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Left: Maritza Rovira-Forino, Governing Board member and co-chair ex officio of the Hillsborough River Basin Board, joined students in the ribbon-cutting ceremony. Right: Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio spoke at the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the restoration project. In November, members of the District’s Governing Board and the Hillsborough County School Board joined Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio and Stewart Middle Magnet School students and faculty in celebrating a shoreline… Read more

Do you belong to an organization whose members want to learn more about the drought?Southwest Florida Water Management District staff members are available to speak to community groups on the drought, what the District is doing to meet water needs, and what residents can do to help.The District’s rainfall deficit for the past two years is more than 20 inches. Forecasters are predicting a drier than normal winter and spring, which means this serious situation will… Read more

Who: State Sen. Charles Dean (R, Inverness), Southwest Florida Water Management District staffWhat:The senator will tour the site where the District is repairing a berm breach in the Morrison Pool.When:Wednesday, May 13, 9:30 a.m.Where:Morrison Pool berm, just off the Florida Rails to Trails trailWhy:The Southwest Florida Water Management District is repairing a berm breach in the Morrison Pool. The berm surrounds the north sinkhole in the Morrison Pool and prevents water… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District will be treating hydrilla on the Rainbow River in Marion County July 9-12. Hydrilla infestations will be treated from below the C.R. 484 bridge to the confluence of the Withlacoochee River.Hydrilla will be spot treated with the aquatic herbicide Aquathol Super K. Surface water within the treated area should not be used for irrigation or domestic purposes within seven days of treatment. Water use restrictions do not apply to… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) will temporarily close the Flying Eagle Dead River Flats airboat slide due to required maintenance. The airboat slide is located on the Flying Eagle berm between the Withlacoochee River and Flying Eagle Marsh in eastern Citrus County.Maintenance activities will start April 14 and are scheduled to be completed by April 25. Attempts to use the slide in its current condition could damage airboats.The District operates… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District will be treating hydrilla on the Rainbow River July 10-13. Infestations of water lettuce along the river in Marion County will be treated.Treatment involves the application of the aquatic herbicide Aquathol Super K. Treatment areas will be posted with warning signs displaying treatment dates and applicable restrictions. River water should not be used for irrigation or domestic purposes for seven days following treatment.… Read more

Construction is under way on a cooperative project between the Southwest Florida Water Management District and the City of Dunedin to restore approximately 30 acres of wetlands within the city’s Hammock Park.Preliminary clearing is being done at select project areas within the park. Hammock Park is located north of downtown Dunedin and east of Alternate U.S. 19 and is one of the last remnants of forest that was typical of this coastal region before the area was… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) invites the public to a workshop on Wednesday, Dec. 9 at 5 p.m. at Frostproof City Hall, located at 111 West First Street in Frostproof. The purpose of the workshop is to allow for public comment on proposed Minimum and Guidance Levels for Lake Clinch. The Florida Legislature requires the District to set minimum flows and levels (MFLs) for priority water bodies within the District. A minimum flow or level is the… Read more

The area's first Landscape Challenge competition, scheduled to take place from 9:30 a.m. to noon on March 12, has been postponed due to forecasts for heavy rain. The event has been rescheduled for April 16. The competition at the "Pay it Forward Farm(Pay it Forward Farm, Spring Hill)":http://www.payitforwardfarm.org in Spring Hill will allow landscape professionals to compete for the title of Ruling Water Champions. A media alert will be issued as the April 16 event… Read more

Southwest Florida Water Management District Executive Director David L. Moore this week issued an emergency order authorizing Hernando County to pump water to relieve flooding in the Lakewood subdivision.The property of approximately 30 Lakewood residents remains flooded. The subdivision is located near the northeast corner of Hernando County, north of the Withlacoochee River and adjacent to Lakes Geneva, Elizabeth and Frances. The property was flooded after the rains… Read more

The "Southwest Florida Water Management District(Southwest Florida Water Management District)":/ is closing two water control structures on Tsala Apopka Lake to allow engineers to conduct surveys of the lake system.The Golf Course and Moccasin Slough structures will be closed until Thursday afternoon, Sept. 30. Residents living on the Inverness pool of Tsala Apopka Lake may notice a slight drop in lake levels if natural losses from evaporation or recharge to the aquifer are… Read more

Local elected officials, community leaders, regional water supply authority board members, and other interested people are invited to attend a workshop in Hernando County aimed at explaining minimum flows and levels (MFLs.)The workshop, which is being hosted by the Southwest Florida Water Management District, the Hernando County Utilities Department and the Hernando County Groundwater Guardian Team, will be held Wednesday, May 3 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Hernando County… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District is inviting the public to participate in a workshop aimed at updating the management plan for the Cypress Creek Preserve property in Pasco County.The workshop will be held at the Land O’ Lakes Community Center on U.S. 41 (5401 Land O’ Lakes Boulevard) on Thursday, September 29, at 6 p.m.The Preserve property encompasses approximately 7,400 acres and protects an extensive area of floodplain along an 8-mile length of… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District will receive a portion of $50 million in the state budget for projects that help restore area springs. Gov. Rick Scott announced the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and the water management districts have identified 40 springs projects that will receive $50 million as part of the 2017-2018 Fighting for Florida’s Future budget. The $50 million in Legacy Florida funding for springs restoration projects was… Read more

h2. District to Answer Homeowner, Grower Questions on Freeze Management PlanThe "Southwest Florida Water Management District(Southwest Florida Water Management District)":/ will answer questions about new water use permitting rules for the Dover/Plant City area at a public open house 6 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2011, at the Hillsborough Community College Trinkle Center, 1206 N. Park Road, Plant City.The District will present its "frost/freeze management plan and associated… Read more

Just as building a house takes more than one tool, protecting springs requires many tools. It takes a combination of scientific expertise, studying, planning, personal passion and more among District staff and its community partners. “In my nearly 20 years here, I’ve worked in various departments and can attest to the multitude of activities in the District all working simultaneously to improve and manage our treasured springs,” said Chris Anastasiou, Chief Environmental… Read more

Sebring Homeowners Get Irrigation Recommendations The District’s Peace River Basin Board partnered with the Highlands Soil and Water Conservation District to help homeowners improve the efficiency of their irrigation systems. The pilot project brought a mobile irrigation lab to homeowners residing in the city of Sebring. The lab is evaluating residential irrigation systems and developing customized recommendations on irrigation equipment, management… Read more

At its July 26 meeting, the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Hillsborough River Basin Board adopted a fiscal year 2008 (FY2008) millage rate of 0.2547 mill, which is .0303 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… Read more

Whether students are testing water quality, building a water-conserving garden or studying an estuary, Splash! grants enhance water education in public schools. The District’s Splash! school grant program provides up to $3,000 per public school to enhance student  knowledge of freshwater resources issues. The deadline to apply for the 2014-15 school year is Aug. 29. “The grant provides students a chance to learn in a hands-on way,” said Denise Dawson, a… Read more

With the rainy season upon us, now is a great time to think about adding a rain barrel to your yard.Harvesting rainwater with a rain barrel helps supplement irrigation for a small cost. Storing rainwater also helps reduce stormwater runoff, which can lead to reduced levels of pesticides and fertilizers in our water. Many people make rain barrels out of inexpensive 50-gallon food-grade drums that were used to carry juices, olives, pickles, etc. Often you can find barrels… Read more