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The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) Governing Board declared April Springs Protection Awareness Month during its March meeting. The Governing Board also emphasized that springs are vital to the environment, economy, citizens and visitors of the state. The District, in partnership with various stakeholders, is committed to implementing studies, projects and programs to conserve and improve the ecological balance of these spring systems,… Read more

Today, the Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) Governing Board approved the purchase of a perpetual conservation easement of more than 1,088 acres of Triangle Ranch in Manatee County, in the upper Myakka River watershed. This action will prevent future development on this property by securing $2 million toward the purchase of the conservation agreement, and is a key part in the permanent protection of this important piece of land. "The Board's action today… Read more

Southwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board members this week will begin evaluating proposed projects for the FY2013 Cooperative Funding Initiative.Governing Board members will meet as regional subcommittees to review proposals and make recommendations to the full board. The meetings at District service offices provide an opportunity for subcommittee members to ask questions of staff and the applicants, and to hear public and stakeholder input. The… Read more

The "Southwest Florida Water Management District(Southwest Florida Water Management District)":/ is inviting the public to comment on proposed "minimum flows and levels(Minimum Flows and Levels)":/mfl (MFLs) for the Homosassa River and associated springs at a public workshop on Thursday, Jan. 6. The workshop will be held from 6 to approximately 8:45 p.m. at Citrus County's Lecanto Government Building, 3600 W. Sovereign Path in Lecanto.The District has already held one public… Read more

The deadline is near for community members who want to apply for a Community Education Grant from the Southwest Florida Water Management District. The application deadline is Aug. 21.Individuals, organizations or volunteer groups interested in organizing an education project for their neighborhood, community group or members of the general public are encouraged to apply. Grant recipients may receive up to $5,000 to help fund their water resources education projects.… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) is gathering information to improve identification of flood prone areas in Highlands County. The District will provide a virtual public comment period now through Nov. 11 at WaterMatters.org/Floodplain for the public to view preliminary data for flood prone areas within the… Read more

The Surface Water Improvement and Management (SWIM) Program at the District turned 20 this year. The SWIM Program currently manages more than 100 projects throughout the District’s 16-county region. These projects focus on restoring degraded habitats and reducing pollution entering the SWIM priority water bodies. “The District’s SWIM Program, with the help of local, state and federal partners, has been successful in helping water bodies recover from years of pollution… Read more

Governor Rick Scott reappointed Jeffery M. Adams to the "Southwest Florida Water Management District's Governing Board":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/. Adams represents Pinellas County. Adams, 55, of St. Petersburg, is an attorney with Abbey, Adams, Byelick, and Mueller LLP. Adams received his bachelor's degree from Oral Roberts University and his law degree from the Stetson College of Law. The reappointment is for a term beginning May 20, 2014, and ending March 1, 2018,… Read more

A Polk County builder and landscaper are being recognized for incorporating water conservation and water-wise landscaping into a model home’s design with the county’s first Water-Wise Landscape Award.Tapia Construction and McDowell Landscape Services took first place for the Leonardo IV model in the Polk County Fall Parade of Homes. The Parade of Homes is being held through Oct. 28, 4 6 p.m. during the week and 11 a.m. 6 p.m. on the weekend. Visitors can see the model at… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board voted Tuesday to elect officers for the 2024-2025 term. Michelle Williamson was elected chair of the Governing Board. Williamson represents Hillsborough County and is the operations manager of G&F Farms. Williamson was appointed to the Governing Board in August 2016 and reappointed in December 2020. John Mitten was elected vice chair of the Governing Board. Mitten represents Hernando and Marion… Read more

The "Southwest Florida Water Management District's(Southwest Florida Water Management District)":http://watermatters.org Governing Board will hold its monthly meeting 9 a.m. March 30 at the "Hillsborough Community College Trinkle Center (Plant City Campus of Hillsborough Community College)":http://www.hccfl.edu/pc.aspx, 1206 N. Park Road, Plant City. The "Governing Board(Governing Board)":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/about/governingboard holds some of its regular monthly… Read more

Charlotte County Utilities residential customers are now eligible to participate in a toilet rebate program aimed at conserving water.The toilet rebate program, which is cooperatively funded by the county and the Southwest Florida Water Management District's Peace River Basin Board, offers rebates to replace high-volume toilets with water-efficient, low-flow toilets or high-efficiency toilets. Low-flow toilets use 1.6 gallons per flush or less while high-efficiency toilets… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District is working with Charlotte County to develop a comprehensive watershed management plan for the Charlotte Harbor Community Redevelopment Area (CRA). The plan will determine flood elevation levels and flows, water quality, and level of service deficiencies, which means determining when roads or other facilities are flooded beyond the level of adequate service for the community.The Charlotte Harbor CRA is located mid-county… Read more

Governor Rick Scott reappointed Carlos Beruff and George Mann to the "Southwest Florida Water Management District's Governing Board":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/about/governingboard/. Beruff represents Manatee County and Mann represents Polk County.Beruff, of Bradenton, is owner and president of Medallion Homes Gulf Coast, Inc. Mann, of Polk City, is a retired business development manager for Treatt USA. Both men are reappointed for a term beginning March 8, 2013, and… Read more

Gov. Rick Scott appointed Wendy J. Giesy-Griffin to the Southwest Florida Water Management District's Governing Board today.Giesy-Griffin of Lithia is a retired environmental consultant. She was appointed to succeed Hugh M. Gramling, and her term ends March 1, 2016.Giesy-Griffin consulted with Metis Environmental Services beginning in 1996. Prior to that, she was an environmental administrator with the Florida Department of Transportation from 1979 to 1985, and an… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District is launching a new public awareness campaign in the Crystal River/Kings Bay area that will help residents have green lawns, not green water.The multimedia campaign, which was developed to address increasing nitrate levels in Crystal River and Kings Bay, focuses on teaching Citrus and Marion county residents about proper fertilizer use.Excess fertilizer applied to public parks, golf courses and lawns can percolate through the… Read more

The "Southwest Florida Water Management District(Southwest Florida Water Management District)":/ is inviting the public to comment on proposed minimum and guidance levels for Lake Wimauma at a public workshop on Tuesday, Sept. 20. The workshop will be held from 6 p.m. to approximately 7:30 p.m. at SouthShore Regional Library, 15816 Beth Shields Way in Ruskin.Minimum levels are established to protect lakes from impacts associated with groundwater and surface water withdrawals… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District is seeking public input about proposed minimum and guidance levels for Lake Marion in Levy County.A public workshop will be held Wednesday, Oct. 11, at the Williston Community Center, 50 Northwest Main Street, Williston. The meeting will begin at 6 p.m.A minimum flow or level (MFL) is the limit at which further water withdrawals will cause significant harm to the water resources and/or environment. The District Governing… Read more

A change in the global weather pattern in 2016 meant residents also saw a change in rainfall patterns. Most areas of the District saw above-average rainfall in the first part of the year caused by a mild El Nino. But the development of a La Nina cycle caused drier-than-normal conditions the second half of the year. The La Nina event is expected to dissipate by February, and climatic conditions are expected to turn to neutral conditions. That means rainfall patterns aren’t… Read more

A Low Impact Development (LID) workshop will be featured on Sept. 6 during Florida’s 31th Annual Conference on Water Management at the Westin Innisbrook Golf Resort in Tarpon Springs. The conference is being held Sept. 6-8.The LID workshop will provide builders and developers an open forum with government stormwater regulators. The workshop will also allow builders and developers to learn from their contemporaries who have successfully implemented LID practices.Paul… Read more