Meetings and Announcements

Upcoming Meetings

Joint District Public meeting August 28th – CFWI MFLs Priority Lists and Schedules

The St. Johns River Water Management District (District) will participate in a joint workshop with Southwest and South Florida water management districts, on the draft 2026 minimum flows and levels (MFLs) priority list and schedule. This workshop is an opportunity for District staff to publicly present the draft priority list and schedule and take stakeholder comment. The District updates its MFLs priority list annually.
Event details:

  • Date: Aug. 28, 2026
  • Time: 10:00 a.m.
  • Where:
    Microsoft TEAMS Teleconference
    Meeting Link: sjrwmd.info/CFWI-MFLs-Joint-Public-Meeting
    Meeting ID: 276 018 356 470 04
    Meeting Passcode: TH7q8JF3
  • For people who cannot attend via TEAMS, the following call-in number information is provided:
    Call in number: 1-386-256-1151
    Phone Conference ID: 263 689 344, then press #

Establishing MFLs is an important component of the District’s work of planning for adequate water supplies for today and for future generations while also protecting the District’s water resources. Visit www.sjrwmd.com/minimumflowsandlevels/ for information about MFLs. Please direct any questions to Andrew Sutherland at asutherl@sjrwmd.com.

Recreation Announcements

Headwaters Boat Ramp temporary recurring closures – In effect

February 2, 2026

The District has implemented temporary, recurring closures of the Headwaters Boat Ramp, including the kayak launch, at the Fellsmere Water Management Area to support scheduled maintenance and restoration activities.

The ramp will be closed Monday, July 6, through Thursday, July 9.

This will reoccur during the first full week of each month from now through September 2026, excluding federal holidays.

During these closures, western levee trails will remain open for hiking and bank fishing. Alternative boat access will continue to be available at nearby District-managed properties, including the Fellsmere Grade Recreation Area (Stick Marsh) and the C-54 Boat Ramp.

For closure dates, frequently asked questions, and additional details, please view the full press release here.

Temporary Road Closure on McDonald Canal Road

July 29, 2026
Map of Lake Apopka North Shore with McDonald Canal Road indicated for closure

McDonald Canal Road will be closed to all traffic Aug. 3–7 while the District’s Operations and Maintenance staff and their contractor install a pipe across the roadway.

The closure will be in effect from Lake Level Canal Road to the Loop Trail Spur (between Duda Crossroads and the North Shore Trailhead). Please refer to map for the closure location.

The Loop Trail and Wildlife Drive will remain open and will not be affected by this temporary road closure.

Please use caution in the area and plan accordingly. We appreciate your patience while this work is completed.

Clay Island Loop Trail

June 23, 2026

A portion of the Clay Island Loop Trail will be closed for the next two weeks.  Operations and Maintenance are working on the Flow-Way Pump Basin, and both roads going south are blocked.  The east-west road going from the AB Canal to the Clay Island Trailhead will remain open (this is also part of the Lake Apopka Loop Trail), but please be extremely cautious in this area.

Rice Creek Conservation Area

May 4, 2026

An area within the Nine Mile Tract of the Rice Creek Conservation Area (see map) is undergoing a pine thinning. Tree stand densities are high, and the purpose of the thinning is to remove diseased, defective and suppressed trees to create openings in the canopy, freeing up growing space for the healthiest trees. Please use caution when accessing the property for recreation, including hunting. The contract allows the work to be conducted through March 12, 2027.

 

Pellicer Creek Conservation Area

May 4, 2026

An area within the Pellicer Creek Conservation Area (see map) is undergoing a pine thinning. Tree stand densities are high, and the purpose of the thinning is to remove diseased, defective and suppressed trees to create openings in the canopy, freeing up growing space for the healthiest trees. Please use caution when accessing the property for recreation. The contract allows the work to be conducted through April 13, 2027.

 

Orange Creek Restoration Area

May 4, 2026

An area within the Orange Creek Restoration Area (see map) is undergoing a pine thinning. Tree stand densities are high, and the purpose of the thinning is to remove diseased, defective and suppressed trees to create openings in the canopy, freeing up growing space for the healthiest trees. Please use caution when accessing the property for recreation, including hunting. The contract allows the work to be conducted through April 1, 2027.

 

Lochloosa Wildlife Conservation Area

May 4, 2026

An area within the Lochloosa Wildlife Conservation Area (see map) is undergoing a pine thinning. Tree stand densities are high, and the purpose of the thinning is to remove diseased, defective and suppressed trees to create openings in the canopy, freeing up growing space for the healthiest trees. Please use caution when accessing the property for recreation, including hunting (quota permit required).  Work is anticipated to continue through May 15, 2027.

Longleaf Flatwoods Reserve

May 4, 2026

An area within the River Styx Tract of the Longleaf Flatwoods Reserve (see map) is undergoing a pine thinning. Tree stand densities are high, and the purpose of the thinning is to remove diseased, defective and suppressed trees to create openings in the canopy, freeing up growing space for the healthiest trees. Please use caution when accessing the property for recreation. The contract allows the work to be conducted through April 2, 2027.

 

Lake George Conservation Area

May 4, 2026

An area within the Lake George Conservation Area (see map) is undergoing a pine thinning. Tree stand densities are high, and the purpose of the thinning is to remove diseased, defective and suppressed trees to create openings in the canopy, freeing up growing space for the healthiest trees. Please use caution when accessing the property for recreation, including primitive tent camping (reservation required) and hunting.  Work is anticipated to continue through June 15, 2027.

Clark Bay Conservation Area

May 4, 2026

An area within the Clark Bay Conservation Area (see map) is undergoing a pine thinning. Tree stand densities are high, and the purpose of the thinning is to remove diseased, defective and suppressed trees to create openings in the canopy, freeing up growing space for the healthiest trees. Please use caution when accessing the property. The contract allows the work to be conducted through Oct. 8, 2026.

For more information about property closures, please visit recreation and lands.

Temporary Website Outages

We want your visit to sjrwmd.com to be a positive and productive experience. At times, we will need to perform routine hardware and software maintenance that may cause some areas of the site to be intermittently off-line. We do apologize for this temporary, but necessary, inconvenience. We are working diligently to quickly restore complete functionality to the site.

Next scheduled outage:

  • None

Governing Board

For schedules, agendas, and livestream links visit Governing Board.

Office Closures

No scheduled office closures at this time.