Category: News

Potable Water Restrictions in Force from April 3rd

Posted on by Joe Browne

Due to extreme drought conditions,
watering restrictions have changed
in Venice City from
April 3rd.

The interpretation is that this restriction, as mentioned in the Venice pamphlet below, impacts residents 

who use potable water for car washing, 

who irrigate with a sprinkler connected to their potable water supply, or 

who water plants in their garden or landscape using a water hose connected to the outside water faucet. 

The drought is curtailing use to specific hours or days depending on your address.

The source for the potable water is the Venice Water Treatment Plant which is near the intercostal/Venice bridge at 200 North Warfield Ave.

Venice Utilities asks that we also limit use of irrigation water which is supplied to the VGRC via the Water Reclamation facility at 3510 East Laurel Road.

The Southwest Florida Water Management District, known as Swiftmud, says the region currently has a 13.7 inch rainfall deficit compared with the average 12 month total. Aquifers, rivers and lakes continue to decline and “public water supplies are extremely low for this time of year.

The most recent 12-month period (ending March 2026) has been significantly drier than normal. This follows a particularly dry calendar year in 2025, which saw only 37.75 inches total.

To track your household water usage, like everything else it seems, there is an app! See EyeOnWater and register. This app uses your water meter to gauge how much water you use by day, by week or by month. More significantly, it will alert you when you have a leak.

The changes for City residents are as follows:

  • Watering hours (sprinklers)
    • BEFORE: Watering before 8 a.m. or after 6 p.m., once per week
    • NOW: Watering 12:01 a.m. to 4 a.m. OR 8 p.m. to 11:59 p.m., once per week
  • Hand watering
    • BEFORE: Any day, any time
    • NOW: Any day before 8 a.m. or after 6 p.m.
  • Vehicle/boat washing
    • BEFORE: Once per week, any time
    • NOW: Once per week, 12:01 a.m. to 4 a.m. OR 8 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.
  • New lawns/landscaping
    • BEFORE: First 60 days, any day during restricted hours
    • NOW: First 30 days, any day during restricted hours, AND days 31-60, 3 days per week during restricted hours

Eagles Nests Nearby the Venetian (originally posted January 2025)

Posted on by Joe Browne

One of the coolest things about living in the Venice area is how close we are to all these amazing parks, preserves, and reserves. It’s like we’re surrounded by nature’s own playground! One of the highlights is definitely getting to see eagles and other wildlife in their natural habitat. There are several eagle nests right in our backyard, and it’s all thanks to folks like Venetian resident Rick Cordner, an Audubon Eagle Watch Volunteer, who keeps a close watch on these nests and shares his observations.

If you’re curious, check out the Audubon Florida EagleWatch Public Nest Map. You’ll spot some nests really close to us.  If you go to these nests, suggest you bring binoculars.

SA058 & SA080 at Oscar Scherer Park, on the left.  On Sunday mornings, Park volunteers have scopes set up for viewing SA058.  See map on the left. (There is some concern about this nest — after incubation, both adults were recently seen away from the nest.). SA080 is a bit of a trek out to marker 12A. 

SA011 is in Scherer Thaxton Preserve (see trail map) off Honore Avenue. This nest is close to Marker 10 on the map.

SA096

The image on the left is a photo of eagles at SA096. This nest is just north of us off Gene Green Road — the road does not extend the entire way to the nest.  It is recommended to visit this nest only on Sundays to avoid cement trucks and other commercial traffic along the road.  

The image on the right is at SA088 which is in a cell tower off Laurel Road on Vistera Blvd.  The eagles have been building a nest in the east tower, however, the nest needs to be checked for recent occupancy. 

SA088
All the nests around the Venetian Golf and River Club which is in the lower center of the graphic.

The Audubon EagleWatch Program is pretty awesome too. They’ve got over 600 volunteers keeping an eye on more than 1000 eagle nests across Florida, spreading awareness and working hard on conservation efforts for these magnificent birds.

If you’re thinking about volunteering or just observing these nests, remember to do so respectfully. Please don’t disturb the nests, and keep your distance – at least 330 feet away on the ground. Let’s help keep these eagles safe and sound in their homes!  Pictures of the eagles were supplied by Rick Cordner.