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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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

  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…

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…

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”…

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…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board Tuesday approved a new District policy to further incorporate a commitment to superior environmental stewardship and efficiency into the District’s day-to-day operations in support of the state’s Climate Change Initiative.Last July, Governor Crist signed several executive orders establishing Florida’s energy policy. These executive orders call for all state agencies to implement plans to reduce…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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 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…