District recognizes July 2021 as Lakes Appreciation Month

St. Johns River Water Management District on Tuesday recognized July 2021 as Lakes Appreciation Month. Pictured (from left) are District Water and Land Resources Division Director Dr. Erich Marzolf, Governing Board members Chris Peterson, Ryan Atwood, Chairman Gen. Douglas Burnett and Janet Price, District Executive Director Dr. Ann Shortelle, District General Counsel Mary Ellen Winkler, Board Vice Chairman Rob Bradley and Board member Doug Bournique.

PALATKA, Fla., July 13, 2021 — Florida has more than 4,200 natural lakes, and nearly 1,500 of those are within the boundaries of the St. Johns River Water Management District. On Tuesday, the District’s Governing Board recognized July 2021 as Lakes Appreciation Month, joining the North American Lake Management Society (NALMS) and groups around the country in the annual proclamation to raise awareness of lakes’ importance and benefits.

“Preserving and restoring the lakes in our District is at the heart of our work,” said St. Johns River Water Management District Executive Director and former NALMS president Dr. Ann Shortelle. “By implementing proven approaches, the District and our partners are achieving significant improvements, such as reducing phosphorus concentrations while pilot testing new technologies to improve our lakes’ health.”

The St. Johns River has many large lakes along its length, starting with Blue Cypress Lake at its headwaters and flowing though Washington, Harney, Jesup, Monroe and George along its path to the ocean. Lake Apopka is the headwaters of the Ocklawaha River and chain of lakes, and Newnans Lake is the headwaters of the Orange Creek Basin.

NALMS makes the annual proclamation to raise awareness of the importance of lakes and the benefits they provide, highlighting the value of water and open spaces, recreation and how they serve in aquifer recharge, as well as helping to reduce the force and effects of flooding. In addition, NALMS conducts its annual Secchi Dip-In each July. Started in the United States, the Secchi Dip-In is now an international effort in which volunteers produce a “snapshot” of water transparency in lakes around the world.

For information about waterways within the District, visit www.sjrwmd.com/waterways. Join the conversation at #sjrwmd #NALMS #loveourlakes.