Water, habitat and wildlife updates that help you keep a Florida property in perspective.
Reviewed · Selected and summarized by Wetland Agent.
SFWMD will present plans for the Lower Kissimmee Basin Stormwater Treatment and Recreation Area at an in-person public meeting in Okeechobee on November 5, 2026 at 6 p.m. The project uses wetland systems to treat watershed water before it reaches Lake Okeechobee.
Read the project and meeting notice ↗Published dates are shown on each story, with the newest coverage first.
SWFWMD reminds residents to check irrigation controllers when clocks fall back on November 1. Confirm that timers match the current restrictions for your location, and water only when needed. Use the District and local utility guidance for current days and hours.
Read the irrigation timer reminder ↗FWC is gathering feedback on possible wild-oyster harvest changes for Dixie, Levy and Citrus counties. Workshops are scheduled in Suwannee on October 26 and Cedar Key on October 29, both from 6–8 p.m. Eastern. These are proposals for discussion ahead of Commission consideration in 2027; use the notice for venues and comment options.
Read the October workshop notice ↗Ten Splash! grants went to educators in Manatee and Sarasota counties as part of a districtwide award of $113,735 to 56 educators. The program supports hands-on freshwater learning, including field studies, conservation gardens and school projects. The announcement lists the local recipients.
Read the local education update ↗The Governing Board meeting is scheduled for October 27 at 9 a.m. at District Headquarters, 2379 Broad Street. Online viewing is available, but public comments are taken at the meeting location. Check the agenda and participation details before attending.
Read the board meeting notice ↗The dated outlook identifies elevated tidal-flooding risk along South Florida’s east coast and in the Florida Keys, with different conditions along the west coast. Check SFWMD’s latest daily forecast and local alerts before visiting coastal sites.
Read the dated tidal outlook ↗FWC reports that 533 registered participants removed 36,187 invasive lionfish over 1,468 dive trips during the completed summer challenge. The results highlight an ongoing effort to reduce pressure on native marine life. Follow the agency program for future participation details.
Read the lionfish removal results ↗The Alston Tract at Upper Hillsborough Preserve in Pasco County will be closed to general public access October 27–29 for permitted feral-hog hunts. The District says the work addresses habitat damage. Plan visits outside the closure and check the official notice for access details.
Read the preserve access notice ↗SFWMD highlights the rainfall network and monitoring tools it uses to manage water levels in canals, lakes and wetlands. Rainfall history and nearby water-level records add context to a field visit; conditions still need to be verified on site.
Read the rainfall monitoring update ↗SFWMD reports that the S-193 lock in Okeechobee County is open daily from 5:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Other north-shore locks remain closed in this notice. Check current navigation updates before planning water access.
Read the navigation update ↗Controlled burns are planned through December at Myakka River – Deer Prairie Creek Preserve. About 400 acres will be treated in small units to manage habitat and reduce vegetation that can fuel wildfires. Check agency burn alerts before a field visit.
Read the Sarasota burn notice ↗Burns are planned through December at Starkey Wilderness Preserve, Conner Preserve, Upper Hillsborough Preserve and Cypress Creek Preserve. The work supports habitat management and reduces wildfire fuel. Check scheduled burn alerts before visiting.
Read the Pasco burn notice ↗The District plans to burn about 300 acres in small units through December near Thonotosassa. Its notice explains the habitat and wildfire-management goals and links to regional burn alerts.
Read the Hillsborough notice ↗The draft 2026 update assesses water needs through 2050 for Martin, St. Lucie and northeastern Okeechobee counties. SFWMD is accepting written comments until October 29, 2026 at 5 p.m.; use the agency notice for the draft and submission details.
Read the water supply notice ↗SWFWMD extended its Modified Phase III “Extreme” Water Shortage through March 31, 2027, citing ongoing drought. The District says one-day-per-week watering restrictions continue to apply, including to private wells; check its current guidance for your address and allowed watering hours.
Read the current restriction update ↗Agency publication dates appear above. Summaries and practical planning takeaways are written by Wetland Agent. This selection was checked on October 25, 2026; schedules and guidance may change.
Past notices and background on restoration, coastal wildlife and habitat planning. Dates and deadlines in this section may have passed.
The meetings listed in this October 12 notice were scheduled for October 19, 21 and 23 and have passed. Use the original notice for background and the District’s meeting calendar for upcoming agendas and participation details.
Read the meeting notice ↗The draft 2026–2036 plan addresses stewardship, recreation and natural resource protection in Martin and Palm Beach counties. The notice’s October 13, 2026, 5 p.m. comment deadline has passed; use the original notice to follow the plan’s background.
Read the original plan notice ↗The workshop date in this FWC notice has passed. The original announcement describes a session with Archbold Biological Station for livestock owners on reducing wildlife conflicts in Venus, Florida.
Read the workshop announcement ↗FWC began removing about 31 acres of floating tussock from Lake Weir in Marion County. The project is intended to improve aquatic habitat, support native plants, and improve navigation; access to Little Lake Weir is temporarily unavailable while work proceeds.
Read the FWC Lake Weir update ↗After high winds and waves, hatchlings can wash ashore in seaweed or appear in yards and pools. FWC says not to pick up or return a stranded hatchling to the water; call its Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-FWCC for instructions. Keep beaches clean, dark, and clear of gear.
Read FWC’s sea turtle guidance ↗The Southwest Florida Water Management District approved conservation easements covering about 1,270 acres across C&D Ranch and Rock Bend Ranch, including four miles along the Peace River in DeSoto and Hardee counties. The acquisition adds protected land along a river corridor.
Read the District announcement ↗The District adopted a $251.5 million budget covering water supply, flood-control infrastructure, watershed planning and water-quality work. It includes $86.2 million in cooperative funding initiatives and grants.
Read the water-project budget update ↗The South Florida Water Management District reported completion of a diversion project that routes excess C-23 Canal water to the C-44 Reservoir and Stormwater Treatment Area. The project is intended to reduce harmful discharges to the St. Lucie Estuary. Our takeaway: regional drainage and restoration projects provide useful context when reviewing a site’s watershed.
Read the C-23 restoration update ↗FWC’s holiday guidance asks beach visitors to reduce disturbance to sea turtles and shorebirds. For coastal site visits, check active nesting areas and plan access around posted protections.
Read the FWC update ↗SFWMD highlighted habitat restoration, wildlife monitoring and contractor training on its project sites. Our takeaway for landowners: build species review and field coordination into the project schedule, including on sites that already have infrastructure.
Read the habitat and wildlife update ↗FWC announced public input sessions about wild oyster harvest in Dixie, Levy and Citrus counties. The notice is useful context for regional coastal-resource work; read the agency page for meeting details and subsequent updates.
Read the workshop notice ↗FWC highlighted buildings used by nesting shorebirds and seabirds. A developed parcel can still contain sensitive habitat: check roofs and structures when planning surveys or building work.
Read the rooftop-nesting update ↗The map now keeps regional relief visible while wide-view colored elevation loads, with a bounded cache of recent views. Source resolution varies by location and zoom. Separate nest layers distinguish Audubon EagleWatch reported nest points from FWC’s 1998–2017 historical nest polygons; records do not establish current nest activity or species clearance.
Check current notices, meeting schedules and agency guidance.
Compare mapped wetlands, soils and county species records, then identify what needs a closer look on the ground.