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Beltran Appointed New Assistant Executive Director Assistant Executive Director Robert Beltran Robert Beltran recently joined the District as the new assistant executive director. Beltran will report to Executive Director Blake Guillory and oversee the District’s Regulation, Resource Management, and Operations, Maintenance & Construction divisions. Beltran is a professional engineer and has worked for 16 years as a… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Governing Board Tuesday approved a project that will help a DeSoto County blueberry farm further reduce groundwater pumping.Island Grove Agricultural Products has three farms located in the Joshua Creek and Prairie Creek watersheds and are within five miles of each other. The project involves constructing an integrated, automated irrigation system for these three farms.The irrigation system includes two weather… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Governing Board Tuesday celebrated a District cooperatively funded project with the City of St. Petersburg that received an Outstanding Achievement Award from the Florida Stormwater Association for restoring Lake Maggiore.This is the first year the Florida Stormwater Association recognized six projects and programs during the association’s annual conference in June.The projects were recognized for demonstrating… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) has scheduled restoration work on the Orange State Canal located in Citrus County. The work is scheduled to take place from May 16 to June 15. Boat access from the Withlacoochee River through the canal will not be available during the scheduled restoration work. Activity is scheduled to occur during daylight hours between Monday and Friday each week. Restoration work on the Orange State Canal will focus on… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District is inviting the public to comment on proposed minimum flows and levels (MFLs) for Gum Slough Spring Run and associated springs in northwestern Sumter County and southwestern Marion County at a public meeting on Wednesday, April 4.The rule development public workshop will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Marion Oaks Community Center, 294 Marion Oaks Lane, Ocala.The state Legislature requires the District to set minimum flows and… Read more

Who: Southwest Florida Water Management District Governing and Basin Board members and Executive Director David L. Moore; St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Baker; The Pier Aquarium Board of Director’s President Lari JohnsonWhat: The District and The Pier Aquarium are celebrating the dedication of an education station in honor of Roy G. Harrell, Jr., who served on the District’s Governing Board from Nov. 1985 until Feb. 1998.The education station, located at The Pier… Read more

The "Southwest Florida Water Management District(Southwest Florida Water Management District)":/ has reopened off-road bicycling and hiking trails and the parking area within the "Wilderness Park Off Road Trails System(Wilderness Park Off Road Trails System)":/recreation/areas/lh-offroadloop.html, also known as the Morris Bridge Bicycle Area.Trails were scheduled to be closed intermittently through Dec. 23 to allow staff to establish fire lines in preparation for prescribed… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District is announcing the recipients of the 2006 Community Education Grant Program. The grants, which are up to $5,000 each, will help fund projects that provide communities the opportunity to learn about water resources.This year the District awarded 34 grants Districtwide for a total of $151,278. Of those 34 grants awarded, two were awarded to groups in Citrus County.The overall goal of the Community Education Grant Program is to… Read more

  With the rainy season upon us, now is the perfect time to build a rain barrel. The water savings from using stored rainwater rather than municipal or well water can be substantial over a period of time. A rain barrel also can help reduce the amount of water that may settle around the foundation of your home. A typical ½-inch rainfall will fill a 50-gallon barrel. In fact, during a ½-inch rainstorm, a normal roof of about 1,000 square feet can fill more… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District is seeking public input about proposed minimum levels for Citrus County lakes.A public workshop will be held to discuss proposed levels for Fort Cooper Lake and the Floral City, Hernando and Inverness Pools of Tsala Apopka Lake in Citrus County. The meeting will be held Wednesday, Dec. 14, at the Citrus County Auditorium, 3610 South Florida Avenue (U.S. Highway 41), Inverness. The meeting, which is being held in cooperation… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District is seeking public input about proposed minimum flows and levels (MFL) for Lake Deaton, Lake Okahumpka, Lake Miona and Big Gant Lake in Sumter County.A minimum flow or level is the limit at which further water withdrawals will cause significant harm to the water resources and/or environment. The District Governing Board sets these limits as part of achieving a balance between meeting human water needs and those of Florida… Read more

For the seventh year in a row, the Southwest Florida Water Management District's (District) Governing Board voted to decrease property taxes by adopting a rolled back millage rate of 0.3131 mill for the fiscal year 2018 budget. The millage rate is more than 5.6 percent lower than the current fiscal year adopted millage rate of 0.3317 mill, a savings to taxpayers of $6.7 million.For the owner of a $150,000 home with a $50,000 homestead exemption, the District tax would be $31… Read more

Allen Yarbrough, graphics illustrator, and Melissa Roe, senior communications coordinator, accepting the award. A District communications project was recognized at the annual Florida Government Communicators Association (FGCA) Awards Banquet. The Crystal Awards recognize community groups and agencies that are taking positive steps to protect water resources. Partners in Watershed Education Awards The District’s “Partners in Watershed Education Awards”… Read more

Governor Rick Scott appointed Joel Schleicher and Rebecca Smith to the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Governing Board. Schleicher represents Charlotte and Sarasota counties and Smith represents Hillsborough and Pinellas counties. Schleicher, 65, of Sarasota, is the founder and executive chairman of Focal Point Data Risk, LLC. Schleicher received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Minnesota. He is appointed for a term beginning May 12, 2017, and… Read more

Who:Southwest Florida Water Management District staff and approximately 70 childrenWhat:The District’s 12th Annual “Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day.” Students between the ages of nine and 18 will spend the day at the District headquarters and service offices learning about District careers. This year the event will focus on the Governor’s Climate Change Initiative and how it relates to the District’s mission as well as “earth friendly” actions students can take to… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District is seeking public input about proposed minimum flows for the upper segment of the Hillsborough River. The Upper Hillsborough River is the portion of the river from Crystal Springs to Morris Bridge Road.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 Board sets these limits as part of achieving a balance… Read more

The Town of Lake Placid will receive a $4,332 grant from the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s 2007 Community Education Grant Program.As part of the project, approximately 20,000 Lake Placid residents will be sent packages containing information about watersheds, an identification sheet for nonnative, invasive plants and an invitation to attend a local Earth Day event. Recipients will learn how their behavior impacts the watershed and how to identify… Read more

The John Chestnut Senior Park in Tarpon Springs is about to undergo a little “spring cleaning.”The Pinellas County Parks & Recreation Department received a $4,083 grant from the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s 2006 Community Education Grant Program to help fund their “Perk Up A Park/Save a Day for the Bay” project on May 13. The grant funding comes from the District’s Pinellas-Anclote River Basin Board, which includes… Read more

District prepares for Hurricane FrancesBartow Service Office to closeThe Southwest Florida Water Management District is preparing for the possible landfall of Hurricane Frances in Florida. The Districts Bartow Service Office will be closed on Friday, September 3, 2004, and the Peace River Basin Board meeting, scheduled for Friday, has been cancelled. The meeting has tentatively been rescheduled for Friday, September 10, 2004, at the Districts Bartow Service Office. All… Read more

Whether it was about habitat restoration, geology or the water cycle, dozens of District staff shared their knowledge with students last week during the Great American Teach-In.  The annual event invites parents and other community members to share their work, hobbies and life experiences with students. The day is meant to give students exposure to various career options. The Teach-In, which started in 1990 as one of several events during American Education… Read more