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A project in Marion County featuring educational sessions about the ecology and other environmental issues surrounding Rainbow Springs was recently awarded a Community Education Grant from the "Southwest Florida Water Management District":http://www.watermatters.org.Twelve grants were awarded Districtwide this year for a total of $50,319. This is the 15th year Community Education Grants have been available. These grants currently help fund projects that provide communities…

A project in Citrus County featuring educational sessions about the ecology and other environmental issues surrounding Rainbow Springs was recently awarded a Community Education Grant from the "Southwest Florida Water Management District":http://www.watermatters.org.Twelve grants were awarded Districtwide this year for a total of $50,319. This is the 15th year "Community Education Grants":http://www.WaterMatters.org/CommunityGrants have been available. These grants help fund…

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…

  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…

Recent cold weather has taken a toll on Florida plant life and may have damaged area sprinkler systems too. The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) has a few simple steps that residents can use to help their plants, lawns and irrigation systems recover from freezing temperatures. Wait to Water and Prune The need for watering decreases dramatically with cooler temperatures. Overwatering in the winter can encourage pests and disease in…

Eight Pinellas County projects were awarded Community Education Grants from the Southwest Florida Water Management District. These grants provide up to $5,000 to help fund projects that provide communities an opportunity to learn about water resources.This year the District awarded 38 grants Districtwide for a total of $136,598. This is the 11th year Community Education Grants have been available.The overall goal of the Community Education Grant Program is to actively…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s (District) Alston Tract at Upper Hillsborough Preserve in Pasco County will be temporarily closed to the public for feral hog hunts Jan. 6-8, 2026.Only permitted hunters will be allowed on the property during these dates. All 11 permits for these hunts have been sold.Alston Tract is located at 42144 Deems Road in Zephyrhills.This activity is one of a series of feral hog hunts being held on District lands to control the damage…

The "Southwest Florida Water Management District(Southwest Florida Water Management District)":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us invites the public to a meeting to gather input on the land use and management plans for the District's "Potts Preserve(Potts Preserve)":/recreation/areas/potts.html and "Flying Eagle Preserve(Flying Eagle Preserve)":/recreation/areas/flyingeagle.html in Citrus County.The meeting will be held at 6 p.m. on July 8 at the East Citrus Community Center,…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) is collecting public comment on the proposed minimum and guidance levels for Cypress, Garden and Halfmoon lakes in Hillsborough County. In accordance with the directive in the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s Emergency Order to conduct all public meetings electronically, the District will provide virtual outreach now through Sept. 8 at…

Two Southwest Florida Water Management District projects will help two Hardee County citrus groves reduce groundwater pumping.The first project involves installing two soil moisture sensors and a weather station at the Groves of Peace River, Inc. and the second project involves installing four soil moisture sensors and two weather stations at Las Lomas Holdings, Inc.Soil moisture sensors increase irrigation efficiency by only irrigating when water is needed. Weather…

Governor Rick Scott appointed Bryan K. Beswick and Thomas E. "Tommy" Bronson to the "Southwest Florida Water Management District's Governing Board.":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/about/governingboard/ Beswick represents DeSoto, Hardee and Highlands counties. Bronson is the representative for Hernando and Marion counties.Beswick, of Arcadia, is the grove manager for Blue Goose Growers LLC and a sales associate with Blue Goose Realty. He previously served on the Southwest…

Flooding during a storm eventNeed assistance? Contact your local emergency management center by calling the number listed below. Charlotte County: (941) 833-4000Citrus County:…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board voted Tuesday to elect Michelle Williamson as the new secretary for the 2021-2022 term. Williamson represents Hillsborough County and is operations manager of G&F Farms in Dover. Williamson was appointed to the Governing Board in December 2020, and her term expires March 1, 2024. Williamson previously served on the Board from August 2016 to August 2020, during which time she held the offices of…

"The Southwest Florida Water Management District":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/ (District) invites the public to a workshop on Wednesday, August 13 held from 6:00 to 8:30 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 proposed minimum and guidance levels for Lakes Hanna, Keene and Kell; the existing minimum and guidance levels for Lake Stemper; and structure operational…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District's (District) Governing Board voted to decrease property taxes by adopting a proposed rolled-back millage rate of 0.2669 mill for the fiscal year 2021 budget. The millage rate is more than 4.7% lower than the current fiscal year adopted millage rate of 0.2801 mill, a savings to taxpayers of approximately $6 million. For the owner of a $150,000 home with a $50,000 homestead exemption, the District tax would be $26.69 a…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) may need to activate the Tampa Bypass Canal system in response to heavy rains in the Tampa Bay area. Boat barriers were put in place where I-75 crosses the Hillsborough River, restricting navigation in that area. The Hillsborough River is nearing an elevation of 25 feet above sea level, which triggers the Army Corps of Engineers activation level of the Lower Hillsborough Flood Detention (LHFDA) area. This involves…

The Hillsborough River watershed begins in the Green Swamp and travels south until it meets Tampa Bay.The Hillsborough River watershed encompasses more than 675 square miles.The Hillsborough River watershed includes parts of Hillsborough, Pasco and Polk counties.There are four sub-basins within the Hillsborough River watershed: Blackwater Creek, Lake Thonotosassa/Flint Creek, Cypress Creek, and Mainstem (which includes the Upper, Middle, and Lower stretches of the river).The…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District and Hernando County are holding a series of workshops to ask developers, engineers and the general public to review and comment on 22 watershed management plans.A watershed is an area of land that water flows across as it moves toward a common low point, sinkhole complex, or a body of water, such as a stream, river, lake or coast.During the workshops, preliminary models and floodplain information will be presented for review…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District and Pasco County are holding a series of workshops for review and comment from developers, engineers and the general public on 13 watershed management plans.A watershed is an area of land that water flows across as it moves toward a common body of water, such as a stream, river, lake or coast.During the workshops, preliminary models and floodplain information will be presented for review and comment. After addressing the…

The "Southwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/about/governingboard/ Tuesday adopted its proposed fiscal year 2012-13 (FY2012-13) millage rate.The Governing Board adopted a proposed FY2012-13 millage rate of 0.3928 mill, which is the same as the current fiscal year. FY2012-13 will run from Oct. 1, 2012, through Sept. 30, 2013. With taxable property values declining by 2.9 percent, this rate will result in a $3 million…