👏 Today, the @SFWMD Governing Board elected officers for the 2026-27 term. 🌟 Mr. Chauncey Goss was elected to remain Chair 🌟 Mr. Benjamin Butler was elected to be Vice-Chair 🗓️ Both were unanimously elected to serve in these roles. 🎉 Congratulations and thank you for your public service!

🏅☀️ Florida gets things done! 👏 The massive 10,000-acre Caloosahatchee (C-43) Reservoir on our west coast preserves and improves the quality of life in our state. 💧 Check out the water in the reservoir getting deeper and deeper. The filling of this reservoir means we are ensuring the effectiveness of this critical infrastructure for Everglades restoration.

☔👀 Heads up South Florida, it’s going to be a rainy week! 🌧️ The @SFWMD is prepared for a prolonged stretch of wet weather due to a stalled front over Central Florida. 💦 The current forecast calls for 1-4 inches of area-averaged rainfall across the region. 📍 Know who to contact if you experience flooding. Visit SFWMD.gov/FloodControl to type in your address and look up your local drainage operator. 🔗 SFWMD.gov/Weather

🐾 Meet the cutest crew in South Florida! 👀 This momma panther and her four playful kittens were spotted on a wildlife cam, and we're paws-itively smitten. 🌿 This sighting is a promising sign for the Florida Panther. These iconic animals and many more depend on the health of Florida’s ecosystems. ❗ Remember to keep your distance from all wildlife for your safety and theirs.

🏆🎉 Ssssspectacular work by our python removal agents last month! 👀 Check out the winners of the September 2026 bonus awards: 🐍 Most Pythons, $600: Brian Hargrove (37 pythons) 🐍 Longest Python, $400: Joseph Currie (12 feet, 0 inches) 🐍 28+ Pythons, $1,500: Brian Hargrove (37 pythons) 🐍 18+ Pythons, $1,000: Christina Kraus (23 pythons) and Kristine Bartish (19 pythons) 🐍 10+ Pythons, $500: Donna Kalil (11 pythons), Matt Kogo (11 pythons), Guillermo Tapanes (11 pythons), Tommy Lee (10 pythons) and Isaac Lord (10 pythons) 🐍 6+ Pythons, $300: Andre Brown (8 pythons), Chris Garcia (8 pythons), Anthony Flanagan (7 pythons), Kym Clark (8 pythons), Bayo Hernandez (6 pythons), Joseph Currie (6 pythons), and Joaquin Vila (6 pythons) 👏 Thank you to all of our python removal agents! Every invasive python that is removed is making a difference to protect the Everglades and the region's native wildlife. 🔗 Visit SFWMD.gov/PythonProgram to learn more.

🦇 Don't just fly by, stop and hang with us! ✨Today is October 1, which means it’s Bat Appreciation Month, and we're highlighting the many benefits provided by these winged wonders. Did you know? 🦇 Florida is home to 13 species of bats. Eight of these 13 species call South Florida home. 🦟 Bats provide natural pest control. They eat moths, flies, dragonflies, beetles, wasps, ants, mosquitoes and more. 🌻 Like butterflies and bees, bats play a crucial role in plant pollination. 🧡 Bats are vital to the health of our environment, and that’s bat-solutely worth celebrating this month.🦇

👏 Thank you to the volunteers from the Kissimmee River Valley Sportsmen Association who constructed a pavilion on the shore of Cypress Lake in the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes. 🌿 This new pavilion is for public use and recreation and is free to use!  💧 This group has constructed similar pavilions in the past on the shores of Lake Kissimmee and Lake Hatchineha.  ✨ The @SFWMD appreciates the volunteers who worked hard to build this pavilion for the benefit of the community!

🌦️ Have you ever wondered where the rain goes after it falls into your neighborhood? ➡️ It follows an interconnected drainage system. 🏠 Neighborhood ponds and canals flow into larger, local canals that connect to the regional water management system operated by the @SFWMD. 💧 In South Florida, flood control is a shared responsibility between the District, county and city governments, local drainage districts, homeowners associations and residents. This interconnected drainage system must work together to effectively manage water throughout the region. 🔗 Visit SFWMD.gov/News to learn more.

💧 Much of Lake Okeechobee’s recovery is happening out of sight, beneath the water’s surface. 🌱 In some areas of the lake, native underwater plants are thriving, which is an important sign of an improving habitat for fish and wildlife. 👀 The vallisneria or tape grass in this video continues to grow from the improved water clarity and light penetration. ✅ More SAV = A healthier, more resilient lake ecosystem.

✅ Keeping our communities strong ✅ Keeping our waters clean ✅ Preserving South Florida for generations to come ✨This week, the @SFWMD's Division Director of Flood Control and Water Supply Planning, Dr. Carolina Maran presented at the Southwest Florida Resiliency Summit about these topics and more. 👏 Thank you, Coastal & Heartland National Estuary Partnership, for inviting the District to be a part of this summit.

Congratulations to Andrew Hill and Michele Lenhard for being reappointed by Governor Ron DeSantis to the Big Cypress Basin Board. The Big Cypress Basin is one of two major watershed basins within the @SFWMD's 16-county region. The Basin includes Collier County and a portion of mainland Monroe County.

☔ More rainfall is expected for South Florida today and then we expect a drying trend later this week and into early next week. 🌦️ If you are experiencing flooding, make sure you visit SFWMD.gov/FloodControl and type in your address to look up your local drainage operator. 💧 We have experienced above-normal rainfall so far this month and the @SFWMD continues to monitor weather conditions and make operational adjustments to the primary water management system as needed. Residents are reminded to do the following: 🌦️ Remove and secure any debris around your property. Loose debris can damage structures and clog drains. 🌦️ Avoid driving through flooded areas. When in doubt, turn around. 🌦️ Do not wade or swim in floodwaters. 🌦️ Continue to monitor local weather alerts. 🔗 SFWMD.gov/Weather

🐊🥾 Happy fall y’all! ☀️ Fall is a great time to experience South Florida’s trails, waterways and natural spaces. 🐦 Need inspiration for things to do? Explore recreational opportunities including hiking, bicycling, wildlife viewing, camping and more on the @SFWMD's lands. 🔗 Visit SFWMD.gov/Recreation to learn more and remember to #RecreateResponsibly.

💼 Want to do business with the @SFWMD? ✨ We purchase a variety of products and services to support our public service mission. 🤝 Join us at the 20th Palm Beach Partners Business MatchMaker Conference and Expo to connect and learn more. 🗓️ Friday, October 2, 2026 ⏰ 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. 📍 Palm Beach County Convention Center, 650 Okeechobee Blvd., West Palm Beach, 33401 🔗 PBMatchMaker.com

💧 National Estuaries Week begins today and all of these beautiful estuaries are brought to you by the State of Florida. 🌿 Advancing restoration projects supports the ecological health of the Greater Everglades and South Florida's coastal watersheds.

🤝 The @SFWMD and @JaxStrong continue to make significant progress on Everglades restoration.  🏅👏 Since 2019, we have celebrated over 90 project launches, completions and major milestones on Everglades projects that are making a real difference for South Floridians.

🚩 Navigation Notice 🚩 🛥️ The S-193 Boat Lock at Taylor Creek in Okeechobee County will re-open this weekend. 🗓️ The boat lock will be open on Saturday, September 19 and Sunday, September 20, 2026, from 5:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Moving forward, the boat lock will be open from 5:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. on weekends but will remain closed on weekdays (Mondays-Fridays) until further notice. 🔗 SFWMD.gov/Navigation

✅ This reservoir is a major feat of engineering, construction and planning. ✅ This reservoir added 55 billion gallons of water capacity storage in South Florida. ✅ This reservoir is one of the most important projects in the history of Everglades restoration. 💧🏅👏 The 10,000-acre Caloosahatchee (C-43) Reservoir is a key component of the joint state-federal Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP) with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and a major achievement in our broader mission to restore the Everglades, expand Florida’s water storage capacity and protect important ecosystems now and for future generations. Looking for an update on the Caloosahatchee (C-43) Reservoir? 👉 Click here SFWMD.link/4xVRaXP to watch that portion of the September Governing Board Meeting.

🌟 Congratulations to the @SFWMD's September 2026 Team of the Month! 🌟 🎉 The Big Cypress Basin Structure Maintenance and Heavy Equipment Team enhanced recreational opportunities on District lands. 🥾 This hard-working team completed a parking lot at the Picayune Strand Restoration Project and created a hiking trail in the Green Heart of the Everglades. They are also in the process of expanding the existing parking lot at Bird Rookery Swamp in the Big Cypress Basin area. These facilities provide additional access for the public to explore and enjoy the outdoors. 👏 Thank you to all of the team members for their dedication to these projects!

🚜 We’re rockin’ and rollin’ with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. ✒️ The Corps approved the package to build the EAA Reservoir’s Seepage Management Pump Station under the new first-of-a-kind agreement to expedite Everglades restoration in South Florida. 🗓️ By the end of the year, we will be building this new pump station for the EAA Reservoir. 💧 The EAA Reservoir is the “crown jewel” of Everglades restoration and is designed to send more clean water south, restore ecosystems, and significantly reduce harmful discharges to the Caloosahatchee and St. Lucie estuaries.