August 31, 2016

District funds innovative stormwater project in Alachua County

PALATKA, Fla., Aug. 30, 2016 — The St. Johns River Water Management District is teaming up with Alachua County, the University of Florida and UF Shands to undertake an innovative stormwater project designed to recharge Florida’s aquifer while simultaneously capturing and treating pollutants.
August 31, 2016

Media Advisory: Technical meeting to discuss springs science set for Sept. 9

PALATKA, Fla., Aug. 31, 2016 — Scientists and engineers from the St. Johns River Water Management District and the University of Florida (UF) are holding a technical meeting Sept. 9 in Gainesville to discuss the progress of the district’s Springs Protection Initiative science program. The project meeting will focus on technical details related to the progress of six collaborative workgroups during the recently completed second year of the scientific investigation.
September 1, 2016

Pair of projects to provide stormwater treatment in Leesburg

MAITLAND, Fla., Sept. 1, 2016 — Two projects that received funding from the St. Johns River Water Management District will provide stormwater treatment for residential and commercial areas of downtown Leesburg.
September 7, 2016

Tips to avoid an Environmental Resource Permit (ERP) Request for Additional Information (RAI)

The St. Johns River Water Management District strives to issue permits in a timely manner, with the initial submittal of a complete application facilitating the review and issuance of a permit. Early pre-application discussions with staff before application submittal is one helpful (see September 2014 tip below). Another strategy is the use of the e-Permitting website to electronically submit all application information. Avoiding an RAI also expedites permit issuance. District staff have reviewed RAI questions from 500 ERPs issued since 2013 to identify the most frequently asked RAI questions. The top three commonly asked questions involved: discrepancies between the calculations […]
September 8, 2016

Media Alert: Public meeting to review draft of water bodies priority list and schedule

MAITLAND, Fla., Sept. 8, 2016 — The St. Johns River Water Management District is hosting two public meetings to provide information and hear public comments on the draft 2016 Minimum Flows and Levels Priority List and Schedule.
September 9, 2016

District and UF scientists discuss progress made in second year of springs science investigation

PALATKA, Fla., Sept. 9, 2016 — More than 50 scientists and engineers with the St. Johns River Water Management District and University of Florida (UF) met Sept. 9 to report on progress made in the second year of a three-year partnership to enhance the scientific foundation needed to develop solutions to restore and protect Florida’s springs.
September 13, 2016

August sees below average rainfall across the district

MAITLAND, Fla., Sept. 13, 2016 — Continuing an unusually low rainfall pattern from July, rainfall during August was below average across most of the St. Johns River Water Management District. All counties except Brevard, Indian River and Okeechobee had below average rainfall.
September 14, 2016

Media Advisory: Central recreational public meeting scheduled for Sept. 21

MAITLAND, Fla., Sept. 14, 2016 — The St. Johns River Water Management 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. The meeting will also include an opportunity for public comment.
September 14, 2016

Award honors volunteer’s service to wildfire education

MAITLAND, Fla., Sept. 14, 2016 — Tuesday afternoon, the St. Johns River Water Management District presented Mary Prescott from Orlando, Florida, with the Bob Owens award for volunteer service. Prescott received the award for her service to her local Firewise program, a national program that emphasizes community involvement and educates residents on ways to reduce the risk of wildland fire igniting homes.
September 19, 2016

SJRWMD drinking water supplies not at risk from phosphate mine spill in Polk County

PALATKA, Fla., Sept. 19, 2016 — Drinking water supplies in the 18 counties of the St. Johns River Water Management District are not at risk from a recent Polk County phosphate mine spill caused by a sinkhole, according to district scientists.
September 19, 2016

Cost-share project applications accepted now through Oct. 13

PALATKA, Fla., Sept. 19, 2016 -- The St. Johns River Water Management District is accepting applications now through Oct. 13 to share in $5 million in cost-share funding for rural communities and innovative projects that support the agency's core missions.
September 20, 2016

District and Orange County Utilities partner on water savings program

MAITLAND, Fla., Sept. 20, 2016 -- The St. Johns River Water Management District is partnering with Orange County Utilities on a project that could realize a 4.9 percent water savings for residential utility customers. The district contributed $112,334 toward the project as part of its cooperative cost-share program.
September 27, 2016

SJRWMD budget reduces tax rate, funds water resource protection projects

PALATKA, Fla., Sept. 27, 2016 -- The St. Johns River Water Management District's Governing Board today approved its fiscal year 2016-2017 budget, which will provide funds for cost-share projects and major programs to support the agency's core missions of water supply, water quality, natural systems and flood protection. The board also voted to reduce the millage rate for taxpayers for a fourth year.
September 28, 2016

District launches audio guide for Lake Apopka North Shore

MAITLAND, Fla., Sept. 28, 2016 -- The St. Johns River Water Management District is launching an audio guide for visitors to its Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive. The audio guide, which can be streamed through mobile devices, provides visitors with a narrative on the area's history, wildlife and district-led restoration efforts.
September 29, 2016

District’s quick action helps bring 1,500 jobs to the Jacksonville area

PALATKA, Fla., Sept. 29, 2016 -- More than 1,000 jobs are headed to northeast Florida after Amazon announces the opening of its new fulfillment center. The St. Johns River Water Management District supported the move by quickly assessing and issuing environmental resource permits (ERP) for the 105-acre warehouse facility. The applicant and district employees remained committed to working collaboratively through the permitting process to achieve this positive result.