The Division of Forestry at the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services enacted today a temporary statewide restriction prohibiting open campfires on all state lands due to extreme drought conditions and increasing wildfire threats. This temporary restriction against open campfires prohibits all fires placed openly on the ground until further notice or until the [...]
To protect lives, property and the environment in severe drought conditions that have increased wildfire danger, the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) today issued an emergency order prohibiting building fires on certain District lands open for recreation. The order covers 13 of the District’s 16 counties. Polk, Osceola, and Orange counties are exempt from [...]
The South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) is hosting its third free training session for prospective Florida Water Star residential certifiers. The two-day workshop will feature an overview of the water conservation program’s three residential tiers — Gold, Silver and Bronze — along with hands-on field training in the Florida Water Star inspection process. A [...]
South Florida Water Management water managers on Thursday January 13 considered imposing tougher watering restrictions due to less than typical rainfall.
To continue protecting South Florida’s water resources, the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) Governing Board today approved the investment of $3.45 million in funding assistance for 19 alternative water supply projects across the region. A complete list of the 19 approved projects is available here. “Development of alternative water sources is an important part [...]
With little rainfall in recent weeks, meteorologists from the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) reported that last month was the driest October in South Florida since recordkeeping began in 1932. The low monthly rainfall total, coupled with seasonal forecasts of exceptionally dry conditions, underscores the need for water conservation to protect the region’s limited [...]
The South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) closed on the purchase of land from the United States Sugar Corporationlast week, providing 26,800 acres of strategically located property south of Lake Okeechobee for Everglades restoration. The $194 million acquisition places 42 square miles of agricultural land into public ownership for the construction of water quality improvement [...]
The South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) Governing Board today approved a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS) to operate and manage a science facility to raise insects for use as biological controls. These insects will be used to control the spread of invasive exotic plant species, such as [...]
The South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) Governing Board today provided input on an updated document to guide District recommendations to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers about the management of Lake Okeechobee. Known as Adaptive Protocols for Lake Okeechobee Operations, the document lays out measures to better balance the needs of the lake and [...]
Building on historic agreements to advance construction on Everglades restoration projects, the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) Governing Board and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers recently approved another key Project Partnership Agreement to test technology for preserving clean water in Everglades National Park. If proven effective, technology developed during the pilot project will [...]
On Saturday, April 17, 2010, meet with local government officials and learn how to contract with local government. Representatives from multiple agencies will be at the Small Business and Minority Business Opportunities Expo in Lauderhill. Presented by Broward County Commissioner Albert Jones, the expo takes place
Visitors coming to South Florida through Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport — as well as residents returning home — are being reminded to save water by turning off the faucet while brushing their teeth and by reusing towels at hotels.
Earlier today, the South Florida Water Management District’s (SFWMD) Department Director of Vegetation and Land Management, Dan Thayer, testified before the U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands and the Subcommittee on Insular Affairs, Oceans and Wildlife of the House Committee on Natural Resources on the issue of exotic invasive [...]
The South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) reported today that the Central and Southern Flood Control System performed well in handling the storm’s heavy rainfall. Some localized flooding remains as a result of significant precipitation and the District will continue to monitor conditions and respond accordingly.
The South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) Governing Board recently voted 8-0, with one abstention, to extend the Certificates of Participation validation deadline contained in the purchase and sale agreement with the U.S. Sugar Corporation to acquire 73,000 acres of land for Everglades restoration. The Governing Board extended in Paragraph 4 the contract deadline for [...]
The South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) and a host of federal and state partners will break ground on a vital project that represents continued momentum for Everglades restoration. The C-111 Spreader Canal project, a component of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP), will restore freshwater flows to Florida Bay through Taylor Slough, preserve clean [...]
Broward County residents are now permanently under two-day a week water restrictions. Citizens have been under two-day restrictions for two and a half years after the South Florida Water Management initiated the restrictions in response to severe drought conditions. Since then, the District ruled in November on two day water restrictions for some counties in [...]
Broward County residents could be looking at tougher, permanent water restrictions, if the Broward County commission passes a water conservation ordinance. On Jan. 8, at 2 p.m., the commission will hold a public hearing (where the public has three minutes per person to speak on the issue) on the enactment of a permanent, year-round, two-day [...]
The South Florida Water Management District reports that South Florida residents consume 179 gallons per person per day – the highest water usage in the state. Outdoor irrigation accounts for up to 50 percent of water use in Florida, and up to 50 percent of the water applied to lawns is lost to evaporation or runoff. [...]
Marking 60 years of service to Central and South Florida’s residents and environment, the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) documented significant progress in environmental restoration and water resource protection initiatives in 2009. Initially created in 1949 as the Central and Southern Florida Flood Control District,
The South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) Governing Board has approved taking the next step in the public planning process for Everglades restoration on land being acquired from the United States Sugar Corporation. The second phase of planning involves the in-depth analysis of data generated during 15 project planning workshops to determine the most beneficial [...]
Recognizing the need to conserve water and increase protection for South Florida’s water resources, the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) Governing Board unanimously approved sweeping year-round water conservation measures that place permanent limits on landscape irrigation throughout the region. Developed with input from water users across the region after more than two years and [...]
From South Florida Water Management District Earlier today, the South Florida Water Management District’s (SFWMD) Deputy Executive Director of Operations and Maintenance, George Horne, testified before the U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security in support of H.R. 2811. Sponsored by U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek and co-sponsored by U.S. Rep. Tom [...]
The South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) Governing Board today approved cooperative agreements that fund a suite of projects to restore and protect Florida’s first federally designated “National Wild and Scenic River,” the Loxahatchee River. The projects to benefit the river and estuary — spanning Martin and Palm Beach counties — consist of providing sewer [...]
The South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) Governing Board today awarded contracts to begin construction on the C-111 Spreader Canal project, representing another significant step for Everglades restoration. Key benefits of the project include restoring freshwater flows to Florida Bay, preserving clean water for Everglades National Park and maintaining flood control for eastern communities. “Unwavering [...]
