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Frank Gargano was appointed ombudsman of the Southwest Florida Water Management District in November 2023. Gargano responds to public inquiries about District policies and practices. He provides information, answers questions and facilitates dispute resolution when issues arise between the public and staff. Gargano has more than 25 years of experience. Gargano earned his bachelor’s degree in environmental science and policy from the University of South Florida. Gargano… Read more

In 2005, the District revised the original Wetland Assessment Procedure (WAP), which was originally developed in 1999 to collect ecologic data in hundreds of monitored wetlands. The 2005 revision is the current version of the WAP. Tampa Bay Water, the District, and several other agencies use the WAP as part of their overall resource monitoring program. Below are the most recent documents needed to apply the WAP in the current year. These documents should be reviewed prior… Read more

Wild hogs may be infected with pseudorabies, leptospirosis or swine brucellosis. Check with your veterinarian about the transmission of pseudorabies to your dogs. Humans may contact leptospirosis and swine brucellosis by handling and dressing wild swine; however, the incidence is not likely. When harvesting a hog, the following protective measures should be taken:

1. Use disposable rubber gloves while field dressing the animal
2. Be…

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Whether you are a casual viewer or an avid birder working on your life birding list, bird-watching opportunities abound on all District lands. Sites with the best bird-watching opportunities are part of the Great Florida Birding Trail and are listed in the column on the right side of this page. Maps of the west coast portion of the trail can be obtained from Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission web site at… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) offers this page as a means of providing our partners and cooperators our logotype and seal.We’ve organized files based on the file formats typically preferred by home/office software and professional graphics software. Please contact our webmaster for… Read more

There are more than 200 documented springs throughout the District. However, most individual springs cluster around 16 groups of springs, five of which are classified as first-magnitude groups based on the amount of water they discharge. While recognizing the need to manage all springs, the District places a priority on the five first-magnitude spring groups: Rainbow, Crystal River/Kings Bay, Homosassa, Chassahowitzka, and Weeki Wachee. These spring groups, located in… Read more

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) ombudsman responds to public inquiries about District policies and practices. When issues arise between the public and the District, the ombudsman acts independently of the District to assist the public by:

• Providing information
• Answering questions
• Facilitating dispute resolutions
• Investigating concerns
• Maintaining confidentiality

Please note: If the matter is in… Read more

The Withlacoochee River is one of Florida’s wondrous waterways, one of the few rivers in the world flowing south to north. It is 160 miles long, starting in the Green Swamp and winding through eight different counties before discharging into the Gulf of America.

 The name Withlacoochee is derived from a Creek Indian word meaning Little Big Water, a likely description of the high and low fluctuations the river naturally experiences.As you travel… Read more

Spend a day with your family and friends in the great outdoors. Many District properties offer picnic facilities. Check the individual property for specific information about picnicking on that tract and the level of amenities provided. In addition, the District has three spacious and modern pavilions available for your next large group picnic. Make a reservation below:   While enjoying the picnic facilities, please follow all rules outlined in the… Read more

Mulch is loose stuff you spread on top of soil. People sometimes use mulch in their gardens or where grass doesn’t grow well. Florida-friendly yards often use a lot of mulch. Why is mulch so great?

1. Mulch that comes from plants (organic) will provide food for the plants you are growing.
2. Mulch keeps your soil warmer in winter and cooler in summer.
3. Mulch keeps the soil beneath it from drying out — so you don’t need to water as much.
…

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 Lemon Bay extends about 13 miles long and is separated from the Gulf of America by Little Gasparilla Island and Manasota Key. It is designated by the State of Florida as an aquatic preserve and an Outstanding Florida Waterway among other recognitions. The Lemon Bay area is bustling with live creatures, such as eagles, pinfish, pelicans,… Read more

Privacy Policy Under Florida law, email addresses are public records. If you do not want your email address released in response to a public-records request, do not send electronic mail to any Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) email address. Instead,… Read more

Details The Lake Hancock Lake Level Modification Project involves replacing the P-11 Water Conservation Structure that was built in 1963. The new structure will allow the District to maintain higher lake levels, increasing the elevation from 98.7 feet above sea level to 100 feet (NGVD 29). The proposed normal operating level of 100 feet was determined to be the approximate historical level… Read more

 A tributary is a small stream or river that flows into a larger one. The Peace River is fed by many tributaries.Saddle CreekIn the northern portion of the watershed, Upper Saddle Creek originates in the Green Swamp and flows into Lake Hancock, the largest lake in the watershed. Lower Saddle Creek drains out of Lake Hancock before it meets Peace Creek and forms the Peace River northeast of Bartow.  Peace CreekPeace Creek originates… Read more

Consistent with direction provided by Governor DeSantis, the Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) has canceled all nonessential travel and implemented social distancing to help reduce the spread of the coronavirus. Additionally, all District offices will be closed to the public beginning March 17, 2020 until further notice. During this time, our staff will continue to conduct business and provide quality service from alternative work locations… Read more

Sawgrass Lake Park was designed for people interested in observing and learning about nature. The Sawgrass Lake project began in 1972 to provide flood protection to the city of Pinellas Park. A water-control structure was built to facilitate drainage canal improvements and to maintain desirable water level fluctuations in Sawgrass Lake and the surrounding swamp. The District retains responsibility for operating the water-control structure. The lake and swamp system also… Read more

 Feral Hog Hunts2024–2025 Feral Hog Hunts information is now available.Learn about obtaining permits for the 2024–2025 hog hunts on District lands. Registration starts October 1. If you plan on applying for a permit, add WaterMatters.org/HogHunts to your browser’s favorites or bookmarks.… Read more

 A sound is a wide channel linking two large bodies of water or separating an island from the mainland.Gasparilla Sound is east of Gasparilla Island, where the community of Boca Grande is located, and connects to the Charlotte Harbor. Salt marshes, mangrove swamps and salt flats spread along its shores. It receives freshwater runoff through a variety of sources such as Buck, Coral and Whiden creeks and the Catfish Creek Bayou. Gasparilla Island’s first inhabitants… Read more