governing Board meeting online, click on the live video stream link. The video stream link becomes active and the live video feed begins…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) will hold a virtual public meeting Friday, April 3 at 5:30 p.m. to share information about the Cape Haze Ecosystem Restoration Project in Charlotte County. This project is one of the largest coastal restoration projects the District has undertaken in the region.Members of the public can join the meeting via Microsoft Teams. To…

 To learn how to better manage the Withlacoochee River watershed, the District studied how a variety of natural environments and man-made alterations have affected the river’s behavior as well as the effects of extreme high and low water levels in the river caused by natural fluctuations in rainfall and groundwater.Years of intense research have helped scientists at the District develop a comprehensive computer model of the entire river. The model has been used to test…

Public water supply facilities, agriculture, wildlife habitat conservation and passive recreation characterize the diversity of the working landscape at the RV Griffin Reserve. The reserve offers vistas of pine flatwoods, freshwater marshes, wet prairies and glimpses of forested wetlands and oak hammocks. Much of the flatwoods have a sparse overstory of pines and resembles Florida dry prairie, one of North America's most imperiled ecosystems. The property is managed by…

Welcome! These resources are provided to help assist users with our online system. Please be patient as we work on updating these resources.Permit Search Permits Map Gallery find permits via our geographic information system. The ePermitting system is only available from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. throughout the week and from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. on the weekends.…

According to the National Weather Service, parts of the Tampa Bay area are expected to have near to below-freezing temperatures beginning tonight and lasting throughout the week. The Southwest Florida Water Management District advises residents who live near Plant City and Dover who have well pumps without automatic cutoff switches to turn off the pumps before temperatures dip.During a freeze or near-freezing…

 Purchased to provide flood protection and serve as a public water supply, Cypress Creek's floodplain helps filter nutrients in runoff waters. Cypress Creek Well Field serves as an important source of water for the surrounding region and is managed by Tampa Bay Water (TBW). Cypress Creek is a tributary of the Hillsborough River. Within the property, the creek threads its way through an expanse of cypress and hardwood forests. Slash pine, longleaf pine and palmetto grow…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District is hosting a virtual public meeting to present the Cape Haze Ecosystem Restoration Project and receive public comments. This restoration effort will enhance natural water flow, improve ecological resiliency, and support native wildlife within Charlotte Harbor Preserve State Park. Construction is scheduled for spring 2026 with an…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) is reminding residents to check the timers on their irrigation system controllers next weekend, which is the end of daylight saving time.Saturday, Nov. 1 is when we will turn our clocks back one hour. The time change is also a good time to make sure irrigation system timers are set correctly to ensure that the systems operate consistently with year-round water conservation measures.All 16 counties throughout the…

Governor Ron DeSantis appointed Brian Aungst Jr. to the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Governing Board. Aungst represents Pinellas County. Aungst, of Clearwater, is an attorney and shareholder at Macfarlane Ferguson and McMullen, P.A. Aungst earned his bachelor’s degree in political science and telecommunications and his juris doctor from the University of Florida. Aungst is appointed to a term ending March 2026.The appointment is subject to confirmation…

Bell Barnett, of Winter Haven, is a former educator and community advocate.Bell Barnett was appointed to the Governing Board in December 2020 and was reappointed in August 2023 to a four-year term ending March 1, 2027. A fifth-generation Floridian, Bell Barnett earned her bachelor’s degree from Florida Southern College in Lakeland, Florida, and her Master of Public Administration from the University of South Florida.Bell Barnett serves in a variety of capacities at…

According to the National Weather Service, parts of the Tampa Bay area are expected to have near to below-freezing temperatures Thursday evening and Friday morning. There is a chance the area also could experience below-freezing temperatures Sunday evening and Monday morning so residents should continue to monitor local weather reports.The Southwest Florida Water Management District advises residents who live near Plant City…

This property was acquired to protect and preserve natural water resources and the water quality of the Withlacoochee River, Gum Slough and associated tributaries. The Withlacoochee River, Gum Slough and Gum Springs Run are located adjacent to the property and were designated Outstanding Florida Waters in 1989. Gum Slough is a four-mile-long spring run that flows into the Withlacoochee River. The water in Gum Slough comes from several springs, which makes it…

Jack Bispham of Myakka City is the owner and operator of Red Bluff Plantation.Bispham was appointed to the Governing Board for a term beginning Nov. 5, 2019. He was reappointed in May 2021 and again in August 2025. His term ends March 1, 2029.He earned a bachelor’s degree in Agriculture from the University of Florida.Bispham has more than 40 years’ experience in various types of agricultural operations, including dairy farming, timber and turf production. He is the owner of…