Southwest Floria Water Management District (SWFWMD) is responsible for water resources in sixteen west central Florida counties: Charlotte, Citrus, DeSoto, Hardee, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Lake, Levy, Manatee, Marion, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Sarasota, and Sumter. Unofficially nicknamed "Swiftmud", the District is run by an 11-member governing board of unpaid volunteers appointed by the Governor of Florida and confirmed by the Florida Senate. The District has acquired about 325,000 acres (1,320 km²) of public conservation lands and operate a number of recreation areas open for public use.