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According to the National Weather Service, parts of the Tampa Bay area are expected to have near- to below-freezing temperatures Saturday 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.During a freeze or near-freezing temperatures, water is pumped to protect crops…

Southwest Florida Water Management District staff members are reaching out to community groups to answer questions about the ongoing drought, the tightened watering restrictions in the Tampa Bay area, and how residents can help.“The District is making every effort to make the public aware of the serious situation we are in,” said Robyn Felix, media relations manager. “We are urging everyone to do their part to conserve water.”After two years of…

When you reset those clocks this weekend for the start of Daylight Saving Time, don’t forget to check the timers on your irrigation system controllers. Sunday is when we reset the clocks forward 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 current water restrictions.  Under the District’s current year-round water conservation measures, lawn and…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) will be treating the invasive aquatic plant hydrilla on the Rainbow River in Marion County during the week of Feb. 8-12.District workers will treat scattered infestations on the river from the Rainbow River State Park boundary downstream to the Withlacoochee River.The aquatic herbicide Aquathol Super K will be applied and informational signs will be posted in the treated area indicating the treatment dates and…

With the cooler temperatures this week, the District is reminding residents who irrigate their lawns to “Skip a Week” or more of watering 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. One-half to three-quarters of an inch of water every 10–14 days is sufficient. In fact, if your lawn has received any significant rainfall, then you can turn off your…

The new year kicks off with a new District program aimed at recognizing outstanding stewards of Florida’s water resources. This new program is known as the Water Stewardship Awards. “Florida’s watersheds are being protected by people and entities that care about what happens to our freshwater supplies,” said Communications Director Linda McBride. “That’s why the Governing Board initiated this program, to recognize and award those who are impacting our water resources…

The "Southwest Florida Water Management District":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/ (District) will be treating the invasive aquatic plant hydrilla on the Rainbow River in Marion County during the period of November 2-5.District workers will treat scattered infestations on the lower portion of the river downstream of the CR 484 bridge.Workers will apply the aquatic herbicide Aquathol Super K and post informational signs in the treated areas noting treatment dates and applicable…

At its August 11 meeting, the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Alafia River Basin Board adopted a fiscal year 2006 (FY2006) millage rate of 0.240 mill, which is the same as the current fiscal year.The budget for FY2006 is $6,713,164 which is an increase of $2,151,447 from the approved FY2005 budget. The increase in the budget is primarily due to an increase in property values and revenue from the state’s newly created Water Protection and Sustainability Program…

 Community leaders flip the switch on the new phase of the pipeline project. The Peace River Manasota Regional Water Supply Authority has completed another connection in its regional loop system, which greatly benefits the City of Punta Gorda. The agency recently dedicated the completion of the Phase 1A Interconnect Pipeline Project. The project spans the Peace River and includes nine miles of pipeline, a high-service pump station, and water storage to…

Who: Webster Elementary School teachers and studentsWhat: Save-A-Drop Day celebrates a year of studying the water cycle, watersheds and water conservation. Students will participate in a variety of hands-on environmental educational activities, including watershed model demonstrations and outdoor stations relating to appreciating our water and the plants and animals that depend on it. Students will also take the water conservation pledge.When: Tuesday, April 28, outdoor…

Eases Pressure Washing Limits The District remains under Modified Phase II water shortage restrictions, as the Governing Board extended the restrictions through June 30, while lifting restrictions on pressure washing. Board Member Paul Senft started…

The "Southwest Florida Water Management District":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/ (District) will be treating the invasive aquatic plant hydrilla on the Rainbow River in Marion County during the period of October 27-30.District workers will treat scattered infestations on the river from Rainbow River State Park to the Withlacoochee River.Workers will apply the aquatic herbicide Aquathol Super K and post informational signs in the treated areas noting treatment dates and…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Governing Board approved minimum and guidance levels for six lakes in Pasco County.A minimum 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.Guidance levels are used to describe expected…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board Tuesday adopted the agency’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2006 millage rates and combined budget. The District’s millage rate remains the same as last year for the General Fund. The millage rates for the eight District Basin Boards also remain the same. FY2006 will run from Oct. 1, 2005, through Sept. 30, 2006.Downloadsample projects by…

The "Southwest Florida Water Management District(Southwest Florida Water Management District)":/ will be treating hydrilla on the Rainbow River during the week of Feb. 21–25.District workers will treat scattered infestations on the river from upstream of KP Hole Park to the Withlacoochee River.Workers will apply the aquatic herbicide Aquathol Super K and post warning signs in the treatment areas noting treatment dates and water use restrictions. Treated river water should…

Emergency Operations Center at Level 2 activationSouthwest Florida Water Management District (District) officials are monitoring Potential Tropical Cyclone Nine and raised the activation level of the District’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) to Level 2 at 8 a.m. this morning. The EOC provides direction regarding District activities before, during and after an emergency weather event.Potential Tropical Cyclone Nine has the potential to bring significant rainfall…

The "Southwest Florida Water Management District(Southwest Florida Water Management District)":/ is partnering with the "Science and Environment Council (SEC) of Sarasota County":http://www.secsc.org to teach area residents about watersheds.Sarasota County's Fourth Annual WOW! Water Opportunities Week Nov. 5–13 will be filled with fun, nature-based activities for the whole family that teach awareness and good stewardship of watersheds."Watersheds ":/education/watersheds are…

Teachers interested in securing a "Splash! school grant(Splash! School Grants)":/education/schoolgrants/ for hands-on water resources projects through the "Southwest Florida Water Management District(Southwest Florida Water Management District)":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us can begin applying online. The application is available on the District's web site at www.WaterMatters.org/schoolgrants/. Grant applications are due Sept. 10, 2010.The District's Splash! grants provide…

Charlotte Harbor has about 985 acres of seagrass beds, according to the 2014 seagrass mapping study by the District’s Surface Water Improvement and Management (SWIM) program. The District’s study results show Charlotte Harbor now supports 19,896 acres of seagrass beds. That’s the largest amount of seagrass measured since 1996.  Seagrasses are an important barometer of a bay’s health because they require relatively clean water to flourish, thus they are…

Due to unfavorable weather conditions, the Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) has rescheduled the treating of the invasive aquatic plant hydrilla on the Rainbow River in Marion County to the week of Feb. 22.District workers will treat scattered infestations on the river from the Rainbow River State Park boundary downstream to the Withlacoochee River.The aquatic herbicide Aquathol Super K will be applied and informational signs will be posted in the…