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Four Marion County teachers are among the record number of educators who applied for and received Splash! mini-grants through the Southwest Florida Water Management District.This year the District awarded Splash! mini-grants to 209 educators totaling more than $413,000. That’s 72 more grant recipients than last year.Mary Margaret Hull, lead communications coordinator, attributes the increase in awardees to an increase in promotion among the District’s school… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District is working with the City of Anna Maria on a project that will reduce flooding and improve water quality.The Gladiolus/North Shore Basin Drainage Improvements project involves installing approximately 3,200-linear feet of 1-foot deep dry retention swales, approximately 700-linear feet of high density polyethylene and reinforced concrete pipe, six inlet control structures and a baffle structure at each of the four basin outfall… Read more

 Photo left: David Moore, District executive director, discusses regulatory incentives at the Tampa Bay Water workshop.Photo right: Todd Pressman, Governing Board chair, and Ron Oakley, vice chair, talk with Bart Weiss, Hillsborough County Water Resource Team administrator, before the Tampa Bay Water workshop. The Peace River Manasota Regional Water Supply Authority (PRMRWSA) and Tampa Bay Water (TBW) recently met with local governments within their regions… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District honored two Marion and Levy county projects during the “Partners in Watershed Education Conference” at the Crowne Plaza Tampa East Hotel. A total of 26 projects were recognized Wednesday.

• Gail Mowry with the Marion County Clean Water Program was recognized for her work with the Clean Farms Initiative. This initiative addresses the issue of water quality that comes with the management of manure from…

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The Southwest Florida Water Management District has reached an agreement with Leigh and Lynn Hampton and LSL Hampton Family Ltd. Partnership, LLP to purchase their property, including settlement costs, for $39,239,000 as part of the Lake Hancock Lake Level Modification Project.The Hampton�s property, which includes 1,177 acres, is located southwest of the intersection of Thornhill Road and Winter Lake Road and borders the northeastern shore of Lake Hancock. Once this… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) awarded $107,969 in grants to 58 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… Read more

A cooperatively funded project between the Southwest Florida Water Management District and the Manatee County Audubon Society will restore almost 10 acres of freshwater wetlands and uplands habitat, which will improve water quality, act as a buffer against erosion and provide exceptional habitat for wading birds.The FELTS Preserve, located in northern Manatee County, consists of approximately 29 acres. The preserve drains into Terra Ceia Bay, and ultimately Tampa Bay,… Read more

Eileen Hart recently received special recognition from the Southwest Florida Water Management’s Northwest Hillsborough Basin Board for her commitment to water resources.Hart received a special recognition award for her role as a citizen advocate for the protection of water resources. Hart has regularly attended the Governing Board meetings to speak out about the issues impacting the wellfields, lakes and wetlands in her neighborhood.Her advocacy played a role in the… Read more

State Sen. Michael Bennett and Rep. Nancy Detert recently presented a $1 million check to the Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) in support of the Facilitating Agricultural Resource Management Systems (FARMS) program.The FARMS program is a cost-share reimbursement program that conserves water and protects water quality.Through accurate and efficient irrigation utilizing the latest technology, farmers are able to save water and fuel, said David Brown,… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) awarded $107,969 in grants to 58 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… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) awarded $107,969 in grants to 58 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… Read more

Five counties within the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s region are now under a Modified Phase III water shortage order due to below-normal rainfall this winter. The District’s Governing Board voted last month to declare the Phase III order for northern counties in the District’s region, which are: Citrus, Hernando, Lake, Levy, and Sumter as well as the City of Dunnellon and The Villages in Marion County. A Modified Phase I alert remains in effect for the… Read more

Seven Hernando County teachers are among the educators who were awarded Splash! school grants through the "Southwest Florida Water Management District(Southwest Florida Water Management District)":/.This year 206 "Splash! grants(Splash! School Grants)":/education/schoolgrants were awarded to educators across "the District's 16-county region":/data/map.Mary Margaret Hull, lead communications coordinator, attributes the effectiveness of the grant program in Hernando County to… Read more

Shephard’s Beach Resort has signed up to become the 400th establishment to participate in the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s award-winning Water Conservation Hotel And Motel Program (Water CHAMP).As a Water CHAMP property, the popular Clearwater Beach resort agrees to participate in the District’s linen and towel reuse program. By implementing the program, the hotel or motel management agrees to launder linens every third day of a guest… Read more

_The Extended Order Allows Extra Lawn Watering Day, If Needed_The "Southwest Florida Water Management District's Governing Board ":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/about/governingboard/voted today to extend the Phase II Water Shortage in the Tampa Bay; however, the extended order will allow up to two watering days per week. In December 2013, the Governing Board enacted Phase II restrictions for lawn watering throughout Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties, which allowed… Read more

The "Southwest Florida Water Management District":http://www.watermatters.org is working to move water out of Lake Tarpon; however, the sustained winds and high tides caused by Tropical Storm Debby are pushing water in from Old Tampa Bay, hampering efforts.The Lake Tarpon Outfall Canal is one of 81 water "control structures":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/newsroom/fact_sheets/details/8/ throughout the District's 16-county area. The three-mile canal extends from the south end… Read more

A project funded by the Southwest Florida Water Management District and the City of New Port Richey will expand the availability of reclaimed water to nearly 500 residents.The project includes the construction of approximately 26,800 feet of reclaimed water distribution lines in the neighborhoods north of Main Street and east of U.S. Highway 19.This project will provide approximately 217,200 gallons per day (gpd) of reclaimed water for irrigation to approximately 483 homes… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District has released as much water out of Lake Tarpon as possible in anticipation of heavy rainfall and storm surge from Hurricane Ian. The Lake Tarpon Outfall Canal is one of 84 water-control structures throughout the District’s 16-county area. The three-mile canal extends from the south end of Lake Tarpon and empties into Old Tampa Bay. The structure is designed to prevent salt water from entering Lake Tarpon during high tides… Read more

A New Port Richey apartment complex is the first in Pasco County to be certified under the Florida Water StarSM Community standard. Greencastle of Bayonet Point recently received its Florida Water StarSM certification. Florida Water StarSM is a voluntary certification program for builders, developers and homeowners. It encourages water efficiency in appliances, plumbing fixtures, irrigation systems and landscapes. The 80-unit apartment community, for… Read more

Funding will help restore water quality and natural systems, and create sustainable water supplies in the Southern Water Use Caution AreaGovernor Charlie Crist and Lieutenant Governor Jeff Kottkamp released their 2008-09 budget recommendations today, which included $25 million for the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s West-Central Florida Water Resource Action Plan (WRAP.)The WRAP is a long-term water resource protection, restoration and water… Read more