Meetings and Announcements

Upcoming Meetings

No meetings scheduled at this time.

Southern Recreation Public Meeting

The District’s Southern Recreational Public Meeting is scheduled for 6–8 p.m. on Tuesday, April 21, 2026. The meeting will be held at the St. Johns River Water Management District’s Palm Bay Service Center, Blue Cypress Room, 525 Community College Parkway SE, Palm Bay, FL 32909.

The purpose of this meeting is to collect input from stakeholders regarding recreational use of District conservation land in the Upper St. Johns River Basin, South Region.

District staff will receive comments from the public during the meeting. If you are unable to attend in person and would like to provide a comment or question, please email SouthernRecreationComments@sjrwmd.com. The answers will be returned via email after the meeting.

Topics, as they relate to public recreational utilization of District lands, will include:

  • Overview of recreation on District land in the South Region
  • South Region land management and operations updates
  • Opportunity for public comment

Recreation Announcements

J.P. Hall Bayard Point Conservation Area

April 22, 2026

An area within J.P. Hall Bayard Point Conservation Area totaling 104 acres (see map) is undergoing a pine thinning. Some internal roads may be impacted as log trucks enter and exit Area 4. Please use caution when accessing the property for recreation, including primitive tent camping (reservation required). The contract allows the work to be conducted through March 24, 2027.

Burrell Lock Temporarily Closed

March 24, 2026

Burrell Lock is temporarily closed due to a warped miter gate and a leaking seal identified during ongoing operational testing. District staff are actively assessing both issues and working with the contractor to determine the necessary repairs to restore safe and reliable operations. At this time, a reopening timeframe has not been established.

We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience this causes and understand the disruption this may have on those who rely on the lock. We appreciate the public’s patience as we work to address these issues and will provide updates as more information becomes available.

Burn ban – Several counties

March 16, 2026

Alachua, Baker, and Bradford counties have enacted a countywide outdoor burn ban due to dry conditions and increased wildfire risk.

Under the burn ban, all outdoor burning, unless authorized by the Florida Forest Service, is prohibited, including on District lands. This includes bonfires, campfires, and cooking fires. Outdoor cooking done with a contained gas or charcoal grill (excluding a fire pit) is allowed under the ban.

Local burn bans are enacted by county governments. To see current county-enacted burn bans, please visit: Burn Ban Public Dashboard

Moses Creek Conservation Area

March 9, 2026
An aerial map of the Moses Creek Conservation Area in St. Johns County, Florida, showing planned 2026 mulch mowing areas outlined in yellow within a larger blue site boundary, overlaid on satellite imagery of forest, marsh, and nearby neighborhoods. The map highlights approximately 262 acres of mowing corridors and blocks along existing district roads and firelines, notes a red-hatched area where only sand pines will be mulched, and includes caution text advising that taking equipment through the center of the property is not recommended, with labeled access points at 596 Shores Boulevard and 1300 State Road 206 East for water management district operations.

From late March through July 2026, crews will be mulch mowing approximately 262 acres at Moses Creek Conservation Area. Portions of all trails (red, yellow and white) will be impacted, including access to the Murats Point reservable hike-in campsite. Please use caution when visiting the property and always maintain a safe distance from heavy equipment; visibility from these machines can be limited and operators may be unable to see people approaching. The project’s goals are to lessen the risk of wildfires and reduce the density of undesired woody species, making way for desired species such as longleaf and slash pine.

Operational Testing Underway at Burrell Lock

February 26, 2026

Operational testing at Burrell Lock is now underway. District staff have begun locking vessels through the structure as part of the testing process.

We appreciate the public’s patience as we work through initial operations. While boats are being accommodated, additional adjustments and fine-tuning are still underway to ensure the lock functions safely and efficiently.

Boaters are encouraged to follow on-site instructions and allow extra time during this testing phase.

Micco Water Management Area parking lot closure

February 26, 2026

The Micco Water Management Area parking lot will be closed from March 2 through April 30, 2026, for construction. During this time, the property will remain accessible via the yellow hiking trail from St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park.

Burrell Lock Opening Postponed

February 15, 2026

Burrell Lock will not reopen on Feb. 16, as previously announced, and will remain closed until further notice.

We appreciate your patience and will share updates when they become available.

Burn ban – Several counties

February 2, 2026

Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Brevard, Flagler, Indian River, Okeechobee, Osceola, Marion, Putnam, and Volusia counties have enacted a countywide outdoor burn ban due to dry conditions and increased wildfire risk.

Under the burn ban, all outdoor burning, unless authorized by the Florida Forest Service, is prohibited, including on District lands. This includes bonfires, campfires, and cooking fires. Outdoor cooking done with a contained gas or charcoal grill (excluding a fire pit) is allowed under the ban.

Local burn bans are enacted by county governments. To see current county-enacted burn bans, please visit: Burn Ban Public Dashboard

Fellsmere Water Management Area – Headwaters Boat Ramp temporary recurring closures

February 2, 2026

The District will implement 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 through Thursday during the first full week of each month from May 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.

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 at this time.

Governing Board

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

Office Closures

No office closures scheduled at this time.