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Starkey Ranch in Pasco County is home to the state’s first community welcome center to be certified Florida Water Star℠. The welcome center is a visitor’s first stop to get information on the new 2,400-acre master-planned community. Being certified Florida Water Star℠ means it features a water-efficient landscape, irrigation, appliances and plumbing fixtures.  For example, the welcome center has low-flow toilets, high-efficiency faucets and an ENERGY STAR…

Who: Southwest Florida Water Management District Governing and Basin Board members and staff; City of Dunedin and Pinellas County elected officials and staff; Carl Krave, Pocket Neighborhoods, Inc. president; Tampa Bay Builders Association and the Greater Tampa Bay Association of RealtorsWhat: The District is launching its Florida Water StarSM Gold (FWSG) certification program for builders and developers. The program encourages water efficiency in household appliances,…

On Tuesday, the Southwest Florida Water Management District's (District) Governing Board adopted a $224.8 million budget for fiscal year (FY) 2024, including approximately $92.4 million for Cooperative Funding Initiatives and District grants for water resources projects. The budget reflects the District’s commitment to protect Florida’s water resources and to improve Florida’s economic vitality. Some of the key initiatives in the District’s FY2024 budget include: …

The Southwest Florida Water Management District and the Town of Redington Shores recently signed an amendment to an existing agreement to move forward on phases two through four of a project that will improve water quality and reduce flooding.Phases two and three include upgrading the stormwater system by adding inlets and storm piping, a Continuous Deflective Separation (CDS) unit, which will treat stormwater runoff, and the associated roadway reconstruction. A CDS unit…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District recognized Stephanie Dunda, a Phoenix Academy teacher, for her outstanding water resources education program. A total of 26 projects were recognized Wednesday during the “Partners in Watershed Education Conference” at the Crowne Plaza Tampa East Hotel.Dunda’s eighth-grade class studied Florida-friendly gardens and created a hydroponics system for the school after conducting research at Selby Botanical Gardens…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District amended its agreements with the cities of Sebring and Avon Park to include annexed land into each city’s comprehensive watershed management plan.The plans will be used to determine feasible drainage alternatives that may be constructed to enhance and restore water quality and natural systems, or for flood protection. The plan will also assist local governments with their land management responsibilities and further the local…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District District) is seeking public input about the order in which minimum flows and levels (MFLs) for lakes, wetlands, rivers, streams and aquifers in the District will be determined. Legislation requires the District to review and, if necessary, revise this schedule each year. Following the directive in the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s Emergency Order to conduct all public meetings electronically to reduce the…

table(webalert). |*Who:*|Southwest Florida Water Management District and Greencastle of Bayonet Point.||*What:*|Greencastle of Bayonet Point, a Port Richey apartment complex, recently became the first in Pasco County to be certified under the "Florida Water Star℠":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/conservation/florida_water_star/ Community standard.The tour will feature the changes that helped cut the community's monthly water bill in half, which saved them nearly $1,000 a month…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District is working with Pinellas County on two projects that will treat stormwater within the Lake Tarpon watershed, which will improve water quality discharging to the lake.The Lake Tarpon watershed consists of 52.4 square miles, extending from northern Pinellas County into northwest Hillsborough County. The watershed consists of three major drainage basins, including the Brooker Creek, South Creek and Lake Tarpon basins.Both…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District honored two projects that focus on water resources education in DeSoto and Hardee counties. A total of 26 projects were recognized Wednesday during the “Partners in Watershed Education Conference” at the Crowne Plaza Tampa East Hotel.

• Maran Hilgendorf serves as the Charlotte Harbor Environmental Center communications manager. She has also coordinated Florida-friendly landscaping workshops for DeSoto and…

Two Polk County projects, cooperatively funded by the Southwest Florida Water Management District, to improve water quality by treating stormwater runoff within the Ridge Lakes watershed will be complete in July.The first project consists of a stormwater treatment system for Lake Menzie. The project includes retrofitting two stormwater pipes that directly discharge into Lake Menzie. These retrofits include two swales, a retention basin, and a long infiltration basin. These…

A project cooperatively funded by the Southwest Florida Water Management District and Citrus County will improve water quality entering Lake Tsala Apopka.The project includes the design, permitting and construction of stormwater treatment areas at five county-maintained boat ramps and the associated parking areas.A study of the lake was conducted to choose and prioritize the treatment sites. Further, a hydrologic and hydraulic model of each site will be developed as part of…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District is announcing the recipients of the 2005 Community Education Grant Program. The grants, which are up to $5,000 each, will help fund projects that provide communities the opportunity to learn about water resources.This year the District awarded 29 grants Districtwide for a total of $107,667.The overall goal of the Community Education Grant Program is to actively engage adults in water-related issues pertaining to conservation,…

Polk County is taking a lead in water conservation as nearly a dozen cities pass laws requiring new homes to be built more water efficient.  As the Polk Regional Water Cooperative (PRWC) works to develop alternative water supplies to meet the region’s projected water supply deficit, many of the PRWC’s 16 municipalities have adopted the ordinances. The City of Eagle Lake became the 10th Polk County city to pass an ordinance since 2018 requiring newly constructed…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) awarded $108,937 in grants to 51 educators within the District as part of the Splash! school grant program. The program provides up to $3,000 per school to enhance student knowledge of freshwater resources in grades K-12.Splash! grants encourage hands-on student learning through STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) activities as well as engagement of the greater school community through awareness…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) awarded $108,937 in grants to 51 educators within the District as part of the Splash! school grant program. The program provides up to $3,000 per school to enhance student knowledge of freshwater resources in grades K-12.Splash! grants encourage hands-on student learning through STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) activities as well as engagement of the greater school community through awareness…

Paddling down the calm flows of the Chassahowitzka River, you might come across a barge humming with machinery. All seems calm on the surface to the casual boater floating nearby. But in the depths below the water line, divers are hard at work restoring a portion of the treasured waterway in Citrus County. Workers are removing sediments that have accumulated in the springs. It’s part of the District’s Chassahowitzka Springs Restoration Project.  Sand and…

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) awarded $108,937 in grants to 51 educators within the District as part of the Splash! school grant program. The program provides up to $3,000 per school to enhance student knowledge of freshwater resources in grades K-12.Splash! grants encourage hands-on student learning through STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) activities as well as engagement of the greater school community through awareness…

Environmentally conscience residents can learn about water conservation, Florida-friendly landscaping and composting at a Haines City Earth Day Celebration.The event, which is Saturday, April 11 from 10am-6pm, is being held at The Health Chic House, 12 N. 5th St. in Haines City.Workshops include Florida-friendly landscaping, composting, rain barrels, micro-irrigation, aquaponics, and other water saving tips.Additional workshops are available as well as several activities,…

On Tuesday, the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s (District) Governing Board adopted a $211.7 million budget for fiscal year (FY) 2023, including approximately $90.6 million for the Cooperative Funding Initiative and District grants for water resources projects. The budget reflects the District’s commitment to protect Florida’s water resources and to…