Hillsborough farmers’ crop freeze protection causing dry wells but levels are expected to rebound

The Brief

  • The Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD) regulates the use of water for much of the Tampa Bay area, and says growers have been using a lot of it lately to protect their crops from recent freezes.
  • Growers can apply for a special water use permit from the district for extra water to be used for crop frost protection.
  • If homeowners in the area are experiencing low well levels, SWFWMD expects water levels to rebound soon.

PLANT CITY, Fla. The Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD) regulates the use of water for much of the Tampa Bay area, and says growers have been using a lot of it lately to protect their crops from recent freezes.

The backstory:

Temperatures fell to near-below freezing in parts of the Tampa Bay area, forcing many growers to spray water onto their crops to protect them.

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