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 The Annutteliga Hammock is an important area for groundwater recharge into Florida's primary drinking water source, the Floridan aquifer system. Situated in the Brooksville Ridge, which runs from northern Citrus County down into central Pasco County, the lands are slightly higher in elevation than the adjacent coastal or central portions of the state. The area within the Brooksville Ridge typically has well-drained soils, karst limerock outcroppings and is dominated by…

John Finnerty, president and CEO of Habitat for Humanity of East & Central Pasco, left; Ron Oakley, former District Governing Board chair, center; and Susan Douglas, District Florida Water StarSM (FWS) program coordinator, recently attended the groundbreaking of two Florida Water StarSM homes in Lacoochee. Habitat volunteers built the Lacoochee houses during National Women Build Week in May. These are the first two Habitat homes in Pasco County to be…

Sometimes Florida yards need fertilizer to help keep them healthy, but don't just empty a bag of fertilizer into your spreader without doing your homework. The "Southwest Florida Water Management District(Southwest Florida Water Management District)":/ recommends that you follow the directions on the package when choosing and applying fertilizers. Applying too much fertilizer, too often or at the wrong time can cause water pollution. Use Florida-friendly fertilizing…

According to the National Weather Service, parts of the Tampa Bay area are expected to have near to below freezing temperatures Saturday, Sunday and Monday morning.  This has prompted the…

The biannual employee meetings, held at each of the District service offices, are a good place to go and receive the latest information about what’s going on at the water management district.  Answering questions from District staff during the February employee meeting are Elaine Kuligofski, human resources director, and David Moore, executive director. During the meeting, staff were briefed about a variety of pending matters, such as the Tampa Bay Water…

Education in Action Mother Earth didn’t change the way she moves water through the cycle, District staff just thought of a better way to teach it. That’s the story behind the new and improved hydrologic cycle poster that’s hitting elementary school classrooms across the District. The new poster was developed because Youth Education staff felt the circular model was teaching a…

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…

The Florida Senate has confirmed the appointments of seven Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) Governing Board members.

• Bryan K. Beswick represents DeSoto, Hardee and Highlands counties and his term ends March 1, 2020.
• John Henslick represents Manatee County and his term ends March 1, 2021.
• James G. Murphy represents Polk County and his term ends March 1, 2021.
• Joel Schleicher represents Charlotte and Sarasota…

The "Southwest Florida Water Management District ":http://www.watermatters.org and the City of Frostproof are offering Frostproof Utilities customers rebates of up to $100 for replacing their high-flow toilets.Replacing older high-flow toilets with water-efficient toilets could save an estimated 1,350 gallons per day or nearly half a million gallons per year. About 1,000 homes are eligible in the city's service areas for participation in the program.Customers must be current…

DeSoto County ranchers can learn how to use soil testing to more effectively fertilize pastures through a Community Education Grant from the "Southwest Florida Water Management District(Southwest Florida Water Management District)":http://watermatters.org.The *Range Cattle Research and Education Center* received a $5,000 grant to offer free soil and tissue testing and educational materials to regional beef and forage producers. Reductions in the amount of fertilizer applied…

Charlotte County ranchers can learn how to use soil testing to more effectively fertilize pastures through a Community Education Grant from the "Southwest Florida Water Management District(Southwest Florida Water Management District)":http://watermatters.org.The *Range Cattle Research and Education Center* received a $5,000 grant to offer free soil and tissue testing and educational materials to regional beef and forage producers. Reductions in the amount of fertilizer…

Governor Charlie Crist recently appointed Roland Dove and Janet Hoppe to the "Southwest Florida Water Management District's(Southwest Florida Water Management District)":/ "Pinellas-Anclote River Basin Board(Pinellas-Anclote River Basin Board)":/about/basinboards/pinellas-anclote.php.Dove is from New Port Richey in Pasco County. He is a civil engineer for Spring Engineering Inc., and has been appointed to succeed Mitch Hammer, for a term beginning Sept. 24, 2010, and ending…

Governor Charlie Crist recently reappointed Patricia Crisman and appointed Gordon 'Mac' Martin to the "Southwest Florida Water Management District's(Southwest Florida Water Management District)":/ "Peace River Basin Board(Peace River Basin Board)":/about/basinboards/peace.php.Crisman is from Bartow in Polk County. She is a retired insurance agent, and has been reappointed for a term beginning Sept. 7, 2010, and ending March 1, 2013.Martin is from Arcadia in DeSoto County. He…

A cooperative project between the Southwest Florida Water Management District and Hillsborough County will restore more than 160 acres within the county’s 2800-acre Fish Hawk Creek Preserve. Portions of the preserve are adjacent to District-owned lands and are within the Fish Hawk Creek watershed.This project will restore natural vegetation to upland habitat areas within the preserve. In addition to providing habitat for wildlife, the restoration of natural vegetation…

 Veronica Craw, District environmental section manager, accepts the award from Blake Guillory, Florida Stormwater Association (FSA) president, and Kurt Spitzer, FSA executive director. The Florida Stormwater Association (FSA) recognized District stormwater and restoration projects at the group’s annual conference in June. The Weeki Wachee Springs Stormwater, Sediment Removal, and Revegetation Projects are improving water quality in Weeki Wachee Springs…

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":http://www.watermatters…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s (District) Governing Board approved the purchase of Jordan Ranch, a 191-acre parcel of land adjacent to District-owned Two-Mile Prairie State Forest in Citrus County.This important property purchase is within 1,000 feet of the Withlacoochee River and will allow the District to provide enhanced…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s (District) Governing Board voted to decrease property taxes by adopting a proposed rolled-back millage rate of 0.2043 mill for the fiscal year 2024 budget.The millage rate is 9.6% lower than the current fiscal year adopted millage rate of 0.2260 mill, which will save taxpayers $13.9 million.For the owner of a…

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has awarded more than $7.5 million in grants for water-quality enhancement projects in Citrus County to protect the health of Kings Bay and Crystal River’s unique spring-fed systems comprised of more than 70 freshwater springs throughout a 600-acre bay.  “We are pleased to provide springs funding for projects that will help restore and protect these important waterways,” said DEP Secretary Jon Steverson. “This…

Two area home builders were recently recognized for their use of water-wise landscaping.Fidelity Homes and Pruett Builders both received the Water-Wise Landscape Recognition Award Friday at the annual Manatee and Sarasota County Home Builders Association Parade of Homes banquet. Fidelity Homes’ Cordoba model won the Manatee County award, while Pruett Builders’ Mar a Lago II model won the Sarasota County award.The Water-Wise Landscape Recognition program is a competition…