Newsroom

The District’s latest hydrologic conditions report shows drought conditions continuing across much of the region as April marked the sixth consecutive month of below-average rainfall. While portions of the southern District received significant rainfall during the first half of the month, conditions remained considerably drier across many northern and central counties. Over the past 12 months, 13 counties recorded rainfall totals below their historical averages, including seven counties that are more than 14 inches below normal.

During its Tuesday meeting, the St. Johns River Water Management District (District) voted to adopt the Indian River Lagoon and Upper St. Johns River Basin Strategic Basin Plan, formalizing a long-term framework to guide restoration and water quality initiatives across the region.

The St. Johns River Water Management District has opened the public comment period for the draft 2026 Ocklawaha River Basin Plan.

The District is issuing a Phase III Extreme Water Shortage declaration in response to ongoing exceptional drought conditions, declining groundwater levels and reduced surface water flows across northeast and central Florida.

The St. Johns River Water Management District announced the release of the 2025 Indian River Lagoon (IRL) seagrass monitoring data during today’s Governing Board meeting, showing continued expansion in both seagrass coverage and density across the system.

Ahead of the Atlantic hurricane season, key partners in hurricane preparedness and flood management gathered at the Central Florida Coordination meeting hosted by the District.