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Explore the deepest wildlands of a Florida blackwater cypress swamp, or float down the crystal clear waters of a pristine spring-fed stream. District lands preserve hundreds of miles of pristine shoreline along many of the beautiful rivers and lakes in the region. Whether it is a great blue heron stalking its prey, an alligator sunning on a log or a deer getting a drink from the cool, clear waters of a spring-fed river, there are endless opportunities to view wildlife in… Read more

The Weeki Wachee Springs Restoration Project improved water quality and enhanced the overall natural system. Project Overview The Southwest Florida Water Management District restored portions of Weeki Wachee Springs in 2009 to improve water quality in the headspring and the upper river, as well as enhance the overall natural system. Background The Weeki Wachee Restoration Project was the second project aimed at cleaning up the springs.  The first project… Read more

 This project improved water quality in the Weeki Wachee River.Project OverviewThe Southwest Florida Water Management District and Hernando County made enhancements to stormwater management at Rogers Park. The park is owned by the County and located on the Weeki Wachee River. These improvements benefit the river by reducing the amount of sediments and nutrients entering the river. Project DetailsThis project uses Low Impact Development (LID) techniques to… Read more

Moving southwest you will find Crystal River, which is in Citrus County and runs from the town of Crystal River west for seven miles towards the Gulf of America. Crystal River’s headwaters is an area known as Kings Bay, which has more than 70 springs. Crystal River/Kings Bay is the second largest springs group in Florida, the first being Wakulla Springs in northern Florida near Tallahassee.Many of the river's springs are 20 to 30 feet deep, and the water discharging from… Read more

The District establishes Minimum Flows and Levels (MFLs) to help protect water resources. An MFL is a regulation to protect springs, spring runs, rivers, lakes, wetlands and aquifers from ground and surface water withdrawals that would cause significant harm. OverviewMinimum flows and levels are limits established by the Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) Governing Board for surface waters and groundwater that are intended to prevent significant harm… Read more

A reservation defines a quantity of water set aside from the water-use permitting process for the protection of fish and wildlife or public health and safety.OverviewIn 2020, the District established a reservation for water that is stored in Lake Hancock and released to Lower Saddle Creek for recovery of minimum flows in the upper Peace River. A reservation sets aside water from consumptive use (i.e., from being included in a permitted water withdrawal) for the protection of… Read more

The District will establish minimum flows for the Withlacoochee river to protect it from harm caused by ground and surface water withdrawals. OverviewMinimum flows and levels are limits established by the Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) Governing Board for surface waters and groundwater that are intended to prevent significant harm to the water resources or ecology of an area that may be caused by water withdrawals. The District is required by… Read more

Residents and tourists have flocked to the Sarasota Bay region for years due to its remarkable natural beauty. Sarasota Bay is a subtropical estuary with a surface area of approximately 52 square miles. An estuary is a semi-enclosed body of water where fresh water mixes with salt water.The area features outstanding fishing, boating and wildlife viewing. It’s home to a wide variety of marine life, including manatees, mullet, dolphins, spotted sea trout, snook, red drum (… Read more

Is there anything you can do to help protect your watershed? Sure there is — and one of the best places to start is in your own yard. Not allowed? Perhaps you and your friends could work on your school’s yard, with permission of course. Small changes in yards can help protect Florida’s environment and keep your local water cycle healthy. Hundreds of people move to Florida every day, which means that a lot of natural habitat is taken over by new housing developments.… Read more

A watershed is an area of land that water flows across as it moves toward a common body of water, such as a stream, river, lake or coast.The majority of people in this watershed live within 10 miles from the Gulf of America. This means that many of the activities that take place in the watershed where people live — from maintaining attractive landscapes to creating new roads and buildings — directly impact the gulf and every water body leading up to it. The Southern… Read more

River Model Scenarios Nineteen scenarios have been identified through years of meetings and workshops with external stakeholders, special interest groups and residents. These scenarios are being tested by the model to show how historical alterations have affected the river and watershed. They include:

• Five scenarios in the Green Swamp…

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The Southwest Florida Water Management District includes Florida’s notorious “Lightning Belt.” It is famous because of the number of thunderstorms and lightning strikes that occur here. They don’t call the hockey team the “Tampa Bay Lightning” for nothing. Florida’s lightning strikes are thought to be especially powerful, thanks to the huge, highly charged clouds that form here. How powerful are they? Hot bolts have temperatures above 14,000°C. If they hit a tree, it… Read more

Fertilizer is like food for plants. It comes in a variety of forms, like compost, liquids and pellets. For lawns, most people use chemical fertilizers, and a lot of people use too much. If you have grass, you want to use just the right amount of fertilizer so your lawn is healthy. However, more isn’t better! Too much fertilizer can:

1. Make pests more pesty.
2. Cause your lawn to grow too quickly.
3. Make your lawn even thirstier.
…

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This program allows local governments and private entities to share costs for projects that assist in creating sustainable water resources, provide flood protection and enhance conservation efforts. State Funding OpportunitiesAll cooperators are encouraged to apply for state funding for projects by using the links below.  State Funding… Read more

NOTICE: Effective July 1, 2014, a person may not lobby a water management district in Florida until such person has registered as a lobbyist with that district by filing a registration form. Pursuant to Section 112.3261, Florida Statutes, starting July 1, 2014, a person may not lobby a… Read more

This project helped develop techniques to control algae and restore aquatic plants in the lower portion of the Rainbow River.BackgroundIn the lower portions of the Rainbow River, native aquatic vegetation may be decreasing while various types of algae, such as filamentous macroalgae (Lyngbya) and phytoplankton, may be increasing. An increase in algae downstream is typical in most rivers as the river’s velocity — the speed at which water flows — decreases and water… Read more

Overview Applicants will be asked to break this down in more detail in the application. Students will learn about local freshwater ecosystems in west-central Florida, with a focus on our magnificent springs. After an introductory lesson on habitats and ecosystems, students will dive deeper to learn about springs, the wildlife they support and their connection to the aquifer below. As part of their exploration, students will complete the… Read more

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection has published the Florida Statewide Annual Report on Total Maximum Daily Loads, Basin Management Action Plans, Minimum Flows or Minimum Water Levels, and Recovery or Prevention Strategies on its website pursuant to section 403.0675, F.S. This report includes the status of protection and restoration actions through total maximum daily loads, basin management action plans, minimum flows or minimum water levels, and recovery or… Read more

As Data Collection bureau chief, Sandie Will is responsible for overseeing the Geohydrologic Data; Hydrologic Data; the Water Quality Monitoring Program; and Mapping/GIS sections. Activities conducted in these sections include coring; well construction; aquifer performance testing; water level and atmospheric data collection; groundwater and surface water quality sampling; land surveying; laboratory analyses; geospatial data… Read more