Southwest Florida Water Management District

09/28/2026

The District is holding a series of hog hunts throughout the year to help reduce the feral hog population on District lands. Phase I hunt permits go on sale online at 9 a.m. Oct. 6. Permits are $75 and available on a first-come, first-served basis until they are sold out. To purchase a permit and for more information, visit WaterMatters.org/HogHunts.

Please Note: feral hog hunt permits are NO LONGER TRANSFERABLE.The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) considers feral hogs an invasive exotic species. Hogs negatively impact wetlands and other habitats by “rooting” up the soil while searching for food. They prey on native wil...

09/25/2026

Conditions permitting, staff from the Southwest Florida Water Management District will conduct a 204-acre prescribed fire at the Green Swamp West Tract in Pasco County 10 a.m. today (Sept. 25.) The burn unit is located east of Dade City, 4.7 miles east of the US 98 and US 301 intersection. Sign up for email/text alerts about prescribed fires at WaterMatters.org/PrescribedBurnsAlerts.

Prescribed burns play a vital role in protecting conservation lands from uncontrolled wildfires while promoting the health of Florida’s ecosystems. The District regularly conducts these controlled burns to maintain natural areas, support ecological balance and manage invasive vegetation for the benefit of native plants and wildlife.
All prescribed burns are authorized by the Florida Forest Service and subject to change based on weather and safety conditions.

Learn more about the District’s prescribed burns and land management efforts at WaterMatters.org/PrescribedBurns

09/25/2026

How do you rate on the water conservation score card?

Discover essential irrigation tips for Florida landscapes on the SWFWMD website. Learn about water-efficient practices, plant selection, and equipment maintenance to optimize your watering routine. Visit for expert advice on complying with local restrictions and adjusting schedules based on weather....

09/24/2026

Conditions permitting, staff from the Southwest Florida Water Management District will conduct an 138-acre prescribed fire at the Chito Branch Reserve in Hillsborough County 11 a.m. today (Sept. 24.) The burn unit is located 2.7 miles west of SR 39 and 1 mile south of Browning Road. Sign up for email/text alerts about prescribed fires at WaterMatters.org/PrescribedBurnsAlerts.

Prescribed burns play a vital role in protecting conservation lands from uncontrolled wildfires while promoting the health of Florida’s ecosystems. The District regularly conducts these controlled burns to maintain natural areas, support ecological balance and manage invasive vegetation for the benefit of native plants and wildlife.
All prescribed burns are authorized by the Florida Forest Service and subject to change based on weather and safety conditions.

Learn more about the District’s prescribed burns and land management effort at WaterMatters.org/PrescribedBurn

09/24/2026

Pin your favorite information about area springs by visiting our Springs Pinterest board.

Discover swfwmd's collection, Springs

09/23/2026

The District’s Governing Board approved the purchase of the C&D Ranch and Rock Bend Ranch conservation easements. The approximately 1,270-acre acquisition will provide four miles of frontage along the west side of the Peace River in DeSoto and Hardee counties.

These important property purchases are located within the Lower Peace River Corridor Project and span the lower basin of the Peace River, incorporating surrounding tributaries, connected headwaters, and floodplain swamps. This acquisition will protect rich plant life and moist soil habitats, improve water quality flowing into the Charlotte Harbor estuary, and safeguard regional water resources.

Learn more about these properties at https://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/the-newsroom/2026/district-makes-land-purchases-within-the-lower-peace-river-corridor-project.

Video description: Informative, virtual visit style video from the Southwest Florida Water Management District on Rock Bend Ranch and C & D Ranch. The video features various aerial drone shots of the water, surrounding vegetation and wildlife at both conservation easements including cows, birds, and alligators. The video concludes with the Southwest Florida Water Management District logo.

09/22/2026

The District’s Governing Board voted today to extend the Modified Phase III “Extreme” Water Shortage through March 31, 2027, due to ongoing drought conditions throughout the region, which requires all residents, including those on private wells, to continue following one-day-per-week watering restrictions with strict watering hours.

The District received below-average rainfall during both its 2025 and 2026 summer rainy seasons. The 12-month rainfall deficit through August 2026 is 15.4 inches. Area rivers and lakes as well as public water supplies have not been replenished due to the lack of summer rainfall. Tampa Bay Water’s C.W. Bill Young Regional Reservoir only has 7.87 billion gallons in storage as of Sept. 21, which is half its storage capacity.

Unless your city or county already has stricter hours in effect, watering hours remain reduced from midnight to 4 a.m. or 8 p.m. to 11:59 p.m. Properties less than one acre in size may only use one of these windows. Properties one acre or larger may only water before 4 a.m. and after 8 p.m.

The restrictions apply to all of Citrus, DeSoto, Hardee, Hernando, Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Sarasota and Sumter counties; portions of Charlotte, Highlands and Lake counties; the City of Dunnellon and The Villages in Marion County; and the portion of Gasparilla Island in Charlotte County.

For more information, visit WaterMatters.org/Restrictions.

Modified Phase III "Extreme" Water Shortage Restrictions Through October 1Always refer to your city or county regulations first.

09/21/2026

Learn more about one of Florida’s wonderous waterways, the Withlacoochee River Watershed. It is 160 miles long and one of the few rivers in the world flowing south to north.

Video description: Video description: Informative video from the Southwest Florida Water Management District on the Withlacoochee River Watershed. The video features various aerial drone clips of the water and surrounding land, along with a large number of species including the gopher tortoise and black bear, among many others. It explains how pollutants and contaminants introduced by human actions can impact the river, adjacent lands, and the estuaries it empties into. The video details how the Withlacoochee River Watershed is connected to its estuaries and tributaries, while highlighting recreational opportunities throughout the area. The video concludes with the Southwest Florida Water Management District logo and website, WaterMatters.org/Watersheds.

09/18/2026

Conditions permitting, staff from the Southwest Florida Water Management District will conduct a 511-acre prescribed fire at the Green Swamp East Hampton Tract in Polk County starting at 10 a.m. today (Sept. 18). The burn unit is located in north Lakeland, 4 miles east of the US 98 and SR 471 intersection. Sign up for email/text alerts about prescribed fires at WaterMatters.org/PrescribedBurnsAlerts.

Prescribed burns play a vital role in protecting conservation lands from uncontrolled wildfires while promoting the health of Florida’s ecosystems. The District regularly conducts these controlled burns to maintain natural areas, support ecological balance and manage invasive vegetation for the benefit of native plants and wildlife.
All prescribed burns are authorized by the Florida Forest Service and subject to change based on weather and safety conditions.

Learn more about the District’s prescribed burns and land management efforts WaterMatters.org/PrescribedBurns

09/18/2026

Did you know the District owns nearly 460,000 acres of conservation land, much of which is available for public use and recreation? Celebrate National Public Lands Day Sept. 26 by getting outside and exploring one of those properties. Plan ahead by visiting WaterMatters.org/Recreation