The District is conducting a 71-acre prescribed fire at the Sand Lake Restoration Area in Indian River County today. The burn area is in the northeastern portion of the property, west of I-95. The objective of this prescribed fire is to support the ecological maintenance of fire-dependent natural communities and to reduce hazardous fuel loads, mitigating the risk of future wildfire.

The St. Johns River Water Management District is conducting a 178-acre prescribed fire on the northeastern portion of Hal Scott Regional Preserve and Park in Orange County, situated in the Middle St. Johns River Basin. Its purpose is to reduce hazardous fuel loads, improve habitat for the red-cockaded woodpecker and maintain fire dependent natural communities.

The Headwaters Boat Ramp, including the kayak launch, at the Fellsmere Water Management Area (FWMA) will be temporarily closed May 4–7 as the District begins a series of scheduled monthly closures to support maintenance and habitat restoration activities.

The St. Johns River Water Management District (District) will host a public meeting on the draft 2026 Ocklawaha River Basin Plan. District staff will present regional priorities and objectives and provide an opportunity for questions and public comment.

Eleven years after opening to the public, the St. Johns River Water Management District’s Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive continues to grow in popularity, now welcoming more than 200,000 visitors each year. The one-way, 11-mile drive winds through a mosaic of wetlands, levees and canals, offering exceptional opportunities to experience Florida’s native wildlife.

The St. Johns River Water Management District announced the release of the 2025 Indian River Lagoon (IRL) seagrass monitoring data during today’s Governing Board meeting, showing continued expansion in both seagrass coverage and density across the system.

The District is issuing a Phase III Extreme Water Shortage declaration in response to ongoing exceptional drought conditions, declining groundwater levels and reduced surface water flows across northeast and central Florida.

The St. Johns River Water Management District has opened the public comment period for the draft 2026 Ocklawaha River Basin Plan.

During its Tuesday meeting, the St. Johns River Water Management District (District) voted to adopt the Indian River Lagoon and Upper St. Johns River Basin Strategic Basin Plan, formalizing a long-term framework to guide restoration and water quality initiatives across the region.

The District’s latest hydrologic conditions report shows drought conditions continuing across much of the region as April marked the sixth consecutive month of below-average rainfall. While portions of the southern District received significant rainfall during the first half of the month, conditions remained considerably drier across many northern and central counties. Over the past 12 months, 13 counties recorded rainfall totals below their historical averages, including seven counties that are more than 14 inches below normal.