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The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) has temporarily closed the Brogden Bridge airboat slide at Turner Camp Road in Citrus County due to required maintenance associated with the wooden deck. The slide is located between the Hernando and Inverness pools of the Tsala Apopka Chain of Lakes and is expected to be reopened by Nov. 17.Attempts to use the slide in its current condition could damage airboats.The District operates two additional airboat slides in… Read more

AGENDA ITEMS

• Hydrologic Conditions Summary
• Info on Irrigation Contractor License
• Sarasota County Coastal Groundwater Quality Discussion
• Discussion with Industry Experts on Bentonite Products used on Water Wells where Changes in Groundwater Quality Can Occur
• Using FDEP’s Map Direct GIS Program for Siting Water Wells
• Changes to SWFWMD’s WCP Webpage
• Open Topic – Observations Noted / Lessons Learned on Water Wells post…

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The Southwest Florida Water Management District will be conducting “controlled, prescribed burns” during the months of June, July and August for two District sites in Sarasota County — the Schewe Ranch and the Deer Prairie Creek properties.Both tracts are located to the north and south of I-75 between mile markers 186 and 190, with U.S. Hwy. 41 as its far southern boundary. The property is also located between the Myakka River and the cities of North Port… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District will be conducting “controlled, prescribed burns” during the rest of January through March for two District sites in Sarasota County — the Schewe Ranch and the Deer Prairie Creek properties.Both tracts are located to the north and south of I-75 between mile markers 186 and 190, with U.S. Hwy. 41 as its far southern boundary. The property is also located between the Myakka River and the cities of North Port… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District will be conducting “controlled, prescribed burns” during the remaining days in November and December for two District sites in Sarasota County — the Schewe Ranch and the Deer Prairie Creek properties.Both tracts are located to the north and south of I-75 between mile markers 186 and 190, with U.S. Hwy. 41 as its far southern boundary. The property is also located between the Myakka River and the cities of… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District will be conducting “controlled, prescribed burns” during the remaining days of September and October for two District sites in Sarasota County — the Schewe Ranch and the Deer Prairie Creek properties.Both tracts are located to the north and south of I-75 between mile markers 186 and 190, with U.S. Hwy. 41 as its far southern boundary. The property is also located between the Myakka River and the cities of… Read more

​ The District’s Governing Board voted Tuesday for the latest slate of officers for the 2023-2024 term. Governing Board members are unpaid, citizen volunteers who are appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Florida Senate. The Governing Board sets policy for the District, whose mission is to protect water resources, minimize flood risks and ensure the public’s water needs are met. The new officers are:  … Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Governing Board will hold its monthly meeting Tuesday, Jan. 23 at 9 a.m. at the Tampa Service Office, located at 7601 U.S. Highway 301 North. To view the Governing Board meeting online, click on the live video stream link. The video stream link becomes active and the live… Read more

A “Weekend in My Watershed” workshop may give participants a new perspective of their watershed.The workshop, which is sponsored by the Florida Lake Management Society, the Southwest Florida Water Management District and Pinellas County, will be held June 24 and 25 at the Brooker Creek Preserve.Participants will explore the preserve and attend formal training and demonstrations at the Brooker Creek Preserve Environmental Education Center. Workshop topics include… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District and Hillsborough County will celebrate the completion of the Fred & Idah Schultz Preserve with a dedication ceremony Wednesday, Nov 10th at 3 p.m.The preserve, which is located in southeastern Hillsborough County, is part of a 204-acre ecosystem restoration project known as the “Kitchen.” This area includes Port Redwing, Dug Creek and the Davis Tract. Restoration of the 60-acre Davis Tract was completed in 2002… Read more

The Coleman's Landing boat ramp on the east side of Lake Panasoffkee will reopen to the public on Saturday, July 15. The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) in cooperation with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has completed an aquatic plant removal project which required the temporary closure of the boat ramp.Aquatic plants were harvested to create boat access trails across the lake through areas of dense vegetation. For more… Read more

District Governing Board members and staff; Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council members; and Florida Department of Environmental Protection officers display the Future of the Region Award. The Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council and the Florida Public Relations Association recently recognized several District programs. In March the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council presented the 18th Annual Future of the Region Awards. These awards highlight projects and… Read more

A media alert issued this morning by Hillsborough County Fire Rescue regarding smoke in northern Hillsborough County contained incorrect information. The Southwest Florida Water Management District has not conducted any controlled burns in two months due to the current drought conditions.A 118-acre wildfire started on Saturday in the District’s Conner Preserve near Ehren Cutoff in Pasco County. The fire is contained and under the authority of the Florida Division of… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District's Governing Board will hold its monthly meeting on Tuesday, February 28 at 10 a.m. at the District's Sarasota Service Office, located at 6750 Fruitville Road. To view the Governing Board meeting online, visit Watermatters.org and click on the "Live Video Stream" link. The video stream link becomes active and the live video feed begins approximately 15 minutes before the scheduled meeting time.The meeting agenda and meeting… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District's Governing Board will hold its monthly meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 24, at 9 a.m. at the Tampa Service Office, located at 7601 U.S. Highway 301 North. To view the Governing Board meeting online, visit Watermatters.org and click on the "Live Video Stream" link. The video stream link becomes active and the live video feed begins approximately 15 minutes before the scheduled meeting time.The meeting agenda and meeting materials are… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District's Governing Board will hold its monthly meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 13, at 9 a.m. at the Tampa Service Office, located at 7601 U.S. Highway 301 North. To view the Governing Board meeting online, visit Watermatters.org and click on the "Live Video Stream" link. The video stream link becomes active and the live video feed begins approximately 15 minutes before the scheduled meeting time.The meeting agenda and meeting materials are… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District's Governing Board will hold its monthly meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 15, at 9 a.m. at the Tampa Service Office, located at 7601 U.S. Highway 301 North. To view the Governing Board meeting online, visit Watermatters.org and click on the "Live Video Stream" link. The video stream link becomes active and the live video feed begins approximately 15 minutes before the scheduled meeting time.The meeting agenda and meeting materials are… Read more

Setting prescribed fires in controlled settings can reduce the risk of wildfires burning out of control. That’s why the Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) will be conducting prescribed burns now through March on Starkey Wilderness Preserve, Conner Preserve and Cypress Creek Preserve.Starkey Wilderness Preserve is located east of New Port Richey, west of the Suncoast Parkway, north of State Road 54 and south of State Road 52. Approximately 500 acres will… Read more

Restoration project areas. Recently, District Governing and Basin Board members and staff got an up-close look at restoration projects and toured major components that are part of the Lower Hillsborough River Recovery Strategy. Terra Ceia and Cockroach Bay One tour viewed restoration projects from infancy to maturity at the Terra Ceia and Cockroach Bay preserves. This tour was designed to give Board members and staff a better… Read more

Alejandra Marin, right, an INROADS intern, presents the Supervisor of the Year Award to Jan Burke, District surface water regulation manager. District staff and interns were recently honored by the Tampa Bay INROADS organization at its annual awards banquet in Tampa. Jan Burke, District surface water regulation manager, was chosen as Supervisor of the Year among 14 nominees. He was nominated by Eric Ho, a civil engineering major and graduating senior who… Read more