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The Southwest Florida Water Management District, in cooperation with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, will treat hydrilla on selected areas of Lake Panasoffkee.Approximately 200 acres of the 4,000-acre Lake Panasoffkee will be treated May 9-11. Treatment involves applying the aquatic herbicide Aquathol K from the air.Maps of the treatment areas will be posted at local fish camps as well as on floating buoys…

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…

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.…

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.…

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…

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,…

 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…

On Tuesday, the "Governing Board of the Southwest Florida Water Management District ":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/about/governingboard/ (District) adopted a FY2015-16 millage rate of 0.3488 mill, 4.6 percent lower than the current fiscal year. For the owner of a $150,000 home with a $50,000 homestead exemption, the District tax would be $34.88 a year, or about $2.91 per month. The fiscal year runs from Oct. 1, 2015, through Sept. 30, 2016. The total FY2015-16 proposed…

Two water management districts are teaming up to offer a variety of interactive games and exercises at the 5th Annual Marion County Springs Festival.Because Marion County is within the Southwest Florida Water Management District and the St Johns Water Management District, staff members from both districts are working together to teach kids about our water resources. Some of the hands-on activities include “In the Bubble,” “Make it Sink,” and “…

At its August 16 meeting, the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Hillsborough River Basin Board adopted a fiscal year 2006 (FY2006) millage rate of 0.285 mill, which is the same as the current fiscal year.The budget for FY2006 is $15,875,555, which represents an increase of $4,058,230 over 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…

The "Southwest Florida Water Management District":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/ (District) is soliciting stakeholder input on the annual update of the Priority List and Schedule for the Establishment of Minimum Flows and Levels. A workshop will be held at the District's Tampa Service Office, 7601 Highway 301 North on Wednesday, Oct. 1 from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. Minimum flows and levels are limits set by the District Governing Board for surface waters and groundwater that are…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) invites the public to a workshop on Monday, July 16 at 5:30 p.m. at the Lutz Community Center, located at 98 1st Ave. NW in Lutz. The purpose of the workshop is to allow for public comment on the proposed minimum and guidance levels for lakes Allen, Virginia and…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District recently approved an agreement to continue funding the St. Petersburg Toilet Replacement Program.The program, which began in 1997, is a cooperatively funded effort between the City of St. Petersburg and the District’s Pinellas-Anclote River Basin Board. The goal of the ninth phase of the project is to promote water conservation by providing toilet rebates of up to $100 for each high-volume toilet replaced with a low-flow…

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…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) invites the public to a workshop on Tuesday, Dec. 19 at 5:30 p.m. at the River Greens Golf Course located at 47 W. Lake Damon Drive in Avon Park. The purpose of the workshop is to allow for public comment on the proposed minimum and guidance levels for Lake Damon in Highlands County. During the workshop, District staff will present the technical basis for the proposed minimum levels for Lake Damon. Minimum levels…

Left: Mary Margaret Hull, District lead youth education coordinator, simulates the sounds of a thunderstorm during a “Rain Game” exercise with Countryside Montessori Elementary School students. Right: Countryside Montessori Elementary School students learn about the hydrologic cycle. District staff educated more than 1,000 students about water resources, conservation and water management careers at this year’s Great American Teach-In. The Great American Teach-…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) invites the public to a workshop on Tuesday, Oct. 24 at 5:30 p.m. at the Brooker Creek Preserve Environmental Education Center located at 3940 Keystone Road in Tarpon Springs. The purpose of the workshop is to allow for public comment on the proposed minimum and guidance levels for Lake Alice, located in Hillsborough County. During the workshop, District staff will present the technical basis for the proposed…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) invites the public to a workshop on Monday, August 14 at 5:30 p.m. at the Jimmie B. Keel Regional Library located at 2902 W. Bearss Ave. in Tampa. The purpose of the workshop is to allow for public comment on the proposed minimum and guidance levels for Saddleback and Round Lakes in Hillsborough County. During the workshop, District staff will present the technical basis for the proposed minimum levels for…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) invites the public to a workshop on Wednesday, July 12 at 5:30 p.m. at the City of Lake Wales Commission Chambers located at 201 W. Central Ave. in Lake Wales. The purpose of the workshop is to allow for public comment on the proposed minimum and guidance levels for Lake Easy in Polk County. During the workshop, District staff will present the technical basis for the proposed minimum levels for Lake Easy. Minimum…

The District recently honored 26 water resources education projects at its “Partners in Watershed Education” awards luncheon and conference. The award-winning projects were completed by teachers and their students, community members, local governments, nonprofit groups and District-sponsored programs that use volunteers to educate others about water resources. The District holds the awards ceremony every two years and projects from throughout its 16 counties are…