Important update on using the Lake Washington weir
We are asking for the boating public’s help in preventing damage to Lake Washington. For anyone operating an airboat in this area, it is imperative that you use the airboat crossing in order to prevent future damage to the embankment. Please see our flyer for additional information.
Following is a list of properties that are closed or have portions closed due to ongoing land management activities. We regret the temporary inconvenience, but the closures are necessary for public safety. If you have concerns or comments about any of these activities, please contact us at landmgmt@sjrwmd.com or 386-329-4404.
- Blue Cypress Conservation Area
- Clark Bay Conservation Area
- Fellsmere Grade Recreation Area
- Heart Island Conservation Area
- J.P. Hall Bayard Point Conservation Area
- Lake Apopka North Shore
- Lake George Conservation Area
- Lochloosa Wildlife Conservation Area
- Rice Creek Conservation Area
- Silver Springs Forest Conservation Area
- Three Forks Conservation Area
- Thomas Creek Conservation Area
Blue Cypress Conservation Area
Updated 2-7-2023
The area along the L-77 West Levee in the Blue Cypress Water Management Area, also known as Lake Garcia, has been designated an idle speed zone. Signs have been posted on property and are located at the motorboat and airboat ramps of the 512 recreation area. The idle speed zone extends 300 feet east of the L-77 West levee. To assist boaters navigate around the work area and in identifying the no wake zone, the District has installed orange buoys with strobing lights in Lake Garcia.
This idle speed zone has been temporarily established to alleviate erosion at the levee toe and will remain in place for approximately two years as the District works on planned reinforcements to the levee and littoral zone.
See recreational map for other areas to visit in the area.
Posted 2-6-2023
The District has closed the airboat cross-over on L-77 west for approximately two months while repair work is ongoing. This crossing is located west of the 512 recreation area. The closure is for the public’s safety. During the construction, truck will be hauling materials and crossing the airboat cross-over, making it necessary to place a load of fill on the cross-over to protect it from damage.
Clark Bay Conservation Area (Southside Timber Sale)
Posted 11-16-2022
Areas within Clark Bay Conservation Area totaling 181 acres (see map) will undergo a first thinning timber sale. The objective of this sale is tree density reduction, freeing up growing space for the best quality trees, thus maintaining and improving forest health. The white hiking trail may be impacted by the thinning operation. When work is underway, please be careful with the logging trucks entering and exiting the property. Contracts allow the work to be conducted through August 1, 2023. This work could impact hunting within the Tiger Bay Wildlife Management Area.
Fellsmere Grade Recreation Area
Posted 3-16-2023
The airboat ramp at Fellsmere Grade Recreation Area, locally known as the Stick Marsh, will be closed for maintenance from March 20 to April 3. During the maintenance, airboaters may use either of the two concrete boat ramps at the site to launch for access to the District’s Blue Cypress Conservation Area. This maintenance project includes removing all existing decking and replacing with new composite deck boards.
Heart Island Conservation Area (Bullpen Timber Sale)
Posted 11-16-2022
Areas within Heart Island Conservation Area totaling 288 acres (see map) will undergo a first thinning timber sale. The objective of this sale is tree density reduction, freeing up growing space for the best quality trees, thus maintaining and improving forest health. Various interior roads may be impacted by the thinning operation. When work is underway, please be careful with the logging trucks entering and exiting the property. Contracts allow the work to be conducted through June 3, 2023. This work could impact hunting within the Lake George Wildlife Management Area.
Heart Island Conservation Area (Still Road Timber Sale)
Posted 3-21-2023
Areas within Heart Island Conservation Area totaling 235 acres (see map) will undergo a pine plantation second thinning timber sale. The objective of this sale is tree density reduction, freeing up growing space for the best quality trees, thus maintaining and improving forest health. Various interior roads may be impacted by the thinning operation. When work is underway, please be careful with the logging trucks entering and exiting the property. Contracts allow the work to be conducted through February 24, 2024. This work could impact hunting within the Lake George Wildlife Management Area.
J.P. Hall Bayard Point Conservation Area (Bayard Timber Sale)
Posted 11-16-2022
Areas within J.P. Hall Bayard Point Conservation Area totaling 81 acres (see map) will undergo a pine and hardwood thinning to facilitate sandhill ecosystem restoration. The group camp entry road may be impacted by the thinning operation. When work is underway, please be careful with the logging trucks entering and exiting the property. Contracts allow the work to be conducted through August 1, 2023. This work could impact hunting within the Bayard Wildlife Management Area.
Lake Apopka North Shore
Updated 3-16-2023
The District will conduct maintenance at the Lake Apopka North Shore property beginning March 20, 2023, to replace a Bailey bridge on Highway 448A. During this time, the McDonald Canal boat ramp, the Shad boat ramp and the North Shore trailhead will be inaccessible. Additional work is tentatively set to begin March 27 on another bridge on Lust Road. Any construction delays the week of March 27 may prohibit us from opening the Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive the weekend of March 31.
Lake George Conservation Area
Posted 7-22-2022
Areas within Lake George Conservation Area totaling 150 acres (see map) will undergo a second thinning timber sale. The objective of this sale is tree density reduction, freeing up growing space for the best quality trees, thus maintaining and improving forest health. Various interior roads may be impacted by the thinning operation. When work is underway, please be careful with the logging trucks entering and exiting the property. Contracts allow the work to be conducted through April 15, 2023. This work could impact hunting within the Lake George Wildlife Management Area.
Lake George Conservation Area (Barrs Landing Timber Sale)
Posted 11-16-2022
Areas within Lake George Conservation Area totaling 375 acres (see map) will undergo a second thinning timber sale with a small patch of clearcut harvest. The objective of this sale is tree density reduction, freeing up growing space for the best quality trees, thus maintaining and improving forest health. Various interior roads may be impacted by the thinning operation. When work is underway, please be careful with the logging trucks entering and exiting the property. Contracts allow the work to be conducted through October 17, 2023. This work could impact hunting within the Lake George Wildlife Management Area.
Lochloosa Wildlife Conservation Area (Timber Sale)
Posted 3-21-2023
An area within Lochloosa Wildlife Conservation Area totaling 207 acres (see map) will undergo a second thinning timber sale. Some internal roads may be impacted. When work is underway, please be careful with the logging trucks entering and exiting the property. The contract allows the work to be conducted through December 5, 2023. This work could impact hunting within the Lochloosa Wildlife Management Area.
Rice Creek Conservation Area
Posted 3-16-2022
Effective 3/16/2022, the District has closed a portion of the Levee Trail on Rice Creek Conservation Area due to repairs needed on a foot bridge crossing Rice Creek. The portion will be closed indefinitely but does not affect the entire Levee Trail or the Florida National Scenic Trail.
Silver Springs Forest Conservation Area (Marked Thinning FY-2020)
Posted 9-23-2021
Areas within Silver Springs Forest Conservation Area totaling 187 acres (see map) will undergo a second thinning marked timber sale. The objective of this sale is tree density reduction, freeing up growing space for the best quality trees, thus maintaining and improving forest health. Various interior roads may be impacted by the thinning operation. When work is underway, please be careful with the logging trucks entering and exiting the property. Contracts allow the work to be conducted through June 3, 2023. This work could impact hunting within the Silver Springs Forest Wildlife Management Area.
Silver Springs Forest Conservation Area (Silver Springs 2021 Timber Sale)
Updated on 3-21-2023
Areas within Silver Springs Forest Conservation Area totaling 380 acres (see map) will undergo a first thinning timber sale. The objective of this sale is tree density reduction, freeing up growing space for the best quality trees, thus maintaining and improving forest health. Various interior roads may be impacted by the thinning operation. When work is underway, please be careful with the logging trucks entering and exiting the property. Contracts allow the work to be conducted through June 30, 2023. This work could impact hunting within the Silver Springs Forest Wildlife Management Area.
Three Forks Conservation Area
Posted 2-20-2023
Stick Marsh/Farm 13 and the Three Forks Conservation Area are undergoing a drawdown as part of a collaborative habitat restoration project with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission in the St. Johns Water Management Area. The drawdown will be conducted from February to August 2023.
The restoration work includes planting native aquatic plants, bulrush and spatterdock, during the drawdown in the southern portion of the reservoir. The St. Johns Water Management Area boat ramp at the Stick Marsh/Farm 13 and the Thomas O. Lawton Recreation Area boat ramp at Three Forks Conservation Area will remain accessible during this project. Please be aware that shallower water can create underwater hazards. Boaters should operate at slower speeds and proceed with caution.
Thomas Creek Conservation Area (Acree Road Timber Sale)
Posted 3-21-2023
Areas within Thomas Creek Conservation Area totaling 167 acres (see map) will undergo a combination a timber sale. 63 acres of mature pine plantation will be clearcut and replanted. The objective of this clearcut is to reduce wildland fire fuel loading as well as to harvest trees that have stagnated in their growth. 104 acres of 17 year old pine plantation will undergo a first thinning. The objective of this thinning is tree density reduction, freeing up growing space for the best quality trees, thus maintaining and improving forest health.. Contracts allow the work to be conducted through February 24, 2024. This work could impact walk-in hunting within the Thomas Creek Wildlife Management Area – King’s Road Unit.
