Post-hurricane repairs underway at Lake Apopka North Shore

Repairs are underway in areas where water has receded

From the St. John's River Water Management District

Repairs are underway in areas of the St. Johns River Water Management District’s Lake Apopka North Shore, which experienced damage due to Hurricane Irma.

Property inspections have found flooding, trees down and other conditions that make the 20,000-acre property unsafe for recreation.

The first stage of the repair process entails patching a section of lake-side levee that separates Lake Apopka from the Lake Apopka North Shore. Once this repair is made, lower water levels will allow the district to complete an inspection of damage to internal levees, roads, trails and other infrastructure. Currently, many parts remain underwater and cannot be inspected.

Understanding that the area is a popular outdoor recreation destination, the Red Trail, off County Road 448A, and the McDonald Canal Boat Ramp, are open. All other trails, including the Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive and Lake Apopka Loop Trail, remain closed to recreation to ensure the public’s safety.

Following Hurricane Irma’s impact, the district has reopened 40 of its conservation lands for recreation.

For continuing updates on district operations and recreational announcements, visit the district’s website, www.sjrwmd.com.

About the St. Johns River Water Management District

St. Johns River Water Management District staff are committed to ensuring the sustainable use and protection of water resources for the benefit of the people of the district and the state of Florida. The St. Johns River Water Management District is one of five districts in Florida managing groundwater and surface water supplies in the state. The district encompasses all or part of 18 northeast and east-central Florida counties. District headquarters are in Palatka, and staff also are available to serve the public at service centers in Maitland, Jacksonville, and Palm Bay.