PHOTO OF SWAMP SUNFLOWERS BLOOMING AT LAKE JESSUP CONSERVATION AREA VIA ST JOHNS RIVER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT
St. Johns River Water Management District is looking for public comment on its draft 2026 Middle St. Johns River Basin Plan. It’s being framed as a long-range water management update that prioritizes protecting several of the region’s Outstanding Florida Springs.
The draft plan identifies three primary priorities: improving water quality, protecting springs, and preserving natural floodplains. Among the springs highlighted are Rock Springs and Wekiwa Springs near Apopka, both part of a group of seven Outstanding Florida Springs the plan aims to safeguard within the basin.
The plan places particular emphasis on preserving natural floodplains as a cost-effective, nonstructural way to reduce flooding during heavy rainfall and tropical storms, rather than relying solely on built infrastructure to manage stormwater.
According to Cammie Dewey, the district’s basin planning manager, the district reestablished its basin management program in 2024 and divided its territory into four strategic planning basins, with the Middle St. Johns River Basin Plan representing one of those updated regional plans. The district held a public workshop on the draft plan July 16 at its Apopka Service Center, where Dewey outlined the plan’s priorities and encouraged residents to submit feedback.
The draft plan and an online public comment form are available on the district’s website, HERE. Public comments will be accepted through August 13, and feedback submitted during that window will help inform revisions before the plan is finalized.
The district is encouraging residents, community partners and other interested parties to review the draft and share their input before the comment period closes.
