MAITLAND, Fla., Sept. 30, 2016 -- Recent news reports and social media posts have raised concerns about the alligator population near the St. Johns River Water Management District's Lake Apopka North Shore and the safety of visitors to the area.

MAITLAND, Fla., Oct. 3, 2016 -- The community is invited to join St. Johns River Water Management District staff as they participate in the Annual HalloWeed Count, a statewide data collection event to identify and map invasive plants.

PALATKA, Fla., Oct. 4, 2016 -- The St. Johns River Water and Suwannee River water management districts today released the draft North Florida Regional Water Supply Plan for public review and comment. The release of the draft plan is the result of a four-year collaborative process that looked at the sustainability of water supplies 20 years into the future and identifies potential future water supply sources.

PALATKA, Fla., Oct. 4, 2016 -- With the likelihood of Hurricane Matthew nearing the coasts of east-central and northeast Florida later this week, the St. Johns River Water Management District reminds property owners to be prepared for heavy rains by cleaning debris from storm drains and reporting clogged ditches to local governments in advance of the storm. The public also is encouraged to bookmark the storm page on the district's website, www.sjrwmd.com/storm, for easy access to flooding information, water levels and other resources.

PALATKA, Fla., Oct. 5, 2016 -- Preparing for the possibility of impacts from Hurricane Matthew later this week, the St. Johns River Water Management District will hold its monthly Governing Board meeting at its Palatka headquarters on Tuesday, Oct. 11. The board had been scheduled to meet off-site Tuesday in Ormond Beach as part of its ongoing commitment to being accessible to the public and stakeholders.

PALATKA, Fla., Oct. 5, 2016 -- As Florida's east coast braces for impacts from Hurricane Matthew, the St. Johns River Water Management District will close its Palm Bay Service Center at 3 p.m. today, and the office will remain closed on Thursday and Friday. District management will continue to evaluate the path of the storm and may close other offices and public lands as conditions intensify.

PALATKA, Fla., Oct. 5, 2016 -- The St. Johns River Water Management District will close its offices districtwide on Thursday and Friday to give employees time to prepare their homes for Hurricane Matthew. Additionally, all district public lands are closing as of sunset today.

MAITLAND, Fla., Oct. 6, 2016 -- Effective immediately, the Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive, and all lands owned by the St. Johns River Water Management District, are closed to public access and recreation.

PALATKA, Fla., Oct. 6, 2016 -- Due to the potential effects of Hurricane Matthew, navigation through the Burrell Lock, Moss Bluff Lock and the Apopka Lock and Dam will be temporarily suspended as of noon today (Oct. 6).

PALATKA, Fla., Oct. 8, 2016 -- The St. Johns River Water Management District is assisting state and local governments with recovery efforts in the wake of Hurricane Matthew.

PALATKA, Fla., Oct. 9, 2016 -- The St. Johns River Water Management District continued recovery efforts today in the Jacksonville Beach area in the wake of Hurricane Matthew.

MAITLAND, Fla., Oct. 9, 2016 -- After completing inspections and cleanup, the St. Johns River Water Management District's Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive will reopen on Monday, Oct. 10. The nonmotorized Lake Apopka Loop Trail will remain closed as land managers continue cleanup efforts in the wake of Hurricane Matthew.

PALATKA, Fla., Oct. 10, 2016 -- As the post-hurricane recovery continues in northeast and central Florida coastal counties, the St. Johns River Water Management District today reopened its offices as well as nearly 20 conservation areas. District employees have worked more than 400 staff hours over the recovery period, inspecting levees, structures and public lands. Staff are also assisting local governments in their work to alleviate flooding.

MAITLAND, Fla., Oct. 11, 2016 -- The St. Johns River Water Management District's Governing Board approved two water permit renewals today that reflect a decreased allocation of approximately 197 million gallons of water per year in central Florida. District staff worked with the cities of Belleview and Maitland on efforts to implement water-saving measures, including greater use of reclaimed water, system leak detection and water conserving rate structures, resulting in significant reductions to their consumptive use permits.

MAITLAND, Fla., Oct. 11, 2016 -- As Hurricane Matthew traveled Florida's east coast, the St. Johns River Water Management District's 18-county service area received widespread rain, with the highest rainfall totals experienced in the northern coastal areas of the state. A full report of the storm's impacts before and immediately after the storm was presented at today's Governing Board meeting.