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The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) officially approved adding three first-magnitude spring systems – Weeki Wachee River, Chassahowitzka River and Homosassa River – to the Surface Water Improvement Management (SWIM) Program priority list.In January, "The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) Governing Board ":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/about/governingboard/voted to begin the process of officially adding those systems to the existing… Read more

As teachers go back to school, the Southwest Florida Water Management District would like to remind them about another important date to add to their calendar. The deadline to "apply for a Splash! mini-grant":/education/minigrants/ is Sept. 11, 2009.The goal of the mini-grant program is to promote hands-on water resources education that teaches students about their local watersheds and the freshwater resources within them. Splash! mini-grants provide up to $5,000 per school… Read more

The school year may have come to an end, but educators interested in securing grant funding for next year can begin applying online for a Southwest Florida Water Management District Splash! mini-grant.Grant funding is for classroom projects that focus on water quality, natural systems, water conservation, alternative water sources, flood protection or watersheds.The goal of the mini-grant program is to promote hands-on water resources education that teaches students about… Read more

 Mark Brown, senior environmental scientist, and Paul Miselis, senior environmental engineer, were recognized for their work on the Fort DeSoto Ecosystem Restoration Project. The project restored the natural flow between two back bays at Fort DeSoto Park in Pinellas County. In May, the District’s Governing Board recognized two staff members for their roles on a successful restoration project that received national recognition. Mark Brown, District senior… Read more

Left photo: David Moore, executive director, and Jerry Rice, Governing Board chair, chat before an employee meeting in Brooksville. Right photo: David Moore, executive director, answers a question from Malcolm Hudson, senior tradesworker, between employee meetings in Brooksville. In May, the District’s Governing Board recognized two staff members for their roles on a successful restoration project that received national recognition. Mark Brown, District senior… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board today approved a project that will reduce groundwater pumping at a strawberry farm in southeastern Hillsborough County.The project involves installing an integrated irrigation system that will include a weather station, soil moisture sensors, and automated valves at Berry Bay Farms.Installing a weather station helps farmers irrigate more precisely, based on weather conditions. For example, during frost-freeze… Read more

The "Southwest Florida Water Management District(Southwest Florida Water Management District)":/ is inviting the public to comment on proposed minimum levels for Crystal Lake and North Lake Wales, both located within the city of Lake Wales, at a public workshop on Thursday, Oct. 14. The workshop will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Lake Wales City Commission Chambers, 201 W. Central Ave., Lake Wales.The state Legislature requires the District to set "minimum flows and levels… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District's (District) Governing Board voted to decrease property taxes by adopting a proposed rolled-back millage rate of 0.2260 mill for the fiscal year 2023 budget. The millage rate is 10.8% lower than the current fiscal year adopted millage rate of 0.2535 mill, a savings to taxpayers of approximately $15.5 million. For the owner of a $150,000 home with a $50,000 homestead exemption, the District tax would be $22.… Read more

At its June 4 meeting, the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Pinellas-Anclote River Basin Board adopted a proposed fiscal year 2009 (FY2009) millage rate of 0.3701 mill, which is the same as the current fiscal year.This millage rate, combined with a reduction in property values as estimated by the Pinellas and Pasco county property appraisers, will result in an estimated 9 percent decrease. These estimates will be updated when the property appraisers… Read more

Who: Highlands County teachers and administrators, Southwest Florida Water Management District and Charlotte Harbor Environmental Center (CHEC) staff.What: Approximately 12 science teachers and school administrators are participating in a field study that focuses on the Peace River Basin. The two-day excursion includes a guided wading tour of the Charlotte Harbor Estuary, a discussion about the watershed led by a CHEC scientist, and a boat tour on the Peace River to conduct… Read more

At its June 15 meeting, the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Withlacoochee River Basin Board adopted a proposed fiscal year 2007 (FY2007) millage rate of 0.265 mill, which is the same as the current fiscal year.The proposed budget for FY2007 is $8,592,868, which is a decrease of $63,253 from the approved FY2006 budget. FY2007 will run from Oct. 1, 2006, through Sept. 30, 2007.The Withlacoochee River Basin Board area covers portions of Pasco, Hernando,… Read more

Left: Judy Whitehead, Right: Patricia Glass. Governor Charlie Crist made two appointments to the District’s Governing Board in April. Judy Whitehead and Pat Glass were sworn in at the April Governing Board meeting. Judy Whitehead was reappointed. She is the current Governing Board vice chair and chair ex officio of the District’s Coastal Rivers Basin Board. She was first appointed to the Governing Board in March 2003. Her term ends March 1, 2011.… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District will be treating infestations of hydrilla on the Rainbow River in Marion County Feb. 4-7. The treatment area is from the County Road 484 bridge to where the Rainbow River meets the Withlacoochee River.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. Water from the treated section of the river… Read more

h2. District to Brief the Public on Lake Isis, Tulane Stormwater Treatment ProjectsThe "Southwest Florida Water Management District(Southwest Florida Water Management District)":/ is inviting the public to an informational meeting on the Lake Isis and Lake Tulane stormwater treatment projects, which will improve water quality in the lakes. The meeting will be held from *6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 18*, 2011 at the *City of Avon Park Council Chambers*, 123 East Pine Street in… Read more

h2. District to Brief the Public on Stormwater Treatment ProjectThe "Southwest Florida Water Management District(Southwest Florida Water Management District)":/ is inviting the public to an informational meeting on the Lake Wailes stormwater treatment project, which will improve water quality in the lake. The meeting will be held from *6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, July 27, 2011* at the *Lake Wales Municipal Administration Building*, 201 Central Avenue West in Lake Wales.The… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District wants to remind members of the agricultural community who hold water use permits to complete and return the annual crop reporting forms, which were mailed this week.The reports, which are a condition of a water use permit, are also used to help calculate the correct annual conservation credits that each permit holder has earned. Conservation credits allow permit holders to use additional irrigation quantities during dry… Read more

Emergency Operations Center to OpenSouthwest Florida Water Management District officials began preparations today to activate its Emergency Operations Center (EOC) in anticipation of the possible landfall of Hurricane Wilma in Florida.District officials today discussed coordination of activities with staff, state coordinators and the other water management districts.The District plans to fully activate its Emergency Operations Center (EOC) in Brooksville Friday or Saturday… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board approved the purchase of a 153-acre parcel of land in Hillsborough County. This acquisition will be added to the 4,367 acres that the District owns within the Tampa Bay Estuarine Ecosystem project.The property, commonly known as the Fulkerson Road shell pit, is located about one mile north of the Hillsborough/Manatee County line and just west of U.S. Hwy. 41.The property is being purchased for $828,000 from… Read more

Groups and individuals interested in applying for a Southwest Florida Water Management District community education grant are invited to attend a grant advisory session for residents who live in the area represented by the District’s Manasota Basin Board. The area includes Manatee and Sarasota counties.The advisory session will be held Thursday, Aug. 26, from 10 a.m.- 3 p.m. at the District’s Sarasota Service Office, in the Governing Board Room. The Service… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District will be treating hydrilla on the Rainbow River Jan. 17-19. Infestations of hydrilla immediately upriver of KP Hole Park to the Withlacoochee 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… Read more