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District Public Lands to Close at Noon on Thursday

PALATKA, Fla., Sept. 1, 2004 - With Hurricane Frances predicted to strike Florida this weekend, the St. Johns River Water Management District will close its public lands in all 18 counties at noon on Thursday.

The District owns 44 conservation areas in northeast and east-central Florida, from the Florida-Georgia border in Nassau and Baker counties south to Indian River and Brevard counties.

The properties will be closed until further notice, and the dates for reopening District lands will depend on the extent of any damage caused by the storm, says Steven R. Miller, director of the District’s Division of Land Management.

The last time the District closed all its public lands was in September 1999 when Hurricane Floyd threatened Florida’s east coast.

Two District properties — the Lake Jesup and Lake Monroe conservation areas — are currently closed due to damage caused last month by Hurricane Charley.