South Florida Water Management District

Lawn watering uses the most water in Southwest Florida, thus ensuring that sprinklers are working correctly and not running during banned hours is especially important during drought conditions

Top Story

Tom Bayles

Residents of Sanibel, and north Cape Coral, are being reminded about the drought unfolding in coastal Southwest Florida and to stick to the water restrictions.

The U.S. Drought Monitor shows coastal Southwest Florida has drought levels between abnormal and extreme, which is leading area water managers to askresidentst to followvoluntaryy water conservation measures or they will bemandatedd

Weather

Drought gripping Southwest Florida; record-setting likely in Sarasota, Venice, Bradenton

Tom Bayles

Southwest Florida is in the midst of an abnormally dry to moderate drought.

The Earth's poles have tilted since pumping water from underground has upset the planet's internal equilibrium more than it already is by a host of other factors

Environment

Water Quality Report: How much H2O does it take to change the Earth's poles?

Tom Bayles

By pumping water out of the ground humans have redistributed so much water from beneath the surface we’ve tilted the Earth's poles. It is perhaps the second-largest contributor to sea-level rise

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers broke ground on a reservoir in western Palm Beach County on Wednesday. The reservoir is aimed at reducing polluted discharges to coastal estuaries during the wet season and providing water for the southern Everglades in dry conditions. But it's far smaller than originally planned and questions remain over whether Florida can meet water quality requirements.

Environment

Everglades reservoir underway, but there's new concerns over whether it will work

Jenny Staletovich

In its most recent progress report on Everglades restoration, the National Academies of Sciences warned Florida that cleaning water remains a 'significant challenge.'

The water that comes from Lake Okeechobee is still cause for debate over who gets to use how much, with a bill introduced in Tallahassee this session that would put into law that big agriculture would continue to receive healthy amounts while environmentalists want more of the water cleaned by Everglades restoration efforts to go to The River of Grass and nearby communities

Environment

Power of Google's cloud helping South Florida water consumers

Tom Bayles

The power of Google's cloud computing is helping the South Florida Water Management District with collection, analysis and processing of data linked to water quality improvement efforts.

The National Park Service is reopening the Gulf Coast Visitor Center and marina, here seen from Chokoloskee Bay, after damage from Hurricane Ian was repaired

Environment

National park reopening after Hurricane Ian; other parks closing before Tropical Storm Nicole

Tom Bayles

Just when some national parks reopen after Hurricane Ian, other public lands are shuttering due to Tropical Storm Nicole.Everglades National Park will reopen the Gulf Coast region in Everglades City on Friday. Restrooms, parking and the canoe and kayak launch will be available once again to allow paddlers to explore Ten Thousand Islands and the wilderness camping sites.

Water managers urge Southwest Florida residents to follow city and county water conservation guidelines this winter

Tom Bayles

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has forecast the next few months will be both warmer and drier than average in Florida. Since the state’s winter months are typically dry, the combination has Southwest Florida water managers asking people to conserve water. Activities such as washing clothes, hosing down the car, and topping off the pool use plenty of water and should be curtailed when possible, according to officials with the South Florida Water Management District. Conserving water at home can help keep wells from running dry, save money, and reduce the stress on the Floridan aquifer.

Government & Politics

We Talk To 'Alligator' Ron Bergeron About His Appointment to the SFWMD Governing Board

Mike Kiniry

Gov. Ron DeSantis recently announced his plan to appoint Ron Bergeron, the founder and CEO of Bergeron Family of Companies, to the South Florida Water…

Gov. DeSantis Appoints Sanibel Native to South Florida Water Management District

Rachel Iacovone

Gov. Ron DeSantis gave a sneak peek at one of the most highly anticipated line items on the upcoming state budget recommendation on Tuesday during his…

Weather

Bonita Springs Still Contending With Flooding Weeks After Irma

Quincy J Walters

It’s been more than two weeks since Hurricane Irma hit Southwest Florida. But, some people in Bonita Springs are only now able to return to their homes,…