Southwest Florida Water Management District

08/18/2026

Conditions permitting, staff from the Southwest Florida Water Management District will conduct a 157-acre prescribed fire at Deer Prairie Creek in Sarasota County at 10:30 a.m. tomorrow, Aug. 19. The burn unit is located 1.5 miles south of I-75 and approximately .8 miles east of US-41. 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.

08/18/2026

As students head back to class this month, many are starting off on the right foot with a new pair of sneakers, thanks to the donations of District staff. The District donated more than 1,000 pairs of sneakers to children in need at four area schools. Learn more.

08/18/2026

Conditions permitting, staff from the Southwest Florida Water Management District will conduct a 458-acre prescribed fire at Green Swamp East in Sumter County starting at 10 a.m. today, Aug. 18. The burn unit is located 5 miles east of SR-471 and 9 miles west of SR-33. 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.

08/18/2026

Conditions permitting, staff from the Southwest Florida Water Management District will conduct a 150-acre prescribed fire at Deep Creek Preserve in Desoto County starting at 11 a.m. today, Aug. 18. The burn unit is located approximately 1.3 miles east of SR 769. 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.

08/17/2026

Reminder, hand watering of plants can be done on any day before 8 a.m. or after 6 p.m. under the current water restrictions.

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

08/14/2026

Learn about our springs from the District’s springs scientist. Listen to our audio podcast on Florida springs to discover how they work and why they are important. https://youtu.be/OcK0Wq_bFqY?si=HvI8WALrzmsdctEd

The Water Matters Podcast answers your most popular questions about the work done by the Southwest Florida Water Management District and services offered including new projects, springs protection, water conservation efforts and more. Learn about the many ways we serve the community and protect your...

08/14/2026

Conditions permitting, staff from the Southwest Florida Water Management District will conduct a 309-acre prescribed fire at Green Swamp Wilderness Preserve- East tract in Sumter County today (Aug. 14) at 10:30 a.m. The burn unit is located .75 miles east of SR 471. 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. Notifications are posted on Facebook, X, and Nextdoor and WaterMatters.org.

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

08/13/2026

Conditions permitting, staff from the Southwest Florida Water Management District will conduct a 281-acre prescribed fire at Green Swamp Wilderness Preserve East Tract in Sumter County today (Aug. 13) at 10:30 a.m. The burn unit is located 1.05 miles east of SR 471. 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. Notifications are posted on Facebook, X, and Nextdoor and WaterMatters.org.

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

08/13/2026

There are a variety of ways to use rain barrel water around the yard and substituting it for tap water can help you save significantly on your overall water use. To learn more about rain barrels, visit WaterMatters.org/Water101.

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....

08/13/2026

Conditions permitting, staff from the Southwest Florida Water Management District will conduct a 120-acre prescribed fire at the Green Swamp Wilderness Preserve East Tract in Sumter County today (Aug. 13) at 11 a.m. The burn unit is located 4 miles east of SR 471. 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. Notifications are posted on Facebook, X, Nextdoor and WaterMatters.org.

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