News - 2026
2026
October
Governing Board Elects Officers for 2026-2027 Term »
– Today, the Southwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board voted to elect officers for the 2026-2027 term. All water management districts are now holding elections in October for consistency.
District’s Edward W. Chance Reserve - Gilley Creek Tract Closed for Hog Hunts Nov. 3-5 »
– The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s (District) Edward W. Chance Reserve - Gilley Creek Tract in Manatee County will be temporarily closed to the public for feral hog hunts Nov. 3-5.
District’s Hálpata Tastanaki Preserve Closed for Hog Hunts Nov. 3-5 »
– The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s (District) Hálpata Tastanaki Preserve in Marion County will be temporarily closed to the public for feral hog hunts Nov. 3-5.
Check Your Irrigation Timer When You ‘Fall Back’ to Standard Time »
– The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) is reminding residents to check the timers on their irrigation system controllers next weekend, which is the end of daylight saving time.
District Awards Grants to Schools in Citrus, Hernando, Levy, Marion and Sumter Counties for Water Resources Education Projects »
– The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) awarded $113,735 in grants to 56 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.
District Awards Grants to Schools in Highlands County for Water Resources Education Projects »
– The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) awarded $113,735 in grants to 56 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.
District Awards Grants to Schools in Hillsborough County for Water Resources Education Projects »
– The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) awarded $113,735 in grants to 56 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.
District Awards Grants to Schools in Pinellas County for Water Resources Education Projects »
– The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) awarded $113,735 in grants to 56 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.
District Awards Grants to Schools in Manatee and Sarasota Counties for Water Resources Education »
– The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) awarded $113,735 in grants to 56 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.
District Awards Grants to Schools in Pasco County for Water Resources Education Projects »
– The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) awarded $113,735 in grants to 56 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.
District Awards Grants to Schools in Polk County for Water Resources Education Projects »
– The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) awarded $113,735 in grants to 56 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.
Governing Board to Meet in Brooksville »
– The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Governing Board will hold its monthly meeting Tuesday, Oct. 27 at 9 a.m. at District Headquarters, located at 2379 Broad Street in Brooksville.
District’s Alston Tract Closed for Hog Hunts Oct. 27-29 »
– The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s (District) Alston Tract at Upper Hillsborough Preserve in Pasco County will be temporarily closed to the public for feral hog hunts Oct. 27-29.
District Aims to Reduce Risk of Wildfires by Scheduling Prescribed Fires for Hillsborough County »
– Setting prescribed fires in controlled settings can reduce the risk of wildfires burning out of control. That’s why the Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) will be conducting prescribed burns now through December on the Lower Hillsborough Wilderness Preserve.
District Aims to Reduce Risk of Wildfires by Scheduling Prescribed Fires for Pasco County »
– Setting prescribed fires in controlled settings can reduce the risk of wildfires burning out of control.
District Aims to Reduce Risk of Wildfires by Scheduling Prescribed Fires for Sarasota County »
– Setting prescribed fires in controlled settings can reduce the risk of wildfires burning out of control.
September
District Makes Land Purchases Within the Lower Peace River Corridor Project »
– The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s (District) Governing Board approved the purchase of the C&D Ranch and Rock Bend Ranch conservation easements.
District Fiscal Year 2027 Budget Funds Water Resources Projects »
– On Tuesday, the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s (District) Governing Board adopted a $251.5 million budget for fiscal year (FY) 2027, including $86.2 million in Cooperative Funding Initiatives and District grants for water resources projects.
District Extends Modified Phase III Water Shortage »
– All residents remain under one-day-per-week watering restrictions with strict watering hours through March 31, 2027
District to Hold Series of Hog Hunts in 2026-2027, Permits Will Be Available Online »
– District land managers plan to hold a series of hog hunts on District lands throughout the year to help reduce the feral hog population.
District to Hold Public Meeting on the Reevaluation of Minimum Levels for Lake Wailes in Polk County »
– The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) invites the public to a meeting Wednesday, Sept. 30, at 5 p.m.
Governing Board to Meet in Tampa (Note: 3 p.m. start time) »
– The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Governing Board will hold its monthly meeting Tuesday, Sept. 22, at 3 p.m. at the Tampa Service Office, located at 7601 U.S. Highway 301 North.
District to Hold Virtual Public Workshop to Update District Land Use Rules »
– The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) will hold a virtual public workshop at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 16, to discuss updates to the District’s land use rules.
August
Governor Appoints Robert Boos and Reappoints Robert Stern to the District’s Governing Board »
– Governor Ron DeSantis appointed Robert Boos and reappointed Robert Stern to the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Governing Board. Boos represents Pinellas County and Stern represents Hillsborough County.
Governing Board to Meet in Brooksville »
– The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Governing Board will hold its monthly meeting Tuesday, Aug. 25 at 9 a.m. at District Headquarters, located at 2379 Broad Street in Brooksville.
District to Hold Virtual Public Workshop on Ranking Water Bodies »
– The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) is seeking public input to determine the priority of minimum flows and levels (MFLs) establishment for lakes, wetlands, rivers, streams and aquifers in the District as well as the establishment of water reservations.
July
District Completes Wysong-Coogler Structure Improvement Project »
– Repaired Boat Navigation Lock Now Open to the Public
District Temporarily Closes Bridge in Citrus County »
– The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) will temporarily close the Moccasin Slough Bridge at the Flying Eagle Preserve to conduct bridge deck maintenance.
Governing Board to Meet in Tampa »
– The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Governing Board will hold its monthly meeting Tuesday, July 28 at 9 a.m. at the Tampa Service Office, located at 7601 U.S. Highway 301 North.
June
District Extends Modified Phase III Water Shortage »
– All residents remain under one-day-per-week watering restrictions with strict watering hours through Oct. 1, 2026
District to Hold Virtual Meeting on Minimum Flows for the Upper Peace River »
– The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) invites the public to a virtual meeting Thursday, June 25, at 5:30 p.m. The purpose of the virtual meeting is to allow for public comment on recommended minimum flows for the Upper Peace River.
Governing Board to Meet in Brooksville »
– The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Governing Board will hold its monthly meeting Tuesday, June 23 at 9 a.m. at District Headquarters, located at 2379 Broad Street in Brooksville.
District Aims to Reduce Risk of Wildfires by Scheduling Prescribed Fires for Charlotte County »
– Setting prescribed fires in controlled settings can reduce the risk of wildfires burning out of control.
District Aims to Reduce Risk of Wildfires by Scheduling Prescribed Fires for DeSoto County »
– Setting prescribed fires in controlled settings can reduce the risk of wildfires burning out of control.
District Aims to Reduce Risk of Wildfires by Scheduling Prescribed Fires for Hernando County »
– Setting prescribed fires in controlled settings can reduce the risk of wildfires burning out of control. That’s why the Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) will be conducting prescribed burns now through September on Weekiwachee Preserve.
District Aims to Reduce Risk of Wildfires by Scheduling Prescribed Fires for Hillsborough County »
– Setting prescribed fires in controlled settings can reduce the risk of wildfires burning out of control. That’s why the Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) will be conducting prescribed burns now through September on the Lower Hillsborough Wilderness Preserve.
District Aims to Reduce Risk of Wildfires by Scheduling Prescribed Fires for Pasco County »
– Setting prescribed fires in controlled settings can reduce the risk of wildfires burning out of control.
District Aims to Reduce Risk of Wildfires by Scheduling Prescribed Fires for Sarasota County »
– Setting prescribed fires in controlled settings can reduce the risk of wildfires burning out of control.
May
Governing Board Elects Officers for 2026-2027 Term »
– The Southwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board voted Tuesday to elect officers for the 2026-2027 term.
Governing Board to Meet in Tampa »
– The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Governing Board will hold its monthly meeting Tuesday, May 19 at 9 a.m. at the Tampa Service Office, located at 7601 U.S.