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The Southwest Florida Water Management District recently held its annual Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day. This event allows the children of District parents to understand the importance of the work being done at the District. The day is focused on providing an interactive experience for the nearly 80 children to maximize the learning experiences. Activities included demonstrations through the chemistry laboratory, equipment and operations as well as hands-on… Read more

​ Today’s professionals need to not only develop their technical skills but also soft skills like a strong work ethic and positive attitude if they want to build a solid career path. That’s according to Scott Letasi, the District’s Project Management Office chief. Letasi spoke about how to build a solid career foundation when the District hosted the American Water Resources Association’s (AWRA) Young Professionals Lunch and Learn Wednesday, June 26. The purpose… Read more

Environmental Concern An Oldsmar Boy Scout was recently honored by the Pinellas-Anclote River Basin Board for his work on a project at the Brooker Creek Preserve. Mark Brandon of Troop 64 of Oldsmar designed and created self-guided tour material for one of the nature trails in the preserve. Mark found out about the need for trail markers at Brooker Creek through his mom, Sue Brandon, who volunteers at the Preserve. Mark is a Life Scout, one step below an Eagle… Read more

Eugene Schiller, the District’s deputy executive director of the Division of Management Services, has been selected to serve a two-year term on the Department of the Interior’s National Geospatial Advisory Committee. Schiller was appointed by U.S. Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne to represent regional government. “I am honored to be selected to serve on this committee,” said Schiller. “The District has been recognized nationally for its… Read more

Justin Torre is a shining example of how hard work, loyalty and patience can pay dividends. He started with the District in 2000 as an administrative officer in the Information Resources Department. It was a convenient job while he studied for his bachelor’s degree in management information systems at the University of South Florida. After only a couple of months, however, Torre got his first break and began working in IT as a student intern.… Read more

Winning runners earn gator heads for running fast through the swamp. The race course wound through, not just near, the water. Right: Louis Rufo crosses the finish line for his team, Riot. Some people like to camp on District land, some like to ride horses, some like to hike and some like to fish. Then there are those people who like to run 50 miles through river and swamp in the dead of winter. More than 300 of those running-through-the-river types invaded the… Read more

Clockwise from above: Terese Power, staff engineer, uses a watershed model to show how pollution works its way into rivers and lakes. Jason LaRoche, professional geologist, shows kids that “geology rocks.” Chris Barnes, student intern, demonstrates water quality field testing. Shannon Maynard, chemist, helps a student mix up a chemistry demonstration. Nearly 120 children learned about District jobs April 22 at the District’s 14th annual celebration of Take Our… Read more

Public meetings scheduled this monthThe Southwest Florida Water Management District will begin monthly audible testing in October of three sirens installed near the Edward Medard Park reservoir in southeast Hillsborough County.The sirens were installed as an additional safety procedure for the unlikely event of an emergency that could result in the failure of the reservoir’s dam. The 700-acre reservoir is part of Edward Medard Park, a popular recreation area located… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District is joining forces with the Hillsborough River Watershed Alliance to celebrate the Hillsborough River and its watershed by declaring Nov. 15 through 22 as “Watershed Awareness Week.”The District’s Hillsborough River Basin Board is co-sponsoring Watershed Awareness Week in an effort to foster good watershed stewardship.The Hillsborough River Watershed Alliance is a public-private, non-profit organization that… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District is about to begin a three-year restoration project at J.B. Starkey Wilderness Preserve. The project will restore 951 acres of uplands, including degraded scrub and sand hill communities.Sand pine has taken over much of the area due to the lack of fire, which naturally maintains the quality of a habitat. In addition, decades of vegetative debris has built up, leaving the area at risk for uncontrollable wildfires.This… Read more

Who:Southwest Florida Water Management District staff, National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF)/Wheelin’ Sportsmen representatives, disabled hunters and volunteer guidesWhat:The District has partnered with the NWTF/Wheelin’ Sportsmen to organize this turkey hunt, which allows disabled men, women and young adults to experience the outdoors. Participants will only use shotguns during the hunt.When:Saturday, March 24, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.Where:The hunt will be held on the District’… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) recently completed an evaluation of public hunting facilities on District lands that indicated a 64 percent increase in hunting opportunities.The District owns a total of 331,700 acres with almost half dedicated to public hunting programs. Of the 331,700 acres, there are 133,795 acres committed to agreements with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, totaling 10 sites within six counties.Wildlife… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District recently celebrated the contribution of hundreds of volunteers to the improvement of District lands with a Volunteer Appreciation Day.Approximately 300 volunteers are involved with the District’s Land Resources Volunteer Program. These volunteers play an important role in maintaining the District’s many recreational trails and campgrounds.“District volunteers have put in hours and hours of time helping develop… Read more

Southwest Florida Water Management District land managers plan to hold a series of hog hunts on District land this fall and winter to help reduce the wild hog population. Beginning at 9 a.m. Monday, Oct. 8, prospective hunters can purchase permits for these hunts on the District's website at "HogHunts.WaterMatters.org":http://HogHunts.WaterMatters.org. Permits will be available on a first-come, first-served basis through 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 19, or until they are sold out.… Read more

Volunteer Contribution  Terry Yoder of the Citizen Support Organization, far right, receives an award from District Governing Board Chair Watson L. Haynes II, Governing Board member Janet D. Kovach, and Governing Board Vice Chair Heidi B. McCree. We always feed our volunteers well. If anyone wants to sign up, call me!” That’s one of the selling points Karen Michalak makes when she’s trying to recruit people to join the Pasco County Sheriff’s Mounted… Read more

Shinn Ditch Restoration Project Wins National Award The North American Lake Management Society presented its 2010 Technical Merit Award to the District for work on the Shinn Ditch restoration project in the District’s Flying Eagle Preserve in Citrus County. Shinn Ditch was originally intended to improve land for agricultural use by draining water from the property into the Withlacoochee River. The restoration project consisted of a series of blocks within the ditch,… Read more

Left, The intricate designs of two freshly planted intertidal lagoon systems mimic Mother Nature, incorporating various estuarine habitats. The design includes high-marsh and transitional zones in anticipation of rising sea levels, which will allow wetland platforms to migrate up the slopes over time. Top right, a tidal lagoon starts to take shape in place of an Australian pine forest that previously occupied the site. Bottom right, volunteers work to install 34,000… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) is hosting an online webinar to discuss the Cooperative Funding Initiative (CFI) for fiscal year 2026. During the webinar, District staff will review the application process, discuss policy and program changes, and answer specific project-related questions. The webinar is open to the public and anyone thinking of applying for cooperative funding is encouraged to attend. All attendees must register ahead of time using… Read more

A new way to learn about Sarasota County’s watersheds will be unveiled during this year’s Watershed Awareness Week, Oct. 12-18.The Science and Environment Council of Sarasota County (SEC) has developed a Watershed Mobile Phone Audio Tour that can easily be accessed from any cell phone by calling 941-926-6813. The tour features 15 different watershed education messages, which coincide with locations people can visit.The Southwest Florida Water Management District… Read more

Judith C. Judy Whitehead was unanimously elected Tuesday by her peers to serve as Governing Board chair of the Southwest Florida Water Management District.Other Governing Board officers selected today include C.A. “Neil” Combee, Jr., vice chair; Todd Pressman, secretary; and Jennifer E. Closshey, treasurer.Chair Judy WhiteheadWhitehead of Brooksville was first appointed to the Governing Board in March 2003, and was elected the Boards Secretary in May 2004. Whitehead served… Read more