News & Public Affairs
Alafia River may be the answer for a thirsty region: Tampa Bay Water listen
02/20/12 Janelle IrwinWMNF Drive-Time News Monday Listen to this entire show:
Tags: Alafia River, Tampa Bay Water, Sandra Murman, SWFWMD, water
The Alafia River in south Hillsborough County has been a source of water for the Tampa Bay region since 2003. It accounts for about one fifth of the supply. But Alison Adams, a senior manager for Tampa Bay Water, said more needs to be pumped from the river to meet rising consumption. Right now the utility is allowed to ...
Be the first to commentHunters gain extra hunting days at two SWFWMD properties but not Cypress Creek listen
12/20/11 Janelle IrwinWMNF Drive-Time News Tuesday Listen to this entire show:
Tags: SWFWMD, swiftmud, Southwest Florida Water Management District, Tampa Bay Water, Pasco County, Cypress Creek, lower hillsborough flood detention area, Green Swamp
Two pieces of public property will be opened up for hunters next year. Tuesday morning in Haines City the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD) board approved staff recommendation to add hunting opportunities at the Lower Hillsborough Flood Detention Area and Green Swamp West in Pasco County.
But they voted against staff recom...
Be the first to commentTampa Bay Water opposes hunting on Cypress Creek wellfield public land listen
12/20/11 Atecia RobinsonWMNF Drive-Time News Tuesday Listen to this entire show:
Tags: SWFWMD, water, hunting, Tampa Bay Water
Southwest Florida Water Management District’s proposal to allow hunting on some public land met opposition Monday from Tampa Bay Water. The board of directors of Tampa Bay Water opposed changes to SWFWMD’s land management plan that would allow hunting at the Cypress Creek wellfield.
Pinellas County Commissioner and Tampa Bay Water board member [Neil Brickfi...
Be the first to commentSWFWMD considers allowing hunting on some properties, but there's opposition listen
12/06/11 Janelle IrwinWMNF Drive-Time News Tuesday Listen to this entire show:
Tags: SWFWMD, hunting, environment, guns, swiftmud, water
The Southwest Florida Water Management District, or SWFWMD, is considering opening more of its public land for hunting. Recreational users like horseback riders and hikers are squaring off against the hunters to stop the plan from proceeding.
Opponents of increased hunting on three SWFWMD properties are staking much of their debate on the financial burden it could put on the agency. Those properties are [Cypress Creek Prese...
1 commentsTampa Bay Water approves $162 million to fix regional reservoir listen
08/15/11 Josh HoltonWMNF Drive-Time News Monday Listen to this entire show:
Tags: SWFWMD, Tampa Bay Water, Tampa Bay Water Supply, C.W. Bill Young, reservoir, repair costs, water
After years of planning and negotiation, Tampa Bay Water has finally approved a $162 million contract to fix the C.W. Bill Young Regional Reservoir. Tampa Bay Water general manager Gerald Seeber said the plan will not only increase water storage capacity, but also help prepare for future drought. Now that the contract was approved, it will go to design and permitting over the next year.
When th...
1 commentsTensions brewing about possibility of allowing hunting on some public lands listen
08/01/11 Atecia RobinsonWMNF Drive-Time News Monday Listen to this entire show:
Tags: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, hunting, horseback riding, SWFWMD
There’s tension brewing about the possibility of allowing hunting on some public land. The South West Florida Water Management District and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission gathered at the Hillsborough Community College in Plant City on Friday to hear petitions given by hunters, birdwatchers, all terrain riders and equestrians.
In a packed meeting hall, a range of citizens from hunters to horseback riders gave rea...
Be the first to commentWater restrictions will continue in greater Tampa Bay region listen
07/26/11 Joshua Lee HoltonWMNF Drive-Time News Tuesday Listen to this entire show:
Tags: swiftmud, water, watering restrictions, drought, environment, SWFWMD
Despite rain this month, there’s still serious doubt about the Tampa Bay region’s ability to manage the recent drought. Today, the Southwest Florida Water Management District, or SWFWMD decided to continue water restrictions in order to maintain the regional water supply.
Robyn Felix is a spokesperson with SWFWMD. She says the water restrictions will continue across all 16 counties because the lack of water during the previous year continues to impact water resources.
For the last seve...
Be the first to commentTampa City Council closer to rainy season ban on nitrogen and phosphorous fertilizer listen
06/02/11 Seán KinaneWMNF Drive-Time News Thursday Listen to this entire show:
Tags: Tampa, Tampa City Council, Sierra Club, Phil Compton, Linda Saul-Sena, Mary Mulhern, fertilizer, fertilizer ordinance, algae blooms, Frank Reddick, Hugh Gramling, SWFWMD, Tampa Bay
Tampa City Council has passed on first reading a fertilizer ordinance that would cut down on the pollution that drains from lawns into the region’s waterways, including Tampa Bay. The excess nutrients lead to algae blooms. Five members of the public spoke in opposition to the ban this morning. But double that number, including local Sierra Club representative Phil Compton, urged Council to support a rainy-season ban on sale and use of nitrogen or phosphorus fertilizer.
Be the first to comment"This is an approac...
International water experts, students, study Tampa Bay water supply listen
05/27/11 Kate BradshawWMNF Drive-Time News Friday Listen to this entire show:
Tags: UNESCO, Tampa Bay Water, USF, SWFWMD, water
Florida may once have had one of the world’s most richest water stores underlying most of the state, but now water managers across the state are scrambling to come up with more sustainable water sources for the coming decades. For example, Tampa Bay’s water utility is about to repair cracks in the 15 billion gallon CW Bill Young reservoir. The enormous surface water store is just part of the complex system the area uses to distribute the vital resource. An international team of water experts ...
Be the first to commentWater management district asks governor to ax bill that cuts budget listen
05/24/11 Kate BradshawWMNF Drive-Time News Tuesday Listen to this entire show:
Tags: SWFWMD, water, Tampa Bay, Rick Scott, Ray Pilon
The agencies that oversee regional water resources may soon be in a bind if Governor Rick Scott signs a new law limiting how much they can collect from property taxes. Today the Southwest Florida Water Management District, also known as SWFWMD, opted to let the governor know how they feel about the measure.
"I make a motion that we send the governor a letter asking to veto the legislation for the reasons stated here, and somebody needs to put that on paper."
That was SWFWMD board memb...
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