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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/…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

To provide flood protection to lakefront properties, the Southwest Florida Water Management District Tuesday will begin releasing water through flood control structure S-353 on the Hernando Pool of the Tsala Apopka Chain of Lakes.S-353 releases water into an outfall canal that discharges into the Withlacoochee River near Holder. The operation of the structure is guided by a legal agreement with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers that requires water to be released when levels…

To provide flood protection to lakefront properties, the Southwest Florida Water Management District Tuesday will begin releasing water through flood control structure S-353 on the Hernando Pool of the Tsala Apopka Chain of Lakes.S-353 releases water into an outfall canal that discharges into the Withlacoochee River near Holder. The operation of the structure is guided by a legal agreement with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers that requires water to be released when levels…

The Southwest Florida Management District and the City of St. Petersburg are working together on three projects that will improve drainage in four St. Petersburg neighborhoods. The neighborhoods are Palmetto Park, Norwood Heights, Ponce De Leon and Jungle Terrace.All of the projects are part of a 1994 stormwater management master plan developed by the city. During heavy rain the neighborhoods experience street flooding because the existing drainage systems are outdated and…

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…

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…

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…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Governing Board will hold its monthly meeting Tuesday, Jan. 27 at 9 a.m. at the Tampa Service Office, located at 7601 U.S. Highway 301 North. To view the Governing Board meeting online, click on the live video stream link. The video stream link becomes active and the live video feed begins…

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…

This summer a group of international visitors spent time learning about the District and sharing ideas with District staff. Ed Hobin, outreach projects coordinator for the District and a Rotarian, hosted a group of New Zealanders. Henry Davies, a member of the Wellington North Rotary Club, led the group. Davies is a banker specializing in online services. Accompanying Davies on the tour were a clinical psychologist, a police officer and two hospitality and tourism…