District quickly works with partners on storm recovery, re-opening public lands

Members of the District’s Pump Strike Team staged three six-inch pumps in Flagler County to help alleviate flooding in the area.

PALATKA, Fla., Nov. 14, 2022 — Over the weekend, St. Johns River Water Management District staff were busy working to assist our local partners with their recovery efforts and completing post storm inspections on all District-owned lands following Hurricane Nicole.

Three staff members of the District’s Pump Strike Team were deployed to Flagler County to provide pumping equipment to our partners at the county who were working to alleviate flooding in and around the Marineland Acres area.

Additionally, District staff were able to inspect all its conservation lands, allowing the public access to the various recreational amenities over the weekend. As of today, all lands are open for public use following Hurricane Nicole, except for two properties.

Those properties are:

• Canaveral Marsh Conservation Area (Brevard County)
• Seminole Ranch Conservation Area (Brevard, Orange, Seminole and Volusia counties)

District staff will be conducting a follow-up inspection of the Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive (Orange County) later this week.

“The downed powerline across the exit of the drive has been repaired and we are hoping to see the water levels drop throughout the week,” said the St. Johns River Water Management District’s Director of Division of Water and Land Resources Erich Marzolf. “We know the drive is a popular weekend destination and we will re-open it as soon as conditions allow.”

While most properties are open for public use, some activities may be limited. Before venturing out, visitors are encouraged to check the District’s website to see if there are any restrictions in place.

For the most up-to-date list of open District properties, visit our website at www.sjrwmd.com/lands/recreation/announcements/.