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District staff celebrated many accomplishments in 2012 and continued to serve the community by carrying out the core mission. After decades of collaboration and work with other cities, agencies and community partners, several restoration projects were completed in 2012. Projects like those at Cockroach Bay and Clam Bayou improved water quality and restored sensitive habitats. Mother Nature packed a wallop in 2012, bringing the threat of two tropical storms. Staff… Read more

According to the National Weather Service, parts of the Tampa Bay area are expected to see freezing temperatures during Wednesday morning.This has prompted the Southwest Florida Water Management District to advise residents who live near Plant City and Dover who have well pumps without automatic cutoff switches to turn off the pumps tonight.During a freeze or near-freezing temperatures, water is pumped to protect crops and fish farms, causing aquifer levels to temporarily… Read more

Left to right: Pinky Mathew retrieves samples from storage. Jackie Robbins prepares samples for testing for alkalinity concentrations. Matt Jablonski loads the auto sampler for the Inductively Coupled Plasma Spectrophotometer. Ron Lubosco configures the auto analyzer that tests for nitrogen concentrations. The District’s chemistry laboratory recently ranked No. 1 overall in a study that tested the quality of several laboratories in the southeast region of the… Read more

The District’s Governing Board recently approved the first parcel of land for surplus and the assessment process received glowing reviews. Board members approved the surplus of a 6-acre portion of the Frog Creek tract in Manatee County. Staff determined the northwest corner of the tract has no significant conservation value. The District will retain the remaining portion of the 127 acres located near Interstate 275 and US 41. The property includes several areas… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) in cooperation with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will be treating hydrilla on Lake Panasoffkee June 5, weather permitting. This treatment is being performed to maintain boating access within an area of the lake that is important for navigation. The aquatic herbicide Aquathol K will be… Read more

More and more community associations are asking the District and the county Extension agents with the Florida Yards & Neighborhoods program for help with their landscape and irrigation concerns. Some of the common problems Extension agents see include excessive watering and fertilizing as well as overpruning and improperly maintained irrigation systems. By taking a proactive approach to learn about efficient irrigating techniques and Florida-friendly landscaping,… Read more

New Leadership If there’s one certainty, it is this: Thomas G. Dabney is prepared. Soon after being named to the Governing Board in April 2000, Dabney granted a wide-ranging interview to The Sarasota Herald-Tribune. The interview covered such complex topics as saltwater intrusion and the hydrogeology of west-central Florida. He was prepared. Dabney was prepared one year after joining the Board when he was named vice chair, devouring mountains of material that… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) has reopened the Brogden Bridge airboat slide at Turner Camp Road in Citrus County after completing required maintenance associated with the wooden deck. The slide is located between the Hernando and Inverness pools of the Tsala Apopka Chain of Lakes. 

WaterMatters has gone digital! Each week, you'll find a range of stories about the District such as key issues, restoration projects, behind-the-scenes interviews and coverage of public events. We'll also feature helpful tips like how to conserve water, understand the latest water restrictions or navigate services offered through the District. The new format also will allow you to follow blog updates through our social media channels of Facebook and Twitter, where you… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District is inviting the media to tour the District’s restoration efforts at Weeki Wachee Springs on Monday, November 3 from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.The project will improve water quality in the head spring and the upper river, as well as enhance the overall natural system. Project components include the removal of sediments, Lyngbya algae and other exotic vegetation as well as the revegetation of native plant species. The project area… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) has reopened the Hillsborough River to boat traffic, east of the I-75 overpass. The river was closed on Monday, due to rising waters associated with Hurricane Hermine. The District anticipated activating the Tampa Bypass Canal system Monday night in response to heavy rains in the Tampa Bay area from Hurricane Hermine, however, the Hillsborough River has not reached an elevation of 25 feet above sea level, which… Read more

Approximately 200 people will have the opportunity to learn about karst features such as sinkholes, caves and springs, and their relationship to ground water through a Community Education Grant from the Southwest Florida Water Management District.Hernando County Utilities was awarded the $4,900 grant for a one-day workshop that will teach Hernando County citizens, developers and leaders about the best management practices for living near karst features. Participants can… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board Tuesday approved the purchase of a parcel of environmentally sensitive land in the Weekiwachee Preserve.The 315-acre parcel of land is located on the northwest corner of New York Avenue and Old Dixie Hwy. in the northern coastal area of Pasco County. The parcel is being purchased for $625,138.Funding for these purchases comes from the Florida Forever Trust Fund.Purchasing these parcels of land is consistent with… Read more

Governor Charlie Crist recently reappointed one member and appointed one new member to the Governing Board of the Southwest Florida Water Management District.*Judith C. “Judy” Whitehead of Brooksville was reappointed. She was first appointed to the Governing Board in March 2003. Whitehead is the current Governing Board vice chair and chair ex officio of the District’s Coastal Rivers Basin Board. Her term begins April 5, 2007 and ends March 1, 2011. She… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District paid tribute to former Governing Board member Edward W. Chance today by renaming the Gilley Creek and Coker Prairie tracts the Edward W. Chance Preserve.Chance, who passed away in June, served on the District’s Governing Board and as the co-chair ex-officio of the Manasota Basin Board from 2000 to 2006.“Throughout his life, Ed worked to make the world a better place,” said Jerry Rice, Governing Board chair. “During his time… Read more

The Crystal Springs Foundation will receive a $1,800 grant from the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s 2006 Community Education Grant Program.Crystal Springs Foundation, Inc. was awarded the funds for “Welcome to Our Watershed” workshops. This project expands upon the cooperator’s previous efforts and will target approximately 20,000 seasonal adult residents of Crystal Springs and Zephyrhills in Pasco County. The workshops will encourage residents to take an… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District is seeking public input about proposed minimum flows for the upper segment of the Myakka River. The Upper Myakka River is the portion of the river from Myakka city to S.R. 72.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… Read more

The "Southwest Florida Water Management District(Southwest Florida Water Management District)":/ will be conducting "controlled, prescribed burns" during August on the District's "Annutteliga Hammock (Annutteliga Hammock)":/recreation/areas/annuteligahammock.html property in Hernando County.The Annutteliga Hammock property is located in the Royal Highlands area of northwest Hernando County, just south of Citrus County's Sugarmill Woods development. Approximately 560 acres of… Read more

The "Southwest Florida Water Management District(Southwest Florida Water Management District)":/ will be conducting "controlled, prescribed burns" during July, August and September on the District's "Jack Creek property(Jack Creek)":/recreation/areas/jackcreek.html in Highlands County.The Jack Creek property is located six miles northwest of Lake Placid, west of US Highway 27. Approximately 300 acres of land will be burned in small, manageable units. The scheduled, managed… Read more

The "Southwest Florida Water Management District(Southwest Florida Water Management District)":/ will be conducting "controlled, prescribed burns" during July, August, and September on the District's "Deep Creek Preserve(Deep Creek Preserve)":/recreation/areas/deepcreek.html in DeSoto County.The Deep Creek Preserve is located northeast of Port Charlotte, west of King's Highway and north of Deep Creek Estates. Approximately 400 acres of land will be burned in small,… Read more