Newsroom

Whether you’ve been a resident of Florida for years or are new to the state, you’ve likely noticed the numerous stormwater ponds scattered across our landscape. Despite Florida’s wealth of natural waterways, these ponds are man-made and often mistaken for natural features.

As storms gear up in the Atlantic, key partners in hurricane preparedness and flood management gathered today at the Central Florida Coordination meeting hosted by the District.

The District is conducting a 4,000-acre prescribed burn today at Fellsmere Water Management Area in Indian River County. The burn’s purpose is to reduce hazardous fuel loads and maintain fire-dependent natural communities.

May brought persistent dry conditions to the District’s 18-county region. Rainfall was sparse and unevenly distributed, with all counties receiving less than their monthly average. In some areas, the deficit was nearly two inches, underscoring the importance of continuing water conservation measures.

The District is actively researching the dynamic changes in seagrass abundance within Florida’s Indian River Lagoon (IRL), a crucial estuary spanning 40 percent of the state’s eastern coastline. The IRL has long faced challenges stemming from compromised water quality and recurring harmful algal blooms, resulting in significant seagrass loss.

The District will be performing maintenance work on Laughlin Road just south of McDonald Canal Road from May 28 to June 13.