Water-Related News

Public Invited to Series of Workshops on Surplus Lands


The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) will hold a series of public workshops to gather feedback for the biennial assessment of surplus lands. The meetings will take place at the following times and locations:

• March 19, 2015 at 5:30 p.m.
Bartow – Carver Recreation Center, 520 Idlewood Avenue S, Bartow, FL 33830

• March 24, 2015 at 5:30 p.m.
Sarasota Service Office, 6750 Fruitville Road, Sarasota, FL 34240

• April 1, 2015 at 5:30 p.m.
Tampa Service Office, 7601 US 301, Tampa, FL 33637

• April 2, 2015 at 5:30 p.m.
District Headquarters, 2379 Broad Street, Brooksville, FL 34604

The public may also submit comments on the District’s website at www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/business/land-for-sale/.

At its Feb. 26 meeting, the District’s Governing Board adopted an updated policy that would direct staff to conduct a biennial review of District lands intended to identify parcels for potential surplus. The new policy also provides for the District to surplus lands while maintaining conservations easements.

The intent of this policy is to continue to protect properties that are providing substantive environmental benefits while surplusing properties that provide less environmental value. The surplus process will then generate revenue to buy lands with higher environmental benefits.

The potential surplus lands will also be discussed publicly at the District’s Environmental Advisory Committee meeting on April 14. Following review of public comments, District staff will finalize its Surplus Lands proposal and present it to the Governing Board at its May 19 meeting.