Public land awash in spring color

As you look for outdoor weekend activities, don’t forget about the thousands of acres of land that your tax dollars have helped preserve and protect, and much of that land is especially beautiful this time of year.

With nearly 550,000 acres of St. Johns River Water Management District land publicly accessible throughout northeast and central Florida, you can expect to stumble upon a variety of unique flora and fauna.

The photo below of a field of rain lilies was recently taken at the 7,068-acre Emeralda Marsh Conservation Area in Lake County. Rain lily, which is considered a threatened plant species, typically flowers in spring and can be found throughout most of Florida and as far north as Maryland. The Emeralda Marsh rain lilies came into full bloom after spring rains that followed a prescribed fire, which is a land management tool used to reduce the possibility of dangerous wildfires while enhancing land’s environmental quality.

There is much to see and do on District land, and there is much diversity throughout the region. The District’s recreation guide is a great place to start your adventure.