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Joint Effort Educates Residents on Protecting Vital Resource Volunteers retrieve debris from Kings Bay during Citrus County’s Save Our Waters Week. The District’s 2011 observance of Springs Awareness Week helped more residents understand their effects on the health of springs, thanks to a joint venture with two northern counties. The District joined Citrus and Marion counties to mark Springs Awareness Week Sept. 16–24. The week combined Citrus County’s… Read more

 Alberto Martinez, Tampa Regulation Department environmental manager, appears in the District’s Spanish language radio and television advertisements concerning water conservation and the drought. Drought efforts continue to remain a priority as the District anticipates a drier than normal spring. Despite recent rainfall, the District’s 24-month rainfall deficit is 20.9 inches below normal. As a result, river flows, groundwater levels and other hydrologic… Read more

Parts of the Tampa Bay area may see freezing temperatures during early morning hours throughout the week. This has prompted the "Southwest Florida Water Management District(Southwest Florida Water Management District)":http://watermatters.org to advise residents who live near Plant City and Dover to switch off the pumps on their wells at night and leave the pumps off until the temperatures warm up in the morning. During a freeze or near freezing temperatures, farmers pump… Read more

 The Gilley Creek Tract protects the main branch of Gilley Creek, which is one of the main tributaries of the Manatee River. The creek flows into Lake Manatee, which serves as the primary drinking water source for Manatee County.Formerly a cattle ranch and farm with row crops that had been converted to pasture, hardwood hammocks are still found along the creek channels and wetlands. Undisturbed areas of native habitats thrive in a natural condition, with regular… Read more

Choose from hundreds of establishmentsThe Southwest Florida Water Management District is encouraging summer vacationers to stay at a hotel or motel that participates in the District’s Water Conservation Hotel and Motel Program (Water CHAMP).“July is a popular time of year for family vacations but leaving home doesn’t mean travelers should take a vacation from being environmentally responsible,” said Amy Harroun, Water CHAMP coordinator.More than 450… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Pinellas-Anclote River Basin Board Wednesday adopted a reduced millage rate of .3600 mill for fiscal year 2009 (FY2009). This millage rate is .0101 lower than the FY2008 millage rate. In June, the Board adopted a millage rate of .3701 but today Basin Board members said declining property values and the economy influenced their decision to lower it. The Pinellas-Anclote River Basin Board area covers Pinellas County and… Read more

Homebuilders in the District will soon have an edge over their competitors through a new certification program that will bring “gold” to “green” homebuilding practices. The District’s Florida Water Star℠ Gold (FWSG) certification program, launching this January, will certify and recognize builders who incorporate water-saving efforts into new homes. The program is a points-based certification that addresses indoor, irrigation and landscape conservation components… Read more

At its June 12 meeting, the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Withlacoochee River Basin Board adopted a proposed fiscal year 2009 (FY2009) millage rate of 0.2308 mill, which is the same as the current fiscal year. The Withlacoochee River Basin Board area covers portions of Pasco, Hernando, Citrus, Sumter, Marion, and Levy counties.This millage rate, combined with a reduction in taxable property values as estimated by the county property appraisers, will… Read more

At its June 9 meeting, the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Hillsborough River Basin Board adopted a proposed fiscal year 2009 (FY2009) millage rate of 0.2547 mill, which is the same rate as the current fiscal year. The Hillsborough River Basin Board area covers portions of Hillsborough, Pasco and Polk counties.The proposed budget for FY2009 is $20,020,887 which is an increase of $1,971,863 from the approved FY2008 budget. The increase is primarily due… Read more

Eight Polk County projects were awarded Community Education Grants from the Southwest Florida Water Management District. The grants, which are up to $5,000 each, will help fund projects that provide communities the opportunity to learn about water resources.This year the District awarded 49 grants Districtwide for a total of $171,444. This is the 10th year Community Education Grants have been available.The overall goal of the Community Education Grant Program is to… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District is proud to announce the recipients of the 2006 Community Education Grant Program. The grants, which are up to $5,000 each, will help fund projects that provide communities the opportunity to learn about water resources.This year the District awarded 34 grants Districtwide for a total of $151,278. Of those 34 grants awarded, six were awarded to groups in Polk County.The overall goal of the Community Education Grant Program is… Read more

Three Manatee County projects expected to reach up to 148,000 people were recently awarded Community Education Grants from the "Southwest Florida Water Management District(Southwest Florida Water Management District)":/.This year the District approved 29 grants Districtwide for a total of $120,471. This is the 14th year "Community Education Grants(Community Education Grant program)":/business/communitygrants have been available. These grants offer reimbursement up to $5,000… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District is announcing the recipients of the 2005 Community Education Grant Program. The grants, which are up to $5,000 each, will help fund projects that provide communities the opportunity to learn about water resources.This year the District awarded 29 grants Districtwide for a total of $107,667.The overall goal of the Community Education Grant Program is to actively engage adults in water-related issues pertaining to conservation,… Read more

At its July 27 meeting, the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Peace River Basin Board adopted a fiscal year 2008 (FY2008) millage rate of 0.1827 mill, which is .0123 less than the current fiscal year. This reduction is in accordance with the tax reduction mandated by the Florida Legislature.The FY2008 millage rate has been set equal to 97 percent of the rolled-back rate in compliance with House Bill 1B, the tax reform legislation signed into law by Gov.… Read more

At its July 24 meeting, the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Withlacoochee River Basin Board adopted a fiscal year 2008 (FY2008) millage rate of 0.2308 mill, which is .03 less than the current fiscal year. This reduction is in accordance with the tax reduction mandated by the Florida Legislature.The FY2008 millage rate has been set equal to 97 percent of the rolled-back rate in compliance with House Bill 1B, the tax reform legislation signed into law by Gov.… Read more

Gov. Rick Scott on Thursday appointed Michael A. Babb to the "Southwest Florida Water Management District's(Southwest Florida Water Management District)":/ "Governing Board(Governing Board)":/about/governingboard.Babb is from Hillsborough County and is president of Two Rivers Ranch, Inc. He was appointed to succeed Maritza Rovira-Forino, and his term ends March 1, 2014."Governing Board(Governing Board)":/about/governingboard members are unpaid, citizen volunteers who are… Read more

At its June 8 meeting, the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Peace River Basin Board adopted a proposed fiscal year 2008 (FY2008) millage rate of 0.195 mill, which is the same as the current fiscal year.Further, in the event that a tax reduction is mandated by the Legislature during its special session later this month, the Basin Board has authorized the Executive Director to recalculate its millage rate to reflect the change in revenue prescribed by the… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board Tuesday approved a project that will reduce groundwater pumping at a nursery in southeastern Hillsborough County.The project will connect an existing 1.5-acre surface water reservoir to the irrigation system at Spring Valley Tree Farm, a 15-acre container nursery located along State Highway 574, west of Plant City, which is part of the Northern Tampa Bay Water Use Caution Area.The project will allow the Spring… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District is announcing the recipients of the 2005 Community Education Grant Program. The grants, which are up to $5,000 each, will help fund projects that provide communities the opportunity to learn about water resources.This year the District awarded 29 grants Districtwide for a total of $107,667.The overall goal of the Community Education Grant Program is to actively engage adults in water-related issues pertaining to conservation,… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) in cooperation with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will be treating hydrilla on the Lake Panasoffkee Outlet River Aug. 21, weather permitting. Hydrilla will be controlled on the Outlet River which flows from Lake Panasoffkee to the Withlacoochee River. The aquatic herbicide Aquathol K will be applied. There are no restrictions on the use of treated water for swimming, fishing or irrigating… Read more