St. Johns River Water Management District seeks public input on Lower St. Johns River Basin Plan

The St. Johns River Water Management District has opened the public comment period for the draft 2026 Lower St. Johns River Basin Plan. The LSJRB covers more than 4,500 square miles, and encompasses Baker, Clay, Duval, Nassau, St. Johns, Putnam, and Flagler counties, and portions of Volusia, Alachua, and Bradford counties. The water bodies include the lower St. Johns River, the St. Marys and Nassau rivers, and the water resources of the Northern Coastal Basin (NCB).

The draft plan outlines priorities and projects that support improvements in surface water quality, river health, flood resilience, coastal protection and will guide water resource management across the basin. Public input is an important part of the planning process and will help ensure the final plan reflects community needs, local knowledge and regional priorities. The District held a public meeting on Sept. 28 to provide an overview of the draft plan and answer questions from attendees.

The draft plan and an online public comment form are available on the District’s website at sjrwmd.com/documents/plans/#basin.

Public comments will be accepted through Oct. 23, and feedback received during this period will help inform revisions before the plan is finalized.

Residents, community partners and interested parties are encouraged to review the draft and share their input.

For more information about the District’s efforts in the Lower St. Johns River Basin, visit www.sjrwmd.com/waterways/st-johns-river/lower/.

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 Apopka, Jacksonville and Palm Bay.