From the St.Johns River Water Management District
Florida has more than 4,200 natural lakes, and nearly 1,500 of those are within the boundaries of the St. Johns River Water Management District. Today, the District’s Governing Board recognized July 2022 as Lakes Appreciation Month, joining the North American Lake Management Society (NALMS) and groups around the country in the annual proclamation to raise awareness of lakes’ importance and benefits.
“Every day our staff are focused on protecting and restoring our waterways,” said St. Johns River Water Management District Executive Director Mike Register. “I am grateful to the Governing Board for continuing to take every opportunity to highlight our important work and to help bring awareness to the community about how they can help protect Florida’s water resources.”
The St. Johns River has many large lakes along its length, starting with Blue Cypress Lake at its headwaters and flowing through Washington, Harney, Jesup, Monroe, and George along its path to the ocean. Lake Apopka is the headwaters of the Ocklawaha River and chain of lakes, and Newnans Lake is the headwaters of the Orange Creek Basin.
NALMS makes the annual proclamation to raise awareness of the importance of lakes and the benefits they provide, highlighting the value of water and open spaces, recreation, and how they serve in aquifer recharge, as well as helping to reduce the force and effects of flooding. In addition, NALMS conducts its annual Secchi Dip-In each July. Starting in the United States, the Secchi Dip-In is now an international effort in which volunteers produce a “snapshot” of water transparency in lakes around the world.
For information about waterways within the District, visit www.sjrwmd.com/waterways. Join the conversation at #sjrwmd #NALMS #loveourlakes.
To find other NALMS activities and contests to celebrate our lakes visit Lakes Appreciation Month – North American Lake Management Society (NALMS) website.
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 Jacksonville and Palm Bay.
For more information about the District, please visit www.sjrwmd.com.
