Meetings and announcements

March 20

10 a.m.

The St. Johns River Water Management District (District) will hold an online public meeting for the Apshawa Lake South minimum flows and levels (MFLs) peer reviewers to present their initial findings to the District. The purpose of establishing MFLs for Apshawa Lake South is to protect this priority water body from significant harm due to groundwater withdrawals.

Conference call
Phone: 386-256-1151
ID: 770 398 916#

Microsoft TEAMS meeting
ID: 222 021 078 781
TEAMS meeting Passcode: qHhhwQ

April 16

6-8 p.m.

The District’s Southern Recreational Public Meeting will be held at the District’s Palm Bay Service Center, Blue Cypress conference room, 525 Community College Parkway, S.E., Palm Bay, FL 32909. This meeting will include updates on District public lands in the southern portion of the District and will provide an opportunity for public comment. Comments may also be emailed to SouthernRecreationComments@sjrwmd.com. Questions may be directed to Patrick McCord at 386-643-1154 or pjmccord@sjrwmd.com.

Meeting agenda

April 25

10 a.m.

Partners in the Central Florida Water Initiative (CFWI) will hold a technical methods workshop by teleconference. The workshop registration and link information will be posted on this page.

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.

Recreation announcements

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.

Posted 10-18-2023

A portion of Black Creek Ravines Conservation Area is undergoing sandhill restoration as part of the District’s long-term forest management and ecological restoration/enhancement plan. The 160-acre restoration area is in the sandhill west of the powerline corridor. Pile burning is anticipated to continue through summer 2024, and prescribed burns will be conducted on an 18- to 36-month cycle to keep the habitat healthy and to enhance native sandhill species. Learn more at www.sjrwmd.com/lands/recreation/black-creek-ravines.

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.

L-77 idle zone map

Posted 3-6-2024

Econ Sandhills Conservation Area is temporarily closed for a fuel reduction project. Heavy-duty machines will be onsite through the end of March 2024, mowing portions of the project area to reduce the height of some of the vegetation. After mowing, prescribed burning will occur when conditions are suitable. Approximately 55 acres that have been difficult to maintain with prescribed fire due to the high fuel load present will be affected. The initial project area is located near the property’s entrance (see map). Once the initial area has been completed, work will begin along the western boundary (see map). Econ Sandhills Conservation Area will reopen as soon as conditions are safe to do so.

Map of Econ Sandhills Conservation Area closures

Posted 6-22-2023

The footbridge on the red trail within the Fort Drum Marsh Conservation Area is closed until notice. The footbridge was damaged and needs repairs for the public’s safety. Please see map for location.

Fort Drum Marsh Conservation Area closure map
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.

Heart Island Conservation Area Still Road timber sale map
Flat Road Timber sale

Posted 9-28-2023

Areas within Heart Island Conservation Area totaling 424 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 July 12, 2024. This work could impact hunting within the Lake George Wildlife Management Area.

Map of timber sale
Truck Trail 12 Timber sale

Posted 9-28-2023

Areas within Heart Island Conservation Area totaling 116 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 May 16, 2024. This work could impact hunting within the Lake George Wildlife Management Area.

Map of truck trail timber sale map
Deep Creek Timber sale

Posted 9-29-2023

Areas within Heart Island Conservation Area totaling 178 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 November 15, 2024. This work could impact hunting within the Lake George Wildlife Management Area.

Map of Deep Creek timber sale 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.

Bayard Timber Sale map
County Rd. 224 Timber sale

Posted 9-28-2023

Areas within J.P. Hall Bayard Point Conservation Area totaling 161 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 August 28, 2024. This work could impact hunting within the Bayard Wildlife Management Area.

Bayard Point timber sale map

Updated 1-22-2024

The access road to the Julington-Durbin Preserve parking area will experience periodic closures the week of Jan. 22-26 as crews dig the trench to install underground utilities for a permanent restroom structure. The new restroom will be constructed in summer 2024 on the eastern side of the parking area; construction for utilities is anticipated to be complete by the end of March.

Julington Creek roadwork map

Updated on 2-12-2024

A District contractor began working along the slope of Welland Road Feb. 12 to install a “sock” geotextile material. Work is ongoing each weekday and is expected to continue through Feb. 23. During this time, hikers and bicycle riders will be rerouted. In addition, the Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive will be open, but detoured to the Lakeshore Spur to avoid the construction.

In another project, a contractor will be removing part of the internal levee north of Roach Road, with work ongoing through the end of April during which time the road will be closed Monday through Thursday. With the exception of the closure/rerouting on Feb. 16 and 23, the wildlife drive will be open as normal Friday through Sunday.

Map of a section of the Lake Apopka North Shore

Updated on 1-29-2024

The District will be conducting maintenance work at Lake Apopka North Shore beginning Nov. 27, 2023, continuing through April 2024. Signs are posted along the roadways within the property to direct visitors around the restoration and maintenance work.

Work to be conducted includes grading and adding a sealant to the end of the Wildlife Drive near the intersection of Interceptor and Lake Level roads to the exit gate on Jones Avenue. Work will necessitate closing the west side of the Lake Apopka Loop Trail, but there is other access to the property through the Clay Island or Green Mountain entrances. A section of the middle of the trail, along the AB Canal, from the bridge to the marsh flow-way pump station is closed.

West Side Trails map
East Side Trails map

Posted 12-11-2023

Lochloosa Wildlife Conservation Area’s Burnt Island Road airboat crossing will be closed Dec. 13, 2023, for repairs and should reopen Monday, Dec. 18. The airboat crossing will be closed to boat traffic but Burnt Island Road will remain open to public vehicles during the repairs.

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.

Map of Lochloosa Wildlife 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.

Rice Creek Trail closure map

Posted 7-7-2023

An area within Silver Springs Forest Conservation Area totaling 165 acres (see map) will undergo a fuelwood harvest 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 May 18, 2024. This work could impact hunting within the Silver Springs Forest Wildlife Management Area.

Map of Silver Springs construction areas

Posted 10-2-2023

Beginning Oct. 3, the S-157 structure located along the C-54 canal in St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park will be closed to the public. This closure is necessary as the structure undergoes rehabilitation construction, which is anticipated to continue through July 2024.

During this period, public access to and across the S-157 structure will not be permitted. The restricted area will also include the manatee overlook pavilion. Alternate access points to the state park can be found on the park map available here.

Please monitor this page for updates or contact St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park at 321-953-5005.

Posted 11-3-2023

Beginning Nov. 3, a logging crew will begin operations at the Sunnyhill Restoration Area South Tract and is anticipated to be in the area for at least 30 to 45 days. The recreational trail system will be intermittently affected by the timber operation in multiple locations throughout the property. Trail closure signs will be posted along the trails as needed during the operation.

Map of Sunnyhill construction area

Temporary website outages

We want your visit to www.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.

Office closures

2024

  • May 27
  • July 4
  • Sept. 2
  • Nov. 11
  • Nov. 28–29
  • Dec. 25