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Emergency Operations Center at Level 2 Activation - All District Offices Closed Thursday AfternoonSouthwest Florida Water Management District officials are monitoring Tropical Storm Hermine and have raised the activation level of the District's Emergency Operations Center (EOC) to Level 2. The EOC provides direction and controls District activities during an emergency weather event.The District is continuing to monitor potential flooding that could occur throughout our 16-… Read more

The District’s birth was prompted by a hurricane. Its initial mission was to provide flood protection; however, by the end of the decade, the fledgling agency was already maturing to address broad-based water management needs. During the 1960 hurricane season, Hurricane Donna hammered Florida with 128-mph sustained winds and massive flooding. Donna caused storm surges of up to 13 feet in the Florida Keys and 11-foot surges along the southwest coast of Florida. Portions of… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) will activate the Tampa Bypass Canal system tonight in response to heavy rains in the Tampa Bay area from Hurricane Hermine. This action will close the Hillsborough River to boaters, and boat barriers will be in place by approximately 8 p.m. The Hillsborough River has reached an elevation of 25 feet above sea level, which triggers the Army Corps of Engineers activation level of the Lower Hillsborough Flood Detention… Read more

At its June 9 meeting, the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Peace River Basin Board adopted a proposed fiscal year 2007 (FY2007) millage rate of 0.195 mill, which is the same as the current fiscal year.The proposed budget for FY2007 is $13,840,581, which is an increase of $519,062 from the approved FY2006 budget. The increase is primarily due to an increase in property values. FY2007 will run from Oct. 1, 2006, through Sept. 30, 2007.The Peace River… 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 Withlacoochee River Basin Board. The area includes portions of Pasco, Sumter, Hernando, Citrus, Marion, and Levy counties.The advisory session will be held Tuesday, Aug. 24, from 9 a.m.- 3 p.m. at the Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park… Read more

At its June 21 meeting, the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Coastal Rivers Basin Board adopted a tentative fiscal year 2006 (FY2006) millage rate of 0.235 mill, which is the same as the current fiscal year.The tentative budget for FY2006 is $8,457,750, which represents an increase of $336,746 from the approved FY2005 budget. The increase in the budget is primarily due to an increase in property values and increases in funding from local governments for… Read more

A Southwest Florida Water Management District project will help a Polk County nursery reduce groundwater pumping.The project involves installing a weather station at the Cherry Lake Tree Farm, which is owned by I.M.G. Enterprises, Inc.Weather stations help farmers irrigate more precisely, based on weather conditions. For example, during frost-freeze events the farmer has exact data for the area and can turn on the pumps at the appropriate time instead of pumping all night.… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District will be treating infestations of hydrilla on the Rainbow River in Marion County Nov. 12-14. The section of the river to be treated is the upper portion of the river from the Blue Cove area to just upstream of KP Hole ParkTreatment 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… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District will be treating infestations of hydrilla on the Rainbow River in Marion County Oct. 27-31. The section of the river to be treated is from upstream of KP Hole Park 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… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board today approved a project that will reduce groundwater pumping at a citrus grove in Polk County.The project involves installing an integrated irrigation system that will include a weather station, soil moisture sensors, and automated valves at the Camp Mack Grove, owned by Lykes Brothers, Inc. The grove is located northeast of Lake Wales.Installing a weather station helps farmers irrigate more precisely, based… Read more

The "Southwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board(Governing Board)":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/about/governingboard on Monday set a March 2, 2010, deadline for well owners to file claims for damage suffered during the Jan. 3-13, 2010 freeze. Most eastern Hillsborough County residents whose wells were damaged when aquifer levels dropped have already called the "District(Southwest Florida Water Management District)":http://watermatters.org to "report their… Read more

table(webalert). |Who:|The Starkey family, Pasco County School Board, Pasco County Parks and Recreation Department, West Pasco Audubon Society, Twin Rivers District of the Boy Scouts of America, Tampa Bay Water and the Southwest Florida Water Management District.||*What:*|Celebrate the completion of exhibits inside the Starkey Environmental Education Center, located at the Jay B. Starkey Wilderness Park. The exhibits will enhance watershed education for Pasco County students… Read more

Gov. Rick Scott on April 26 reappointed Albert Joerger, H. Paul Senft, and Doug Tharp to the "Southwest Florida Water Management District's(Southwest Florida Water Management District)":/ "Governing Board(Governing Board)":/about/governingboard.Joerger is from Sarasota and is the founder and president of The Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast. His new term ends March 1, 2015. Joerger is also co-chair of the "Manasota Basin Board(Manasota Basin Board)":/about/… Read more

h2. District Seeking Public Input on Evaluation of PropertiesThe "Southwest Florida Water Management District(Southwest Florida Water Management District)":/ is gathering information to determine if public lands that are owned and managed by the District should be considered for surplus.As part of that information-gathering effort, the District is holding public meetings to explain the assessment process and receive public comment. The first two meetings are scheduled for… Read more

The Hillsborough Flood Detention Area (HFDA), which is instrumental in preventing flooding from the Hillsborough River in the cities of Temple Terrace and Tampa, is continuing to fill with floodwaters due to impacts from Hurricane Milton, resulting in some localized flooding on District-owned lands and Morris Bridge Road.Morris Bridge Road near the Hillsborough River Bridge, Trout Creek Park and Flatwoods Park are closed due to flooding resulting from the use of the HFDA.… Read more

The District’s Governing Board, along with the Florida Legislature and Florida’s Department of Environmental Protection, declared April Springs Protection Awareness Month. There are many actions you can take at home to help protect springs.  A spring only is as healthy as its springshed, which is the area of land that contributes water to a spring. Activities within springsheds impact groundwater, and therefore, affect the water flowing from a spring. Help… Read more

The "Southwest Florida Water Management District":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/ (District) has approved a contract for the purchase of 410.74 acres that is a connector between the Tsala Apopka/Two-Mile Prairie projects situated at the northern end of the Lake Tsala Apopka system in Citrus County. The property is generally situated between State Road 200 and the Tsala Apopka Outfall Canal. The Tsala Apopka/Two-Mile Prairie project is an environmentally sensitive piece of… Read more

A Sarasota condominium association received statewide recognition for a project it completed with the help of a Southwest Florida Water Management District Community Education Grant.The Pelican Cove Condominium Association was one of nine condominium and homeowners associations recognized at the Florida Community Association Journal’s Florida Communities of Excellence Awards. The associations were honored for their achievement in addressing the needs and concerns of… Read more

An expanse of peaceful campgrounds, wooded trails and cypress and hardwoods rise to pine flatwoods nestled in Pasco County’s Land O’ Lakes. The District’s Cypress Creek Preserve is an oasis of natural systems that stretches north from SR 54 between US 41 and I-75. Cypress Creek’s floodplain helps filter nutrients in runoff waters. The property was purchased to preserve Cypress Creek Swamp, provide flood protection, protect and improve water quality and serve as a… Read more

  District staff and City of Tampa officials recently celebrated the opening of the Sulphur Springs Weir and Pumping Station. Engines hummed and water gushed marking the completion of a joint project and the beginning of new life for the lower Hillsborough River. District staff and City of Tampa officials recently celebrated the opening of the Sulphur Springs Weir and Pumping Station. The joint venture between the agencies began in 2007 when a… Read more