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The resolution earmarks $5 million a year for the next five years Traditional water sources are nearing their sustainable limits in Polk County and alternative water sources will need to be developed to meet the projected needs. That's why the Southwest Florida Water Management District (District)… Read more

Almost half of the counties within the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s 16-county region are now under a Phase III “Extreme” Water Shortage Alert.The District identifies four possible levels of water shortage, beginning with “moderate” and increasing in intensity through “severe,” “extreme” and “critical.”With river flows, aquifer levels, and lake levels remaining far below normal, the region… Read more

Gov. Charlie Crist recently appointed Douglas B. Tharp to the Governing Board of the Southwest Florida Water Management District.Tharp was appointed to a restructured seat representing Citrus, Lake, Levy and Sumter counties. The Governing Board was previously made up of 11 seats. Last year the State Legislature added two new seats for a total of 13. Tharp was appointed to the seat once held by Judy Whitehead. In April 2008, Whitehead was reassigned to represent Hernando and… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District is working with Manatee County Utilities to help their customers save money and conserve water by providing rebates to customers who replace their high-volume toilets.Residential, commercial and industrial customers within the Manatee County Utilities service area, which includes western unincorporated Manatee County and the cities of Anna Maria, Bradenton Beach and Holmes Beach, are eligible to participate in the rebate… Read more

Douglas B. Tharp took his oath of office Tuesday to serve on the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Governing Board.Tharp was appointed by Gov. Charlie Crist to a restructured seat representing Citrus, Lake, Levy and Sumter counties. The Governing Board was previously made up of 11 seats. Last year the State Legislature added two new seats for a total of 13. Tharp was appointed to the seat once held by Judy Whitehead. In April 2008, Whitehead was… Read more

Governor Rick Scott appointed John Henslick and Kelly Rice to the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Governing Board. Henslick represents Manatee County and Rice represents Citrus, Lake, Levy and Sumter counties. Henslick, 64, of Myakka City, is the owner of Henslick & Associates. Henslick received his bachelor’s degree from Jacksonville University and his master’s degree from the University of Florida. He fills a vacant seat and is appointed for a term… Read more

Governor Rick Scott appointed John Henslick and Kelly Rice to the "Southwest Florida Water Management District's Governing Board":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/about/governingboard/. Henslick represents Manatee County and Rice represents Citrus, Lake, Levy and Sumter Counties. Henslick, 64, of Myakka City, is the owner of Henslick & Associates. Henslick received his bachelor's degree from Jacksonville University and his master's degree from the University of Florida. He… 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 $104,941.81 in grants to 48 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's(Southwest Florida Water Management District)":/ "Governing Board(Governing Board)":/about/governingboard Tuesday renewed a water use permit for the Tampa Bypass Canal Harney Canal Pump Station.The renewed permit allows "Tampa Bay Water(Tampa Bay Water)":http://www.tampabaywater.org to withdraw an average of 20 million gallons per day from the "Tampa Bypass Canal(Tampa Bypass Canal)":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/recreation/… Read more

ORLANDO, Fla., Nov. 26, 2013 – The draft Central Florida Water Initiative (CFWI) Regional Water Supply Plan is available for public review and comment at CFWIwater.com. Comments can be provided online or by mail and email. Details are available on the web page. The comment period will close on Jan. 10, 2014.A public workshop will be held to discuss the draft plan. The workshop will include a presentation and an informal, open-house format. CFWI experts will be available to… Read more

Today the Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) announced the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) will provide $638,550 to a new, 880-foot deep monitoring well in the District’s Most Impacted Area (MIA) of the Southern Water Use Caution Area (SWUCA) in Hillsborough County. District scientists will use data collected from the new well to better assess aquifer system dynamics, enhance groundwater modeling and determine potential water… Read more

The Central Florida Water Initiative (CFWI) regional water supply plan team will present a free, interactive webinar about the development of a regional water supply plan for the central Florida area at 1:30 p.m. on Aug. 29.The webinar will include an overview of the CFWI, highlights of the regional water supply planning process, a question and answer session and information on how to become involved in the process. The webinar is sponsored by the Polk County Board of County… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board last week renewed Tampa Bay Water’s water use permit (WUP) for the South Central Hillsborough County Regional Wellfield.The service area includes approximately 122,000 acres in southern Hillsborough County located approximately seven miles south of Plant City and includes the Lithia and Keysville areas.The water use permit is for an annual average of 24,100,000 gallons of water per day (gpd.) There were… Read more

Expansion will protect natural resources from rapid growthThe Southwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board approved a rule amendment on Tuesday that will expand the Northern Tampa Bay Water Use Caution Area (NTBWUCA) into the portions of Pasco and northeastern Hillsborough counties not currently in the WUCA to address increasing water use due to rapid growth and development in the area.In 1989, the Governing Board declared portions of northern… Read more

From left to right: Shannon Staub, Sarasota County commissioner; Judy Whitehead, Governing Board chair; Heidi McCree, Governing Board member; Maritza Rovira-Forino, Governing Board member; Dora Thomas, Manasota Basin Board member; and David Moore, District executive director, listen to a presentation about surface water treatment by Kevin Morris, PR/MRWSA facilities division director (second from left). District representatives recently participated in a tour of… Read more

A Southwest Florida Water Management District project will help a DeSoto County citrus grower reduce groundwater pumping and improve water quality.This project at the Bright Hour Ranch involves deepening an existing stormwater pond to use as an irrigation reservoir and installing two surface water irrigation pumps, as well as the piping necessary to connect the reservoir to the existing irrigation system.The 743-acre citrus grove is located in the Myrtle Slough watershed of… Read more

Community members who want to help protect the water resources in their area may apply online for a Community Education Grant from the Southwest Florida Water Management District.The overall goal of the "Community Education Grant":http://www.WaterMatters.org/communitygrants/ program is to actively engage and educate adults about water conservation, protection and preservation. The program is intended to motivate communities to get involved in protecting their water resources… Read more

Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) Executive Director Brian Armstrong has received the Florida Association for Water Quality Control (FAWQC) 2022 Wade Hopping Leadership Award. Named for a true leader and pioneer in the development of Florida water policy, the award is presented annually to recognize an outstanding professional who oversees policies and/or personnel in the area of water resources and is dedicated to managing, improving, and protecting… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Governing Board recognized Tony Gilboy, the District’s well construction regulation manager, today for the award he received from the Florida Ground Water Association (FGWA) for his outstanding service to the association.The award was presented to Gilboy at the recent FGWA Convention and Trade Show in Orlando.Gilboy was honored for his outstanding contributions to the well industry. His contributions include the… Read more