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As director of the Resource Management Division, Jennette Seachrist oversees the bureaus that plan, develop and implement District water resource management initiatives concerning water supply, flood protection, natural systems and water quality. The initiatives include water supply planning and development of alternative water supplies, such as conservation… Read more
Addressing Drainage Complaints and IssuesAre you experiencing flooding or drainage not caused by a storm event? Confused about which government agency to reach out to for help? Use this reference guide to find out who to contact. Contact the Southwest Florida Water Management District for drainage complaints or issues related to:
- Stormwater management systems (i.e. retention ponds, swales, etc.) in District-…
Educational tools for teachers and studentsSplash! School Grants: Provides up to $3,000 per school to enhance freshwater resources education. Water Education Videos: Short videos with coordinating teacher’s guides. Topics include: the water cycle, wetlands, watersheds,… Read more
Water Use Permit Bureau Chief
As bureau chief of the Water Use Permit Program, Darrin Herbst is responsible for overseeing water use permit evaluation, water use permit compliance, well construction permitting, and demand management.
Herbst began his career at the District in 2001 as a professional geologist. He has served as manager of Water Use Regulation and senior professional geologist in the Tampa Regulation Service Office.
Herbst is a licensed professional… Read more
Land and water are forever linked by Florida’s natural water cycles. Lands surrounding lakes, rivers, wetlands and estuaries serve as natural buffers to filter out pollution before it reaches the nearest water body. Undeveloped land can also allow for water recharge to the aquifer in some areas and water storage during major storm events.
The Southwest Florida Water Management District and other agencies and governments purchase conservation lands to… Read more
Controller SettingsSet your irrigation controller to water wisely. Be sure to check your local water restrictions for irrigation start times and watering days.
- Irrigation Start Time: Only one start time is needed to initiate watering all irrigation zones. Check your local…
Plants are very important to watersheds. Why? They make water behave differently than it does when the land is bare.
- Plants keep water from washing the soil away. Their roots hold dirt together, and their leaves and branches stop heavy rain from hitting the soil directly.
- Land with a lot of plants growing on it will hold water longer and release it slowly. That helps prevent destructive floods.
- Plants also…
As assistant executive director, Mandi Rice oversees the day-to-day operations of the District’s five divisions: Resource Management, Regulation, Management Services, Employee & External Relations, and Operations, Lands & Resource Monitoring.Before joining the District, Rice worked at Tampa Bay Water, Florida’s largest wholesale water supplier, for 18 years in various positions including project manager, senior manager of construction and, most recently, operations… Read more
Peace River Challenges and RestorationNatural factors, such as the geology of the region and rainfall, contribute to the amount of water recharging the Upper Floridan aquifer and surface water bodies in the area as do human influences, such as groundwater use. There have also been substantial changes to the Peace River watershed over the past 150-200 years, including the clearing, draining and re-contouring of lands for phosphate mining, agriculture… Read more
Fertilize Smart, Protect Our Waterways. #FertilizeSmartUnlock expert tips on fertilizing your lawn the right way—at the right time, with the right fertilizer—to keep your grass green and our water clean!Download Your Free Guide!Sign up for the Water 101 for Homeowners newsletter and get access to your free fertilizing guide instantly. Get Your Free Guide
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The Springs Coast Watershed features one of the largest and most spectacular expanses of salt and brackish marshes found in Florida. Four of the five springs groups in the watershed discharge directly into the Gulf of America in a region that is the second largest seagrass area in the continental United States. With an estimated 700,000 acres — the size of more than 530,000 football fields — the Springs Coast seagrass area is one of the largest seagrass areas in the world.As… Read more
Your Questions AnsweredNovember 2021Florida has the largest concentration of springs in the world, with more than 200 springs within the boundaries of the Southwest Florida Water Management District. These natural wonders rely on rainfall to replenish their water source, and Dr. Madison Trowbridge explains how the rainy season provides big benefits for Florida’s springs.Q: What is spring flow?A: Spring flow is the amount of water that… Read more
Regular irrigation maintenance is important to reduce water waste and help create a healthy environment for your landscape. Look for Broken or Misdirected Sprinkler Heads Sprinkler heads can accidently be knocked during lawn maintenance or from a passerby. Look for these signs of a broken or misdirected sprinkler head.
- Water is shooting into the air or not spraying correctly.
- Water is pooling around the base of a sprinkler head.
- …
Seek the Leak
Did you know that even a small leak can waste 300 or more gallons of water per month? Check for the following leaks outdoors:
Water Faucets, Hoses and Connectors
Check all faucets, hoses and connectors periodically for leaks and to make sure they are in good working order. Make sure faucets are closed when not in use. If you do find a leaky faucet, change the washer — after turning off the shutoff valve.
Automatic Lawn and Sprinkling Systems
Soft… Read more
When it rains it pours in Florida, and when it pours, the water that runs off your yard might be polluted. How? Oil on your driveway, too much fertilizer on your lawn, even doggie do — they all can pollute rainwater. If those types of pollution are allowed to run off, they can end up causing problems in your watershed. They might also end up sinking down and polluting the ground water.
Make Every Raindrop Count!
A well-designed, Florida-friendly yard will soak up the… Read more
The District uses a variety of tools to protect our springs but it takes a community effort by all of us. There is no single solution to protecting Florida springs. The District uses a variety of tools to help protect them. But it takes the work of all of us to protect these resources. There are various ways you can help when visiting a spring and even at home. How to responsibly enjoy a spring:
- Stay in the vessel when possible.
- If you have to…
Our journey along the Withlacoochee River begins in the cypress domes and forested wetlands of the Green Swamp. Four rivers emerge from this large oasis between Tampa and Orlando. It is an area of ecological and hydrologic importance because of its ability to store surface water and slow floodwaters while sustaining flow to multiple rivers and streams. The Green Swamp also supplies water to the aquifer, which isn’t too far below the land’s surface in… Read more
What Is Stormwater Runoff?
In Florida, stormwater runoff occurs after a rainfall. Stormwater flows over impervious (unable to penetrate) surfaces like driveways, sidewalks, streets, parking lots and roofs and is unable to percolate (filter or seep) into the ground. This unfiltered water reaches our neighborhood streams, ponds, lakes, bays, wetlands and oceans and can eventually make its way into our groundwater (water beneath the earth's surface).
Why Is Stormwater… Read more
As chief of the Natural Systems and Restoration Bureau, Randy Smith oversees several District water quality and natural systems initiatives and programs within the Resource Management Division. His key responsibilities include providing leadership to the Environmental Flows and Levels Section, the Surface Water Improvement and Management (SWIM) Program, and the Resource Management Division Business Support Section.Smith has worked at the District for more than 19 years. He… Read more