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The District is conducting a 298-acre prescribed burn Friday at the Black Creek Ravines Conservation Area in Clay County near Green Road and County Road 218 in Middleburg.

The District is launching a project to mechanically harvest and remove mats of floating vegetation —and their associated nutrients — from waters within the Orange Creek Restoration Area.

Annual water use reporting conducted by the District shows that 2020 total water use was 1% lower than the five-year average but 4% higher than 2019.

The District is conducting four prescribed burns Thursday to enhance the environmental quality of District lands and reduce fuel loads and wildfire risk.

The District anticipates conducting a 900-acre prescribed burn Thursday at the Hal Scott Regional Preserve and Park, in Orange County.

The District is conducting a 199-acre prescribed burn Wednesday at the District’s Buck Lake Conservation Area in Brevard County.

On Tuesday, the District’s Governing Board recognized July 2021 as Lakes Appreciation Month, joining the North American Lake Management Society (NALMS) and groups around the country in the annual proclamation to raise awareness of lakes’ importance and benefits.

The District’s Governing Board today approved partnership agreements with four north Florida water supply utilities to participate in the Black Creek Water Resource Development Project

The District’s Governing Board approved a tentative budget Tuesday that maintains the current millage rate for taxpayers.

In a word, June was wet — and in some areas, extremely wet. The western edge of the District recorded more than 10 inches of rain in June.

The District is conducting three public workshops to discuss the draft Central Springs/East Coast Regional Water Supply Plan and to take public comment.

The District is reopening its public lands Thursday at noon, having completed safety assessments following Tropical Storm Elsa’s effects in north and east-central Florida.

District headquarters in Palatka, service centers in Jacksonville and Maitland and its field stations will reopen at 8 a.m., Thursday, July 9, in the wake of Tropical Storm Elsa.

The District will close its public lands and all offices north of I-4 on Wednesday in anticipation of effects from Tropical Storm Elsa.

The District Governing Board will hold its regular monthly meeting July 13 at its Palatka headquarters.

By being proactive ahead of a storm, homeowners can protect themselves and their property from flooding effects that are often the biggest problem associated with tropical systems in Florida. The District’s website provides easy access to valuable data and information to assist the public and local governments before, during and after severe storm events.

Public access to the most up-to-date water quality information in the St. Johns River and the Indian River Lagoon just got better, thanks to a web portal redesign by the District’s data collection and management team.

The District is now offering other Florida water management districts and the State of Florida access to a proprietary algicide treatment to fight cyanobacterial.

May rainfall was well below average across the District, with only a few areas of near-average rainfall.

The District Governing Board will hold its regular monthly meeting June 8 at its Palatka headquarters. The public is invited to attend and to offer in-person comment on Board agenda items.

While the start of hurricane season is just days away, the District works year-round to address resiliency through its core missions and through cost-share project funding with local partners.

The District has completed a $2.7 million maintenance and improvement project to the nearly 20-year-old Lake Apopka Marsh Flow-Way.

Now entering the sixth year of its Blue School Grant Program, the District anticipates offering up to $20,000 in grants for education projects that enrich student knowledge of Florida’s water resources through hands-on learning.

Today, Governor Ron DeSantis announced the appointment of Douglas Burnett and Ryan Atwood to the District’s Governing Board. 

Twenty-four projects will share in nearly $10.6 million from the District for construction of water supply and water conservation, water quality improvement, natural systems restoration and flood protection projects.

Access to Headwaters Lake Boat Ramp in Indian River County will be limited to one ramp while the St. Johns River Water Management District repairs the two ramps at the popular facility beginning May 15.

To promote and encourage efficient use of reclaimed water, the District’s Governing Board on Tuesday approved a resolution proclaiming May 16–22 as Water Reuse Week.

The District’s Governing Board on Tuesday approved a land exchange that will increase District conservation land on the St. Johns River by 1,200 acres.

While April is usually one of Florida’s drier months, above-average rainfall last month across the St. Johns River Water Management District benefited water levels in the Floridan aquifer.

The District Governing Board today voted to adopt revised minimum flows and levels (MFLs) for lakes Brooklyn and Geneva, in Keystone Heights.

The District Governing Board will hold its regular monthly meeting May 11 at its Palatka headquarters.

In Florida, April is typically a dry month when water demands are higher due to springtime planting and low rainfall amounts.

For the eighth consecutive year, the District’s Governing Board has approved a proclamation designating April as Springs Protection Awareness Month.

The District is nearing completion of the process to revise minimum flows and levels (MFLs) for lakes Brooklyn and Geneva, in Keystone Heights.

Fifteen agricultural projects will share in cost-share funds from two different funding programs of the District to assist farmers and growers on projects that conserve water and reduce nutrient loading to area waterways.

With below-average rainfall in March across the central and southern ends of the District, it’s a good reminder why April is Water Conservation Month in Florida.

The District and Brevard Zoo today celebrated the launch of an innovative cost-sharing project to reintroduce clams into the Indian River Lagoon with the goal of establishing new clam populations in the estuary.

The St. Johns River Water Management District Governing Board will hold its regular monthly meeting April 13 at the Cocoa City Hall.

The District will hold a virtual public meeting April 15 to discuss the management of District lands in its northern region.

The District will hold a public teleconference April 12 as part of the peer review process for the minimum flows and levels (MFLs) report for Sylvan Lake in Seminole County.

The District today officially launched a two-month pilot project to test an innovative treatment process to remove natural tannins and nutrients from Black Creek water.

Recreational users of the Loop Trail at Lake Apopka will experience a detour beginning March 15 to allow for construction activities on the District’s Lake Apopka Duda Property Water Storage Improvement Project.

Spring is a great time to give your automatic sprinkler system a checkup. As warm temperatures return and spring planting begins, the District’s seasonal Water Less campaign message focuses on irrigation system maintenance with the question “Did you set it and forget it?”

District Executive Director Dr. Ann Shortelle has been recognized by the U.S. Department of Defense Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) Program with its prestigious Employer Patriot Award for the agency’s strong support of its employees who serve in the National Guard and Reserve. District Governing Board Chairman Gen. Douglas Burnett, retired commanding officer of the Florida National Guard, presented the award to Dr. Shortelle at the board’s regular monthly meeting on March 9.

Water conservation is at the heart of the District’s mission of protecting and ensuring the sustainability of Florida’s water supplies. The District’s Governing Board on Tuesday approved a proclamation that designates April 2021 as Water Conservation Month to heighten awareness about the importance of water conservation.

February rainfall was above average throughout the St. Johns River Water Management District, although the northern half of the District received considerably more rain than the southern half.

The District will conduct a prescribed burn Tuesday totaling 6,000 acres at Three Forks Conservation Area in Brevard County. The purpose of the burn is to reduce hazardous fuel accumulations and to improve wildlife habitat conditions.

The District will conduct a prescribed burn totaling 9,600 acres at Three Forks Conservation Area in Brevard County. The purpose of the burn is to reduce hazardous fuel accumulations and to improve wildlife habitat conditions.

Join the District for a virtual journey along the 310 miles of the St. Johns River and head to places you may never have seen before.   

The District will hold a public teleconference on March 15 to discuss draft peer review findings for the minimum flows and levels (MFLs) report for Sylvan Lake in Seminole County.

Visitors to the District’s Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive (LAWD) this weekend will see their donations at work.

The District will hold a public webinar March 4 to discuss the draft technical memo and receive final stakeholder comments on the surface water model peer review for Red Bug Lake, in Seminole County.

Construction has started on a project to replace old cast-iron water pipes in the city of Palatka’s central downtown and eastern Palatka Heights communities.

The District will hold a public teleconference Feb. 23 to discuss management of lands within the south region of the District.

Visitors to the Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive should anticipate a temporary closure at the western McDonald/Canal roads section of the drive this weekend.

An annual progress report on the District’s water resource management and protection initiatives was approved by its Governing Board on Tuesday.

A dry weather trend continued across most of the District in January, with eight counties receiving less than a half-inch of rainfall over the month.

The District Board will hold its regular monthly meeting on Feb. 9 at the Apopka City Hall.

District surplus lab equipment is getting a second life in the Silver River Museum lab, which is being created to offer Marion County middle and high school students an opportunity to learn about water chemistry in the Silver River.

The District is accepting applications Jan. 14–Feb. 19 for both its Fiscal Year 2021-2022 Districtwide Cost-Share Program and its FY 2021-2022 funding program for REDI communities and innovative technology.

The District will hold a webinar on Jan. 28 to discuss flood risk reduction and emergency action plans for the Ocklawaha River and Upper St. Johns River federal flood control projects.

The District is offering three course options for community association managers (CAM) to earn free continuing education credits.

Many counties across the District had a very dry December, with the southern half of the District receiving less than an inch of rainfall over the month.

The District will hold a public teleconference Jan. 14 to discuss management of lands within the central portion of the District.

The District has created interim parking and a new small gate at the entrance of the Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive to allow pedestrian and bicycle access to the recreational Loop Trail as Orange County upgrades its Magnolia Park amenities.

The District is accepting cost-share applications through Jan. 29 from farmers, growers and ranchers interested in partnering on agricultural projects that promote water conservation.

Construction will begin this week on the Lake Apopka Duda Property Water Storage Improvement Project to improve water management abilities and reduce phosphorus loading to Lake Apopka through infrastructure improvements.

The District Governing Board today approved the contract for a $2.19 million project to reduce phosphorus loads to Lake Apopka through infrastructure improvements to the Duda portion of the North Shore.

The final month of 2020’s Atlantic hurricane season ended with good news for most counties in the District: No drought conditions, the Floridan aquifer system is in the high ranges, and Orlando-area springs are experiencing strong flows.

The District will hold a rule development workshop on Dec. 10 to discuss recovery strategies for the minimum levels in lakes Brooklyn and Geneva, located in Clay and Bradford counties.

The District is holding a virtual public hearing on Dec. 16 to take public comment on its draft 10-year land management plan for the Julington-Durbin Preserve.

The District will hold a public webinar on Dec. 16 to discuss initial peer review comments on the surface water model that will be used to develop minimum flows and levels (MFLs) for Red Bug Lake in Seminole County.

The District is hosting the Gainesville chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) for its annual youth and women’s deer hunts.

The District Governing Board will conduct its regular monthly meeting on Dec. 8 both electronically and in-person for the benefit of the public wishing to participate.

The District and other partners have received several reports of localized fish kills in the Indian River Lagoon over the past few days. District staff, along with Brevard County, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP), Indian River Lagoon National Estuary Program and others, are investigating.

The St. Johns River Water Management District’s Governing Board voted Tuesday to partner with Alachua Conservation Trust (ACT) and the Florida Forest Service (FFS) to purchase nearly 102 acres.

Nine agricultural projects will share in nearly $779,000 in cost-share funds from the District to improve water conservation and reduce nutrient loading to area waterways.

The District Governing Board on Tuesday awarded a contract for the construction of the Crane Creek/M-1 Canal Flow Restoration Project, a project aimed at reducing nutrient flows to the Indian River Lagoon.

The District’s Governing Board re-elected Gen. Douglas Burnett of St. Augustine to serve as its chairman for a second year.

The District Governing Board today approved an updated plan to address central Florida’s current and long-term water supply needs.

An extreme range of dry conditions in inland counties to very wet coastal counties in October demonstrated how fickle Florida’s seasonal rainfall patterns can be.

Visitors to the District’s widely popular Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive at the Lake Apopka North Shore now have the option to donate toward the drive’s upkeep.

An innovative project to fight algal blooms in Lake Minneola is getting under way this week with water quality monitoring.

The District Governing Board will conduct its regular monthly meeting on Nov. 10 both electronically and in-person for the benefit of the public wishing to participate.

The District’s free bimonthly Thursday morning webinar series continues with upcoming presentations on Indian River Lagoon water quality, protecting water resources through partnerships, and freshwater wetland restoration in the Upper St. Johns River Basin.

The District is hosting the Gainesville chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission for its annual youth and women’s deer hunts Nov. 13–15 and Dec. 4–6 on portions of the Longleaf Flatwoods Reserve and the Newnans Lake Conservation Area in Alachua County.

Starting Sunday, Nov. 1, homeowners and businesses across the 18 counties of the District should reset their automatic sprinkler systems to water no more than once a week.

The District will temporarily restrict public access around the service bridge and nearby levees at a water control structure known as S-96D in Indian River County while the structure undergoes renovation.

Fourteen schools in eight counties will receive Blue School Grant funding from the District for hands-on projects to enhance student development in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) related topics.

The District will hold a public teleconference to discuss management of lands within the Upper St. Johns River Basin, as well as projects and recreational management in the basin.

The District will hold a public webinar Oct. 27 to kick off the peer review of the surface water model being used to develop minimum flows and levels for Redbug Lake in Seminole County, within the Central Florida Water Initiative (CFWI) area.

High September rainfall has boosted the District’s cumulative 12-month rainfall totals over its long-term average by 2.65 inches.

The District Governing Board Tuesday adopted the 2020 Minimum Flows and Levels (MFL) priority list, which lays out the agency’s plan for completing and re-evaluating MFLs through 2024.

The District Governing Board will conduct its regular monthly meeting on Oct. 13 both electronically and in-person for the benefit of the public wishing to participate.

The District’s Governing Board on Tuesday adopted its fiscal year 2020-2021 budget and reduced its millage rate for an eighth consecutive year, keeping taxes low while providing significant funds for water resource protection and cost-share projects.

The District’s free Thursday morning webinar series continues with upcoming discussions about waterwise landscaping, agricultural innovation and how aerial imagery can help the District protect water resources.

The District’s Governing Board on Tuesday approved its 2021–2025 Strategic Plan, a five-year outlook for the agency in its work to protect water supplies, water quality and ecosystems, as well as protecting people, property and infrastructure from flooding.

August brought above-average rainfall across much of the District and shrank a 12-month rainfall deficit in Putnam, St. Johns and Flagler counties.

The eagerly anticipated new trailhead, picnic area and expanded parking area for the Bayard Conservation Area on State Road 16 in Clay County is now open, the District announced today.

The District Governing Board will hold its regular monthly meeting and budget hearing on Sept. 8 via teleconference.

The district will hold a public webinar on Sept. 24 to discuss draft minimum flows and levels (MFLs) for lakes Brooklyn and Geneva, in Clay and Bradford counties.

The District and the Florida Forest Service (FFS) are teaming up on a wildfire fuels mitigation project to help reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfires along the boundary between Hal Scott Regional Preserve and Park and the Wedgefield community in Orange County.

The district will hold two public workshops, including a joint workshop with Southwest and South Florida water management districts, on the draft 2020 minimum flows and levels priority list and schedule.

Take an online adventure into the world of water — visit the district’s updated educational webpages.

As Florida keeps a close eye on the path of Tropical Storm Laura, here are five tips from the district to prepare for heavy rains from severe storms, including torrential rain from recent summer thunderstorms.

The city of Cocoa Beach has completed improvements to its water reclamation facility, thanks in part to the district’s 2019 cost-share program.

The district is nearing completion of the process to set protective minimum flows and levels (MFLs) for Lake Butler, a 296-acre sandhill lake in Volusia County.

Along with the threat of a hurricane at the end of July, some portions of the district received copious rainfall.

The district is accepting applications through Sept. 8 from farmers, growers and ranchers interested in participating in the districtwide Agricultural Cost-share Program funding for agricultural projects that promote water conservation and reduce nutrient runoff.

Anglers rejoice! The district will open the highly anticipated Headwaters Lake Boat Ramp in Indian River County on Aug 10.

Teachers have until Sept. 4 to apply for 2020-2021 Blue School Grant funds from the district

Following Gov. Ron DeSantis’ directions to limit the size of public gatherings and practice social distancing to reduce the spread of COVID-19, the district Governing Board will hold its regular monthly meeting on Aug. 11 via teleconference.

Due to the potential effects of Hurricane Isaias, navigation through the Burrell Lock, Moss Bluff Lock and Apopka Lock and Dam will be closed at sundown today and navigation suspended through Sunday.

As Florida prepares for potential impacts from Hurricane Isaias, the district reminds northeast and east-central Floridians to bookmark its storm webpages.

The district will hold a public teleconference on Aug. 12 to discuss the recommended selection of a peer reviewer for the Sylvan Lake minimum flows and levels (MFLs) report.

The district’s Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive will be closed Sunday, Aug. 2.

Water quality in the Indian River Lagoon (IRL) is getting a boost, thanks to $25 million in funding approved by Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Florida Legislature for fiscal year 2020–2021.

Community association managers (CAM) are invited to earn free continuing education credits through the district’s certified training courses on water quality and water conservation best practices for communities.

The Moss Bluff Lock in Marion County has been repaired and is reopened. The district operates and maintains the structure, which serves as a navigational aid and flood control structure on the Ocklawaha River.

The Moss Bluff Lock in Marion County is temporarily closed due to a hydraulic/electrical issue. The district operates and maintains the structure, which serves as a navigational aid and flood control structure on the Ocklawaha River.

Annual water use reporting conducted by the district shows that 2019 total water use was 9 percent below the 10-year average.

The district will host a public webinar on July 29 to provide information about an innovative technology to reduce or eliminate harmful algal blooms in Lake Minneola.

The district’s Governing Board on Tuesday joined the North American Lake Management Society (NALMS) and groups around the country in recognizing July 2020 as Lakes Appreciation Month.

The district’s Governing Board Tuesday approved a tentative budget that reduces the millage rate for taxpayers for an 8th consecutive year.

Groundwater levels across the district rebounded slightly in June after a late spring downward trend, while rainfall varied with above-average rainfall in the north and western portions and below-average totals in coastal and southern regions.

Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Florida Legislature have approved $40 million in funding for fiscal year 2020-21 for development of water supply and water resource development projects.

The district Governing Board will conduct its regular monthly meeting on July 14 both electronically and in-person.

The district’s free Thursday morning webinar series continues with upcoming discussions about the Water Less outdoor water conservation campaign, setting minimum flows and levels and ensuring resiliency in Florida’s communities.

The district is conducting a pilot project in the DeBary Bayou in Volusia County involving the mechanical removal of nuisance and exotic vegetation.

The district’s Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive is reopening to vehicular access on Friday, June 12.

The district’s Governing Board on Tuesday authorized staff to begin rulemaking to set minimum flows and levels (MFLs) for Lake Butler, in Volusia County.

Two water conservation projects in the district’s portion of the Central Florida Water Initiative (CFWI) are under consideration for funding through a CFWI Water Conservation Cost-Share Program.

After a slow start, Florida’s rainy season kicked off in mid to late May, which rounded out the month with above-average rainfall.

A full-scale demonstration project of the district to remove phosphorus from treated wastewater is now working to reduce the overabundance of nutrients that cause algal blooms in Doctors Lake in Clay County. 

Summer afternoon showers and tropical rainfall mean that Mother Nature may be able to handle much of your lawn sprinkling over the next few months, saving water and your money.

Following Gov. Ron DeSantis’ directions to limit the size of public gatherings and practice social distancing to reduce the spread of COVID-19, the district Governing Board will hold its regular monthly meeting on June 9 through teleconference.

District Executive Director Dr. Ann Shortelle is the featured speaker on June 4 in the district’s free educational webinar series.

With the start of hurricane season just days away, the district’s website provides easy access to valuable data and information to assist the public and local governments before, during and after severe storm events.

Now entering the fifth year of its Blue School Grant Program, the district anticipates offering up to $20,000 in grants for education projects that enrich student knowledge of Florida’s water resources through hands-on learning.

The district’s Office of Communications was recently honored by the Jacksonville Chapter of the Florida Public Relations Association (FPRA) with a Grand All Image Award for its 2019 “Fall Back” outdoor water conservation campaign.

The district is reopening campsites on district lands. Effective 1 p.m. on Friday, May 22, both first-come/first-serve and reservable campsites are open.

The next topics in the district’s free educational webinar series include stormwater systems, Florida springs and the district’s core missions of water supply, water quality protection, natural systems and flood protection.

To promote and encourage efficient use of reclaimed water, the district’s Governing Board on Tuesday approved a resolution proclaiming May 17–23 as Florida Water Reuse Week.

Even with above-average rainfall in April, abnormally dry conditions continue throughout much of the district.

Mary-Lou Pickles, financial services director for the St. Johns River Water Management District, has been awarded the 2020 Lifetime Achievement Award by the Florida Government Finance Officers Association (FGFOA).

Following Gov. Ron DeSantis’ directions to limit the size of public gatherings and practice social distancing to reduce the spread of COVID-19, the district Governing Board will hold its regular monthly meeting on May 12 through teleconference.

The second in a series of free educational webinars about Florida’s water and its protection will be held Thursday, May 7, by the district.

The district will hold a series of Thursday morning educational webinars, beginning April 30, to explore the agency’s work to manage and protect water resources while engaging everyone to do their part.

To protect the health and safety of its staff and the public during the COVID-19 public health emergency, the district’s Governing Board held its regular monthly meeting today via teleconference.

Staying home is staying safe, and many parents of school-aged kids are looking for ways to keep those busy young minds engaged in learning. The district is bolstering its online water education resources to help both teachers and parent-teachers meet that challenge while at home.

With below-normal rainfall causing increasingly drier conditions, the district wants to remind water users about the importance of outdoor water conservation.

Following Gov. Ron DeSantis’ directions to reduce public gatherings and practice social distancing to reduce the spread of COVID-19, the St. Johns River Water Management District Governing Board will hold its regular monthly meeting on April 14 through teleconference.

The district is following continuing guidance from the state of Florida and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and taking proactive measures to protect staff and the public.

The St. Johns River Water Management District is taking steps to reduce the potential transmission of COVID-19 and protect the health and safety of its staff and the public. Effective today, all locations will be open only to employees.

The district’s Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive will be closed as a precaution this evening and will remain closed until further notice in response to concerns about the spread of the novel coronavirus commonly referred to as COVID-19.

The district is hosting the Gainesville chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) for FWC’s annual youth turkey hunt March 13–14 and women’s hunt on April 4–5 on portions of the district’s Longleaf Flatwoods Reserve and the Newnans Lake Conservation Area in Alachua County.

For the seventh consecutive year, the district’s Governing Board has approved a proclamation designating April as Springs Protection Awareness Month.

Most of the St. Johns River Water Management District is seeing dry conditions, with 16 of its 18 counties experiencing a 12-month rainfall deficit, including three counties with a 10-inch rainfall deficit.

With the change of the seasons, the district’s year-long #WaterLess campaign has shifted to focus on springtime watering needs and a timely reminder to give your sprinkler system a checkup.

With land clearing underway for the First Coast Expressway along State Road (SR) 16 in Clay County, the district will be relocating the SR 16 entrance and trailhead at its Bayard Conservation Area.

A portion of the district’s Lake Apopka Loop Trail will be temporarily closed from Tuesday, Feb. 18, through Thursday, Feb. 20. The closure is due to construction of a restoration project and is necessary to ensure public safety as the district anticipates heavy equipment in the area. Visitors during these days should follow detour signs.

The district’s Governing Board today approved an interlocal agreement with Brevard County for a project that will capture thousands of pounds of nutrients annually before they can reach the Indian River Lagoon and will restore clean water to the St. Johns River.

January kicked off the year with below-average rainfall across the entire 18-county St. Johns River Water Management District, adding to a rainfall deficit for the past 12 months.

A land management update and the Upper St. Johns River Basin project are among the items to be discussed Feb. 20 during the district’s Southern Recreational Public Meeting.

The district Board will hold its monthly meeting on Thursday, Feb. 13, at district headquarters in Palatka.

A $7.3 million partnership project between the city of Cocoa Beach, Brevard County, the district and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) will remove 200,000 cubic yards of muck from 12 canals in the Banana River Lagoon — and along with it,189,000 pounds of total nitrogen and 115,800 pounds of total phosphorus.

The district and North Florida Land Trust (NFLT) have partnered on the conservation of 578 acres with three miles of riverfront on the north shore of Black Creek.

The district has closed public access to levees near the water control structure known as S-96C in the headwaters of the St. Johns River in Indian River County.

The district today hosted a preview visit to Lake Apopka highlighting a project that will soon use innovative technology to remove phosphorus and continue improving the lake’s water quality. The technology was successfully tested in 2017 on the Lake Apopka North Shore. Following a competitive bid process, this new project is the next step toward securing further water quality benefits for Lake Apopka.

District Executive Director Dr. Ann Shortelle today joined student-scientists benefiting from the district’s Blue School Grant Program as they began field research testing water quality along the St. Johns River at Julington-Durbin Preserve.

The district Governing Board today approved an agreement with Clay County Utility Authority (CCUA) to convert up to 79 septic tanks to central sewer on properties adjacent to Doctors Lake.

December brought above-average rain across most of the 18 counties of the district, increasing lake levels in the Upper Ocklawaha River Basin and groundwater levels in the Floridan aquifer.

The district has closed the Harris Bayou Spillway, and flow at the Burrell and Moss Bluff dams has been reduced to base flow and should not adversely affect downstream areas.

Construction has begun on the highly anticipated boat ramp and recreation facility at Headwaters Lake, located at the north end of the district’s Fellsmere Water Management Area (FWMA) in Indian River County.

The district Board will hold its first regular monthly meeting of 2020 on Monday, Jan. 13, at district headquarters in Palatka.

The district will hold two public teleconferences Jan. 21 to discuss peer review findings for surface water models for Lake Apshawa in Lake County and Sylvan Lake in Seminole County, both located within the Central Florida Water Initiative (CFWI) area.

Recent heavy rainfall combined with seasonal high lake levels in the Upper Ocklawaha River Basin (UORB) has prompted the district to temporarily open the Harris Bayou Spillway and to maximize flows through three of the five water control structures on the chain of lakes.

The District and Putnam County have completed a $2.5 million cost-share project to replace the Paradise Point wastewater treatment plant, reducing nutrient loading to Dunns Creek and protecting water quality in the St. Johns River system.

The St. Johns River Water Management District Governing Board on Tuesday approved two projects in Flagler County to share $1 million in district cost-share funds for economically disadvantaged communities or innovative technologies.

The St. Johns River Water Management District’s Governing Board voted today to buy one of the few remaining undeveloped parcels in the area between State Road 46 and the district’s existing Buck Lake boundary.

Although November rainfall was average or below-average across much of the St. Johns River Water Management District, groundwater in the Floridan aquifer system remained in the normal to high range for much of the 18-county region.

The district is asking homeowners across its 18-county region help save a billion gallons of water this winter by joining in the annual statewide “Skip a Week” campaign. During the cooler months of December, January and February, lawns and landscapes typically need less water.

The district is hosting the Gainesville chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission for its annual youth and women’s deer hunts Dec. 6–8 on portions of the Longleaf Flatwoods Reserve and the Newnans Lake Conservation Area in Alachua County.

For the 15th consecutive year, the St. Johns River Water Management District has been awarded the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for its fiscal year 2017-2018 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR).

The St. Johns River Water Management District will hold two public meetings on Dec. 3 to discuss initial peer review comments on the surface water models for Lake Apshawa in Lake County and Sylvan Lake in Seminole County, both located within the Central Florida Water Initiative (CFWI) area.

The district Governing Board on Tuesday approved moving forward with contracts for two agricultural projects that will reduce water use by 1.41 million gallons per day and reduce nitrogen and phosphorus.

After a dry September, October brought rain across most of the 18 counties of the district, keeping groundwater levels in the Floridan aquifer high.

The district is hosting the Gainesville chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission for its annual youth and women’s deer hunts Nov. 8–10 and Dec. 6–8 on portions of the Longleaf Flatwoods Reserve and the Newnans Lake Conservation Area in Alachua County.

The district’s Sunnyhill Restoration Area will host wounded veterans in an Operation Outdoor Freedom guided deer hunt Nov. 5–7. A portion of the property, located in Marion County, will close for the event.

Starting Sunday, Nov. 3, homeowners and businesses will fall back to once-a-week landscape irrigation across the 18 counties of the St. Johns River Water Management District. Nov. 3 is the day that Eastern Standard Time begins.

Today, the district helped celebrate the completion of Osprey Acres Stormwater Park, Indian River County’s newest recreational and environmental oasis engineered to capture nutrients before they reach the Indian River Lagoon.

The district has launched a year-long “Water Less” campaign to help raise awareness about water conservation and communicate easy ways to integrate outdoor water conservation into Floridians’ daily lives.

The district is hosting a public meeting to discuss updates to land management and recreation across Lake, Orange and Seminole counties as well as portions of Marion, Volusia and Brevard counties.

A land management update and the Upper St. Johns River Basin project are among the items to be discussed Oct. 17 during the district’s Southern Recreational Public Meeting.

The district’s Governing Board awarded a contract Tuesday for construction services for a water quality project at the district’s Lake Apopka North Shore.

Thirteen agricultural projects will share in $1.56 million from the district to improve water conservation and reduce nutrient loading to area waterways.

Typically one of Florida’s wettest months of the year, this September was drier on average, according to data collected by the district, and drought conditions are developing in north Florida, with Baker County experiencing severe drought.

Boaters in central Florida will be in for a pleasant surprise this week if they visit the navigational locks on the Ocklawaha Chain of Lakes.

The district will hold two public meetings on Oct. 22 to kick off the peer review process of surface water models.

Fourteen schools are receiving grant funding from the district’s Blue School Grant Program for projects to enhance student development in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).

The district’s Governing Board on Tuesday adopted its fiscal year 2019-2020 budget, which reduces the millage rate for taxpayers for a seventh consecutive year. The $158 million budget continues to provide significant funds for water resource protection and cost-share projects to ensure sustainable water resources, increase water conservation and protect water quality in springs and other priority water bodies.

Clay County Utility Authority and the district joined Sen. Rob Bradley and Rep. Travis Cummings on Tuesday in a ground-breaking ceremony for an innovative pilot project to remove phosphorus from treated wastewater.

Data collected by the district shows August 2019 rainfall was above average districtwide. Additionally, in a flipflop of recent months, Indian River County, which has been below average for many months, had the highest countywide rainfall total, with 10.2 inches.

The bistrict’s Governing Board Tuesday approved purchasing a 60-acre borrow pit near Volusia Blue Spring for a strategic partnership project that will allow wetland treatment

The district is accepting applications through Oct. 19 for Rural Economic Development Initiative (REDI) communities and innovative projects to share in cost-share funding that supports the agency’s water resource protection mission.

The district has reopened all of its conservation lands to public recreation following Hurricane Dorian, except for the island portion of Murphy Creek Conservation Area.

The district has extended the application period for Blue School Grant project proposals to Sept. 11 due to school closures caused by Hurricane Dorian.

The district is working to reopen conservation lands to public recreation following Hurricane Dorian. Openings occur after district staff complete a safety assessment of recreational access points, levees, trails and boat ramps.

The district is reopening the Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive for regular operating hours Sept. 6.

A summary of the district’s current status of operations.

With Hurricane Dorian pushing past Florida’s east coast, two public workshops will move forward as scheduled.

A summary of the district’s current status of operations

A summary of the district’s current status of operations.

A summary of the district’s current status of operations

A summary of the district’s current status of operations.

When hurricanes and other storms bring high volumes of rain in short periods of time, flooding can result. The district’s water control structures in the Upper St. Johns River Basin (USJRB) and Upper Ocklawaha River Basin (UORB) are important federal flood protection projects.

The district will close all its public lands districtwide at noon on Saturday, Aug. 31, in advance of Hurricane Dorian to ensure public and land management staff safety.

As Florida’s east coast prepares for potential impacts from Hurricane Dorian, the district reminds northeast and east-central Floridians to bookmark its storm webpages for easy access to flooding information

The district’s Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive will be closed from Aug. 30–Sept. 2. The closure is necessary to ensure public safety in anticipation of Hurricane Dorian.

As Tropical Storm Dorian approaches Florida early next week, likely as a hurricane, the district reminds property owners to be prepared for the storm’s heavy rains by cleaning debris from storm drains and reporting clogged ditches to local governments in advance of the storm.

The district will hold two public workshops, including a joint workshop with Southwest and South Florida water management districts, on the draft 2019 minimum flows and levels priority list and schedule.

The district’s Lake George gizzard shad harvest removed approximately 5,176 lbs. of phosphorus and 13,192 lbs. of nitrogen from the largest lake in the St. Johns River system, located in Marion, Lake, Volusia and Putnam counties.

The district’s Office of Communications was recently honored by the Florida Public Relations Association (FPRA) with a Golden Image Award for its Blue Schools Grant Program video.

A mobile application developed by the district’s Office of Information Technology recently earned recognition for its innovative use of technology.

Data collected by the St. Johns River Water Management District shows July 2019 rainfall was above average in most areas of north and central Florida, but some coastal areas, particularly in the southern portion of the district, were drier.

The district will host a teleconference to discuss the selection of surface water model peer reviewers in support of the MFLs determination for Lake Apshawa South and Sylvan Lake.

The district will hold a community meeting to exchange information with people interested in the Crane Creek/M-1 Canal Flow Restoration Project Restoration Project

Teachers have just one more month, until Sept. 6, to apply for a Blue School Grant for education projects to enhance student knowledge about Florida’s water resources.

Work is underway to plant about 5,000 leafy “burritos” in Lake Apopka to help protect water quality. The district is partnering with the University of Florida on the project to determine the best planting techniques and strategies.

The district is conducting a 107-acre prescribed burn Tuesday at the north end of Lochloosa Wildlife Conservation Area in Alachua County, along Fish Camp Road.

The district and the city of Titusville are partnering on a state-of-the-art stormwater “baffle box” that will capture hundreds of pounds of nutrients annually before they can reach the Indian River Lagoon.

PALM BAY, Fla., July 17, 2019 — A land management update and the Upper St. Johns River Basin project are among the items to be discussed July 24 during the district’s Southern Recreational Public Meeting.

The district’s Governing Board approved a pair of agreements for construction of a 2.78-mile paved, multi-use trail in Orange and Lake counties.

With nearly 1,500 lakes within its boundaries, the district’s Governing Board on Tuesday recognized July 2019 as Lakes Appreciation Month.

Data collected in June by the district show groundwater conditions somewhat mirror the varied rainfall patterns measured across the district during the previous three months.

The district’s Governing Board Tuesday approved a tentative budget that reduces the millage rate for taxpayers for a seventh consecutive year.

Anglers rejoice! The process to build the Headwaters Lake boat ramp at the Fellsmere Water Management Area (FWMA) took another step forward after the district’s Governing Board

Two cities recently completed projects that will bring reclaimed water service to 349 existing households in central Florida.

The district is accepting applications through Aug. 16 from farmers interested in participating in cost-share funding for agricultural projects that promote water conservation and improve water quality in area waterways.

Annual water use reporting conducted by the district shows that 2018 total water use was 7 percent lower than 2017 and 11 percent below the 10-year average

Below-average rainfall persisted throughout the district throughout May, with the greatest deficit in the northern counties.

The district Board will hold its regular monthly meeting on June 11 at district headquarters in Palatka. The full board meeting will begin at 10 a.m. in the Governing Board Room.

Now entering the fourth year of its Blue School Grant Program, the district anticipates offering up to $20,000 in grants for education projects that enhance student knowledge of Florida’s water resources through hands-on learning.

With the arrival of hurricane season on June 1, the district is more than ready for the worst Mother Nature may dish up this storm season.

The district has recently completed dredging to create a 2,000-foot-wide sump, or depression, on the bottom of Lake Apopka.

PALATKA, Fla., May 22, 2019 ― Updates on land management and recreation activities will be discussed May 23 during the district’s Northern Recreational Public Meeting.

The district Governing Board today approved $450,000 in funding for gizzard shad harvesting from Lake George, part of the St. Johns River system in Putnam and Volusia counties.

While central and northern regions of the district received typical rainfall for April, below-average rainfall persisted in the southern third of the district.

The district, Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), state and local elected officials, and Indian River Lagoon protection advocates gathered today to celebrate the completion of a two-year-long muck dredging project in the Eau Gallie River aimed at improving water quality.

The district Board will hold its regular monthly meeting on May 14 off-site at the Canaveral Port Authority headquarters in Cape Canaveral. While governing board meetings are routinely held at district headquarters in Palatka, the board holds periodic off-site meetings to be more accessible to the public and enhance transparency in district business.

The district, Florida Department of Environmental Protection, state and local elected officials and Indian River Lagoon protection advocates will celebrate the completion of muck dredging from the Eau Gallie River in Melbourne.

To help promote and encourage efficient use of reclaimed water, the district’s Governing Board has approved a resolution proclaiming May 19-25 as Florida Water Reuse Week.

Vendors small and large are invited to an outreach event on May 9 to learn how to do business with the district.

The district has published its Annual Wetland Activities Report, showing that 449,135 acres of wetlands have been created, protected, enhanced or restored by the district since 1989. This is equivalent to more than 700 square miles of wetlands.

Navigational access near the mouth of the Apopka-Beauclair Canal may be limited as the district enters the final stages of a sump dredge project designed to help improve water quality in Lake Apopka. Additional dredging will also improve navigational access in the area.

Data collected by the district shows that March rainfall was below average districtwide, with a zone of very low rainfall in Lake, Marion and portions of Volusia County. A full report outlining changing hydrological conditions was presented at today’s Governing Board meeting.

The district’s Governing Board on Tuesday approved moving forward with contracts for eight diverse agricultural projects, totaling nearly $1.3 million in cost-share funds, that will reduce water use by 1.53 million gallons per day and reduce nutrient loading in the Tri County Agricultural Area (TCAA) of Putnam, St. Johns and Flagler counties.

Twenty-one projects in 10 counties will share in nearly $16.2 million for construction of water supply and water conservation, water quality improvement and flood protection projects. The district’s Governing Board on Tuesday approved the project ranking for the fiscal year 2019–2020 Annual Districtwide Cost-share Program.

The district and Volusia County have completed construction of a stormwater treatment facility that will improve water quality in the Halifax River and reduce flooding to a 129-acre area.

The district is hosting the Gainesville chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission for its women’s turkey hunt April 5-7 on portions of the Longleaf Flatwoods Reserve and the Newnans Lake Conservation Area in Alachua County.

Work is underway to reconstruct about 4.4 miles of levee at the Lake Apopka North Shore. This levee not only serves as a separator between Lake Apopka and the North Shore but is also part of the district’s recreational Lake Apopka Loop Trail.

Five years after construction, the district’s Sawgrass Lake Water Management Area (SLWMA) – part of Phase 1 of the C-1 Flow Restoration Project (C-1 Project) – continues to provide outstanding benefit to both the Indian River Lagoon and the St. Johns River by restoring previously diverted stormwater flows back to their natural basin.

If you’re looking for a quick get-a-way for spring break but don’t want to break the bank, then lands owned by the district offer the perfect one-tank stay-cation.

Data collected by the district shows rainfall during February was below average in all areas except Brevard County and parts of Osceola County. A full report outlining changing hydrological conditions was presented at the district’s March Governing Board meeting, in addition to a proclamation designating April as Water Conservation Month.

For the sixth consecutive year, the district’s Governing Board has approved a proclamation designating April as Springs Protection Awareness Month. The annual designation helps increase awareness about the importance of Florida’s springs and encourages residents and stakeholders to participate in the protection of springs.

With more than 600,000 cubic yards of muck already removed from the Eau Gallie River in Melbourne, the district is scheduled to embark on the final leg of dredging on March 11.

A partnership between the district, city of Apopka and Orange Audubon Society is bringing a new community birding park to the Lake Apopka North Shore.

Portions of recreational trails at the district’s Lake Apopka North Shore will close as work to reconstruct about 4.4 miles of levee begins March 4. This levee not only serves as a separator between Lake Apopka and the North Shore but is also part of the district’s recreational Lake Apopka Loop Trail.

A land management update and the Upper St. Johns River Basin project are among the items to be discussed Feb. 21 during the district’s Southern Recreational Public Meeting.

The seasonal wildlife drive at the district’s Emeralda Marsh Conservation Area will reopen this week.

The district’s Governing Board has approved a contract for work to reconstruct about 4.7 miles of levee on the east side of the Lake Apopka North Shore, between Magnolia Park and Laughlin Road.

Thirteen agricultural projects will share in $1.2 million from the District to improve water conservation and reduce the amount of nutrients flowing into area waterways. The district’s Governing Board approved the project ranking at Tuesday’s meeting.

Rainfall during January 2019 was above average across the 18 counties of the district. A full report outlining hydrological conditions was presented at the district’s February Governing Board meeting, held offsite today at the University of Central Florida.

The district and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) are partnering to open Silver Springs Forest Conservation Area in Marion County as a Public Small-Game Hunting Area this year, with the intent to convert it to a Wildlife Management Area in the future. More than 65 percent of the district’s conservation lands are open to hunting.

The district will offer stakeholders and residents an opportunity to see the “marsh buggy” excavating equipment up close at Gamble Rogers Memorial State Recreation Area in Flagler Beach on Jan. 28 at 1:30 p.m. This excavator is specialized equipment that will be used to return dragline ditch spoil mounds to wetland elevation in the Flagler County Wetland Restoration Project.

Data collected by the district shows rainfall during December 2018 as a mixed bag depending on whether you live in north or central Florida or in the district’s southernmost counties. Rainfall was above average in most areas, except for a zone of below-average rainfall in the district’s southernmost counties.

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

A three-phase septic-to-sewer and stormwater treatment project in Merritt Island will benefit water quality in the Indian River Lagoon —— including Banana River Lagoon —thanks in large part to a cost-share grant from the district.

The district will hold its regular monthly Governing Board meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 15, at its Palatka headquarters.

The district’s Crescent Lake Conservation Area will host veteran’s group Operation Outdoor Freedom for a guided deer hunt Jan. 7-11. The property will remain open to recreation during this time; signage about the hunt will be placed at property entry points.

The district is accepting applications through Feb. 15 to share in cost-share funding for water supply, water quality, natural systems and flood protection construction projects.

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) on Friday presented a $2.45 million check to the St. Johns River Water Management District toward a project to clean up Melbourne’s Crane Creek, a tributary of the Indian River Lagoon.

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.

Thanks to a $51,000 award from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), habitat improvements will occur at district properties: Hal Scott Regional Preserve and Park in Orange County, Lake Monroe Conservation Area in Volusia County and Pellicer Creek Conservation Area in Flagler County. The district will provide matching funds and in-kind services.

The district has been awarded the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for its fiscal year 2016-2017 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) from the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) of the United States and Canada. District Accounting Director Greg Rockwell also was recognized.

The district Governing Board voted this week to award contracts for water quality projects at Doctors Lake in Clay County and at Lake Apopka in Orange and Lake counties. Projects at each lake will utilize innovative technology to remove phosphorus.

The district’s Governing Board will maintain its current slate of officers to serve in the same capacity for another year. Officers are John A. Miklos of Orlando, board chairman; Fred N. Roberts Jr. of Ocala, vice chairman; Charles “Chuck” Drake of Orlando, secretary; and Ron Howse of Cocoa, treasurer.

The district data for October shows the month’s rainfall was below average, except for a zone of above-average rainfall along the central coast. The data provided a snapshot of rainfall and surface water conditions across the district’s 18-county service area to the district’s Governing Board Tuesday.

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 Nov.10–11 on portions of the Longleaf Flatwoods Reserve and the Newnans Lake Conservation Area in Alachua County.

The district’s Sunnyhill Restoration Area in Marion County will host veteran’s group Operation Outdoor Freedom for a guided deer hunt Nov. 6–8.

Be sure to reset the timer on your irrigation controller when changing your clocks this weekend to mark the end of daylight saving time. The time change corresponds with the semi-annual shift in watering restrictions ensuring the efficient use of water for landscape irrigation across the district. Following irrigation rules helps protect our water resources and can save you money.

The Moss Bluff Lock has reopened to boat traffic following maintenance and repair work. The district operates three locks and dams in its 18-county service area to help manage lake levels.

The district’s Southern recreational public meeting has been postponed. The public meeting was originally scheduled for Oct. 18 at 6:30 p.m. A new date will be announced as soon as possible.

On Nov. 7, the district will hold the second of two community meetings to share information with stakeholders interested in the Flagler County Wetland Restoration Project. The location of the meeting has changed to ensure there is ample seating — the new location will comfortably seat nearly 1,000 people.

The district is accepting applications through Nov. 30 from farmers interested in participating in cost-share funding for agricultural projects that promote water conservation and improve water quality in area waterways.

The district recently presented data that provided a snapshot of rainfall, aquifer and surface water conditions across the district’s 18-county service area.

Group camping reservations on St. Johns River Water Management District land just got easier. The district is now using Sunrise Reservations to ensure faster turnaround times for group camping reservations and vehicular access to designated properties.

Fourteen schools are receiving grant funding from the district’s Blue School Grant Program for projects to enhance student development in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) related topics. Thirty-seven teachers applied for funding this year and of them the top 14 projects were selected.

On Oct. 4, the St. Johns River Water Management District will hold the first of two community meetings to exchange information with stakeholders interested in the Flagler County Wetland Restoration Project, a project designed to increase the amount of wetland area, which increases productivity and provides valuable habitat.

The district’s Governing Board on Tuesday adopted its fiscal year 2018-2019 budget, which reduces the millage rate for taxpayers for a sixth consecutive year.

The district will hold two community meetings to exchange information with stakeholders interested in the Flagler County Wetland Restoration Project, a project designed to increase the amount of wetland area, which increases productivity and provides valuable habitat.

The district will hold a public meeting and field site tour, kicking off the Wekiva Basin Minimum Flows and Levels (MFLs) surface water model peer review.

Construction is underway in Mascotte to replace about 2.5 miles of aging water main. The district provided $500,000 for the project, as part of a Rural Economic Development Initiative (REDI) cost-share grant. The project will be constructed in two phases and help prevent water loss caused by breaks in the water main.

The district will hold two public workshops, including a joint workshop with Southwest and South Florida water management districts, on the draft 2018 minimum flows and levels priority list and schedule.

The district is hosting a public meeting to discuss updates to land management and recreation on district lands in Lake, Orange and Seminole counties as well as portions of Marion, Volusia and Brevard counties. The meeting will also include an opportunity for public comment.

The district Governing Board on Tuesday approved moving forward with contracts for three agricultural projects, totaling nearly $525,500 in cost-share funds, that will reduce water use by 109 million gallons per year and reduce nutrient loading in the Tri County Agricultural Area (TCAA) of Putnam, St. Johns and Flagler counties.

As we enter into the peak of hurricane season, we want all residents to have access to the information they need to keep themselves, their families and their communities safe. Florida is especially vulnerable to flooding, given its location and many waterways, and that means Floridians must plan and prepare to weather the inevitable storms.

The district is accepting applications through Oct. 18 for Rural Economic Development Initiative (REDI) communities and innovative projects to share in cost-share funding that supports the agency’s water resource protection mission.

As a tropical wave is forecast to approach Florida over the Labor Day weekend, district staff are closely monitoring water levels in the St. Johns and Ocklawaha rivers and advising homeowners to prepare for potential impacts from possible heavy rainfall.

The district is reopening the eastern portion of the Lake Apopka Loop Trail on Sept. 1, which experienced damage due to Hurricane Irma.

The St. Johns River Water Management District is accepting applications through Sept. 14, 2018, from farmers and ranchers interested in seeking funding through the Agricultural Cost-share Program for agricultural projects that promote water conservation and reduction of nutrient runoff in the Silver Springs springshed.

If nature is your thing, geocaching is a great way to explore some of the scenic and unspoiled public lands owned by the district, enjoy the outdoors and celebrate International Geocache Day on Saturday, Aug. 18.

The district will present construction details for one of the dispersed water storage pilot projects in progress in the Indian River Lagoon drainage area at a meeting Aug. 22.

Despite July’s patchy rainfall, 12-month rainfall totals remain above average across the district. A report outlining hydrologic conditions was presented today to the district’s Governing Board.

The district will hold a public workshop to discuss the peer review of Minimum Flows and Levels (MFLs) for water bodies within the Central Florida Water Initiative (CFWI) area. This workshop will include discussion of surface water model peer review plans for MFLs water bodies within the Wekiva Basin.

Teachers have just one more month, until Sept. 7, to apply for a Blue School Grant for education projects to enhance students’ knowledge about Florida’s water resources. The district is offering up to $20,000 in grants for education projects that promote hands-on learning about water resources.

Community leaders joined together in Eustis today to celebrate the completion of a wastewater treatment plant expansion that will serve new development in the area as well as provide more reclaimed water.

The city of Eustis is hosting a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the completed expansion of its wastewater treatment plant. As part of the event, attendees are also invited to tour the facility, which increased treatment capacity by one million gallons per day (mgd) and will also provide an additional 1.0 mgd of reclaimed water.

The acquisition of a 240-acre parcel in Marion County will help the district protect water resources by eliminating an outparcel near the center of the district’s Sunnyhill Restoration Area. The land purchase was approved at today’s Governing Board meeting.

While rainfall has not reached record-breaking levels, June continued a trend of higher-than-average rainfall for counties within the district. A full hydrological report was presented during today’s governing board meeting.

The district’s Governing Board Tuesday approved a tentative budget that reduces the millage rate for taxpayers for a sixth consecutive year while continuing to provide significant funds for programs and projects to ensure sustainable water resources, increase water conservation and protect water quality in springs and other priority water bodies.

Today, outdoor lovers celebrated the opening of the district’s latest property available for recreation: Micco Water Management Area (WMA) in south Brevard.

The district is giving away limited edition geocache coins to adventurers visiting district recreational public lands between June 21 and Aug. 18. The first 50 people who visit at least three different district lands and post a collection of “selfies” in front of the properties’ entrance signs on district social media sites are eligible.

High water levels in and near the St. Johns River have prompted the district to temporarily close campsites at Seminole Ranch Conservation Area in Brevard County and Buck Lake Conservation Area in Volusia County.

The district’s regularly scheduled Southern Recreational Public Meeting is set to take place Thursday.

With nearly 1,500 lakes within its boundaries, the district will recognize July 2018 as Lakes Appreciation Month to increase public awareness about the value of Florida’s lakes and to encourage behaviors that will enhance lakes’ health.

May’s wet weather pushed rainfall totals across the St. Johns River Water Management District to double the average.

With subtropical storm Alberto having already swept through the Florida panhandle and hurricane season arriving June 1, the district is ready for any action this storm season may bring.

Now entering the third year of its Blue School Grant Program, the district plans to offer up to $20,000 in grants for education projects that enhance student knowledge of Florida’s water resources through hands-on learning.

Two airboat crossings within the Seminole Ranch Conservation Area will be temporarily closed while the district installs block mats, which will help to further stabilize the crossings.

The district will hold a rule development workshop on May 24 to discuss and receive stakeholder input on proposed rule amendments updating the types of consumptive use permits that may be delegated to district staff to approve.

More than 207 million gallons of reclaimed water is reused daily within the district. Next week, May 13-19, the district, Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) and fellow agencies across the state will recognize the benefits of reusing treated wastewater, or reclaimed water.

The district Governing Board on Tuesday authorized staff to initiate the rulemaking process to revise the existing minimum flows and levels (MFLs) for lakes Brooklyn and Geneva near Keystone Heights.

All counties in the district’s service area experienced higher-than-average rainfall during April, with several counties seeing twice their average.

Trail repairs are underway on sections of the district’s Lake Apopka Loop Trail. The work, which requires closing the lakeside section of the Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive, will repair damage from Hurricane Irma.

Averaging about 10,000 visitors each month, the district’s Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive will celebrate its third anniversary since opening in May 2015.

Muck dredging in the Eau Gallie River will pause until early June while manatees are most active in the Indian River Lagoon tributary.

Nine agricultural projects will share in more than $918,000 from the district to improve water conservation and reduce nutrient loading to area waterways.

The district Governing Board on Tuesday approved moving forward with contracts for three agricultural projects, totaling nearly $419,000 in cost-share funds, that will reduce water use by 218,537 gallons per day and reduce nutrient loading in the Tri County Agricultural Area (TCAA) of Putnam, St. Johns and Flagler counties.

Twenty-seven projects in nine counties will share in nearly $16 million for construction of water supply and water conservation, water quality improvement, flood protection and natural systems restoration projects.

Six projects will share in $699,245 in cost-share funding from the district and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection for agricultural projects that promote water conservation and improve water quality in the Silver Springs springshed.

Hydrologic conditions within the district show that while the aquifer is still benefiting from last year’s rain, things are starting to dry out, especially in Orlando and the Upper St. Johns River Basin.

The district has opened all areas of the Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive for regular operating hours. The opening includes Interceptor Road, a portion of Laughlin Road, and the lakeside road which had been closed for repairs.

The district and the city of Palatka are coming down the homestretch on three water resource protection projects totaling nearly $2 million. Projects will reduce potable water losses from old cast-iron water pipes, aid in fire suppression and reduce stormwater discharges into the St. Johns River from commercial and residential areas of the city.

The district has issued an environmental resource permit related to construction of the new First Coast Expressway. The permit authorizes a stormwater management system for a 31-mile segment of the highway from Blanding Boulevard in Clay County to I-95 in St. Johns County, the second phase of the project.

The district’s Sunnyhill Restoration Area in Marion County will host veterans’ group Operation Outdoor Freedom for a guided turkey hunt on March 28 and 29.

The district’s Governing Board on Tuesday approved a feasibility evaluation of a proposed project to restore the flow between the St. Johns River and the eastern portion of Lake Jesup. The project would potentially enhance water quality and habitat in the lake and is supported by local stakeholders and Sen. David Simmons, R-Altamonte Springs.

The district’s Governing Board on Tuesday approved an agreement with Fellsmere Joint Ventures that will allow for construction of a boat ramp and other amenities at the northeast corner of the 10,000-acre reservoir.

The district’s Governing Board on Tuesday approved a proclamation designating April as Water Conservation Month to encourage awareness about the importance of water conservation.

February proved to be a dry month for the 18 counties within the district, with most of the district receiving less than an inch of rain. By comparison, average February rainfall for the district’s southern counties ranged between 2.5 and 3 inches.

For the fifth consecutive year, the district’s Governing Board has approved a proclamation designating April as Springs Protection Awareness Month. The annual designation helps increase awareness about the importance of Florida’s springs and encourages residents and stakeholders to participate in the protection of springs.

The St. Johns River Water Management District is hosting the Gainesville chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) for its youth turkey hunt March 10–11 on portions of the Longleaf Flatwoods Reserve and the Newnans Lake Conservation Area in Alachua County.

The district will begin regrading the roads of the Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive beginning Monday, March 5, 2018. Weekend access will not be affected by the regrading project, which will take place Monday through Thursday each week.