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These hands-on activities will help your students learn about water resources.Water Cycle   Water Use and Conservation       Wetlands   Summer Activities Others        

WUP Introduction A quick introduction to the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Water Use Permitting (WUP) program and instructions on becoming an online registered user.   What is ePIC A quick introduction to the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s new Online Water Use Permit Information Center (ePIC).   Intro to ePIC An instructional video for utilizing the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s new Online… Read more

An efficient irrigation system is designed to deliver the appropriate amount of water to match the needs of turfgrass and plant beds. Irrigation ZonesAn in-ground irrigation system typically waters the landscape in sections instead of all at once. These different sections are referred to as “irrigation zones.” Properly designed irrigation zones are important for three key reasons:

1. Not all plants within the landscape need the same amount of water.
2. …

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Details The Lake Hancock Outfall Treatment Project involves constructing a 1,000-acre treatment wetland to improve water quality leaving the lake. The wetland treatment system will be built on part of the 3,500-acre parcel of land formerly known as Old Florida Plantation. Water will flow through large areas of wetland vegetation where nutrients… Read more

 KarstMuch of Florida’s landscape is composed of “karst” landforms. Karst terrain is a land surface produced when bedrock — mostly limestone in Florida — dissolves slowly over time as acidic rainwater passes through it. Karst terrain provides a direct connection between surface waters and groundwater and is characterized by springs, sinkholes and caverns.Springs Springs are a common feature of karst topography. They also serve as key tributaries of the… Read more

What is a spring? A spring is a natural opening in the ground where water flows directly from the aquifer to the earth’s surface. The source of this fresh water is from seasonal rainfall that soaks into the ground, which is referred to as groundwater. Springs form when groundwater is under pressure and flows up through an opening called a spring vent, supplying flow to a river or other water body. A spring can occur individually or as a group of many springs. The most… Read more

The District is evaluating the established strategy needed to recover minimum flows adopted for the Lower Hillsborough River. Minimum flows are established to help protect the system from significant harm caused by ground and surface water withdrawals. OverviewMinimum flows are limits established by the District’s Governing Board for surface watercourses that are intended to prevent significant harm to the water resources or ecology of an area that may… Read more

Assisting the agricultural community by improving the quality of ground water used for irrigation. Existing wells located in the District’s southern and coastal areas often exhibit water quality conditions that are more highly mineralized with increased well depths. The use of highly mineralized ground water for irrigation purposes can adversely affect both agricultural yields and the water quality of downstream receiving water bodies. Efforts to reduce mineralized… Read more

Sometimes pollution is easy to see. Garbage and oily chemicals make water look nasty, but pollution can also be invisible. So how do you know if a pond, lake or river is healthy? Scientists test the water to help them find out — and so can you. With a water testing kit and some help from an adult, you’ll be able to test TEMPERATURE, TURBIDITY… Read more

Check for LeaksLeaks inside your toilet can waste up to 200 gallons per day. Some leaks are silent, some produce a running water sound and others may be visible as a small trickle running from the rim to the water in the bowl.To detect silent leaks, remove toilet tank lid and any colored cleaning agents. Make sure there is only clear water in the bowl to start. Add dye tablets, leak detector fluid or a few drops of food coloring to the tank. If the tank is leaking, color… Read more

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

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

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) does not have fertilizer restrictions, but many counties and municipalities do. Check with your local government to learn if there are mandatory fertilizer restrictions or few the list below. A fertilizer blackout is a time when using fertilizers containing nitrogen and phosphorus are prohibited, usually during the rainy season. Heavy rain can wash fertilizers, especially granular ones, from lawns to streets,… 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

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-…

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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…

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As assistant executive director, Mandi Rice oversees the day-to-day operations of the District’s five divisions: Resource Management, Regulation, Business & IT Services, Employee, Outreach & General Services, 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… 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…

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 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