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h2. Staff, Equipment Deploy to Alachua and Flagler CountiesThe "Southwest Florida Water Management District(Southwest Florida Water Management District)":/ today sent 11 staff members and equipment to help fight wildfires in Alachua and Flagler counties at the request of the "Florida Division of Forestry(Florida Division of Forestry)":http://www.fl-dof.com.The District sent three Type VI engines with two-person crews to the Santa Fe fire in Alachua County. Type VI engines… Read more

Emergency Operations Center at Level 2 activation Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) officials are monitoring Hurricane Dorian and have raised the activation level of the District’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) to Level 2. The EOC provides direction regarding District activities before, during, and after an emergency weather event. The District is continuing to monitor potential impacts from the storm that could occur throughout… 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 0.1909 mill for the fiscal year 2025 budget.The millage rate is 6.6% lower than the current fiscal year adopted millage rate of 0.2043 mill, a savings to taxpayers of approximately $9.5 million.For the owner of a $150,000 home with a $50,000 homestead exemption, the District tax would be $19.09 a year, or… Read more

All Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) offices will be closed Wednesday, Sept. 28, and Thursday, Sept. 29, due to potential impacts from Hurricane Ian. The District will continue to monitor the progress of Hurricane Ian to determine if future closings are necessary. The District is monitoring storm forecasts associated with Hurricane Ian throughout its 16-county region. In response to recent heavy rainfall, District staff have been closely monitoring… Read more

The "Southwest Florida Water Management District":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/ (District) activated the Tampa Bypass Canal system today in response to heavy rains in the Tampa Bay area overnight. The Hillsborough River has reached an elevation of 25 feet above sea level at Fowler Avenue, which triggers the Army Corps of Engineers activation level of the Lower Hillsborough Flood Detention (LHFDA) area. This involves redirecting the flow of the Hillsborough River east of 1-… Read more

The "Southwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/about/governingboard/ Tuesday adopted its fiscal year 2013-14 (FY2013-14) millage rate and budget.The Governing Board adopted a FY2013-14 millage rate of 0.3818 mill, which is 2.8 percent lower than the current fiscal year. This millage rate is 0.5 percent below the rolled-back millage rate, and will result in a $2.9 million reduction in ad valorem taxes for the District's… Read more

This November the District will recognize the very best in District-sponsored community and youth water resources education projects at the Partners in Watershed Education ceremony. To select this year’s 32 award-winning projects, District staff reviewed education projects completed through District grant programs by teachers and their students, community members, local governments and nonprofit groups. District-sponsored programs that use volunteers to educate others… Read more

 The canal and its water-control structure were completed in 1971 to help regulate flooding around Lake Tarpon and the lower sections of Brooker Creek. The structure prevents salt water from entering Lake Tarpon during high tides and protects the lake's freshwater ecology. The District donated 46 acres to the city of Oldsmar for the development of public recreational facilities and leased an additional 75 acres to enable the city to expand passive recreation to part of… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Brooksville office has been certified by the Hernando County Florida Yards and Neighborhoods (FYN) Program as a Florida-friendly yard.The Florida-friendly yard certification recognizes landscapes that save water, reduce the use of fertilizer and pesticides, as well as reduce runoff and provide native habitat for birds, butterflies and other wildlife.Work to obtain the certification began about two years ago when Jeff… Read more

Workshop to follow at 9:30 a.m.The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Governing Board will hold its monthly meeting Tuesday, Dec. 17 at 9 a.m. at District Headquarters, located at 2379 Broad Street in Brooksville. After the Governing Board meeting, the District will hold an informational workshop on water related issues. To view the Governing Board meeting online, click on the… Read more

Pat Glass displays a plaque she received in recognition of her public service. With Glass are District Executive Director Dave Moore (right) and representatives from the Peace River Manasota Regional Water Supply Authority and Charlotte and DeSoto counties. The District’s Governing Board and the Peace River Manasota Regional Water Supply Authority (Authority) joined together in December to recognize Patricia “Pat” Glass for her… Read more

The "Southwest Florida Water Management District(Southwest Florida Water Management District)":http://watermatters.org invites the public to a meeting to gather input on the District's land acquisition, management and recreation programs on public lands purchased by the District.The meeting will be on March 16 from 4:30 to 6 p.m. at the District's Sarasota Service Office, 6750 Fruitville Road in Sarasota. District staff will make a brief presentation, then open the floor for… Read more

District employees Don Kaskie and Violet Woodard thought it would be another typical work day.  The vegetation specialists spent a day last month in airboats treating water hyacinth and water lettuce on Upper Myakka Lake. Near the end of their work day, a local canoe rental shop reported that a couple who had rented a boat never returned. With a large storm approaching, Kaskie searched nearly 7 miles of shoreline by airboat while Woodard searched for the couple by… Read more

As citrus greening becomes an increasing problem across Florida, the District is working with growers that are exceeding their permitted water quantities due to the disease plaguing their groves. Citrus greening, formal name Huanglongbing, is a bacterial disease that causes trees to produce sour, deformed fruit. Citrus greening has spread to all of the state’s 32 citrus-growing counties. University of Florida economists estimate the disease has caused $4.5 billion in… Read more

Who:Representatives from the Southwest Florida Water Management District; Doris Heitzmann, Florida Yards & Neighborhoods homeowners association outreach coordinator with the Pinellas County Extension office, members of the condominium association’s (COA) landscape committee and the Royal Stewart Arms property managerWhat:Royal Stewart Arms is an example of an COA that puts the “Skip a Week” of irrigation concept into action. In addition to only… Read more

Governor Rick Scott appointed Michael A. Moran to the Southwest Florida Water Management District's "Governing Board":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/about/governingboard/. Moran fills a vacant seat representing Charlotte and Sarasota Counties.Moran, of Sarasota, is the president of Insurance & Benefits Consultants.Morans's appointment is for a term beginning December 5, 2013 and ending March 1, 2015. The appointment is subject to confirmation by the Florida Senate.… Read more

Emergency Operations Center at Level 1 Activation Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) officials have raised the activation level of the District’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) to Level 1 as they continue to monitor Tropical Storm Elsa. The EOC provides direction regarding District activities during an emergency weather event. The District is evaluating potential impacts from the storm that could occur throughout its 16-county region… Read more

The Rotonda West Homeowners Association, Inc. will receive a $2,875 Community Education Grant from the Southwest Florida Water Management District for a project that will enhance water quality in the area’s canal system.The grant will be used to plant aquatic plants along the White Marsh Park canals. In addition, the homeowners association will help homeowner volunteers in building and installing a brochure demonstration box that will include information on what… Read more

The Heritage Pines environmental committee will receive a $4,989 grant from the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s 2007 Community Education Grant Program.The residents of Heritage Pines, located in Pasco County, were awarded the funds for a series of Florida-friendly lectures and workshops, which will include planting a Florida-friendly demonstration garden. Approximately 2,400 residents live in the Heritage Pines community. Many of the residents are… Read more

The Southwest Florida Management District’s Governing Board approved funding Tuesday for a project that evaluates alternatives for reducing flooding and improving water quality within the Christina Watershed.The Christina Watershed, located near Mulberry in western Polk County, is approximately 6 square miles and is part of the headwaters to the North Prong of the Alafia River. This area has experienced recurrent flooding for the past ten years and is also… Read more