Newsroom

The district Governing Board on Tuesday approved the ranking of projects to share in up to $2.83 million in cost-share funds to benefit water resources in Rural Economic Development Initiative (REDI) communities and for projects that use innovative technology to provide data supporting future permitting and full-scale implementation of alternative water supplies.

The district’s Governing Board voted Tuesday to transfer its Edgefield property, including the Dog Branch Regional Stormwater Treatment Facility, to Putnam County. The transfer will help Putnam County meet its obligation under state water quality rules to reduce nutrients entering the St. Johns River.

Data collected by the district shows rainfall during November was above average in most areas, except for a zone of below-average rainfall in the district’s southernmost counties. A full report outlining hydrological conditions was presented at the district’s December Governing Board meeting.

The district is asking homeowners across its 18-county region to join the statewide “Skip a Week” campaign to save water during the cooler months of December, January and February when weekly irrigation isn’t always needed.

The district is hosting the Gainesville chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission for its youth deer hunt Dec. 1–2 on portions of the Longleaf Flatwoods Reserve and the Newnans Lake Conservation Area in Alachua County.

A small section of the Three Forks Trail in Indian River County will be closed until June due to a construction project in the Upper St. Johns River Basin.

The district’s Seminole Ranch Conservation Area will host veteran’s group Operation Outdoor Freedom for a guided deer hunt Nov. 27–29. The property will remain open to recreation during this time; signage about the hunt will be placed at property entry points.