District recognizes July 2019 as Lakes Appreciation Month

Left to right: Board member Douglas Bournique, Dr. Erich Marzolf, Board members Susan Dolan and Gen. Douglas Burnett, District Executive Director Dr. Ann Shortelle, Board Chairman Fred N. Roberts, Board member Charles “Chuck” Drake, Deputy General Counsel Mary Ellen Winkler, Board member Ron Howse

PALATKA, Fla., July 9, 2019 ― With nearly 1,500 lakes within its boundaries, the St. Johns River Water Management District’s Governing Board on Tuesday recognized July 2019 as Lakes Appreciation Month to raise awareness of the importance and benefits provided by Florida’s lakes.

“By adopting a proclamation today, the district recognizes the importance of increasing public awareness of the value of Florida’s lakes and encouraging behaviors that will enhance lakes’ health,” said Dr. Erich Marzolf, director of the district’s Division of Water and Land Resources and the Region 4 director on the North American Lake Management Society (NALMS) Board of Directors.

Marzolf represents Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee on the NALMS board.

The St. Johns District joins other organizations across Florida and the nation in recognizing Lakes Appreciation Month, and NALMS annually proclaims July as Lakes Appreciation Month. The intent of the annual resolution is to raise awareness of the importance and benefits lakes provide. 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/.