The St. Johns River meanders north through three major lakes in its middle basin: Harney, Jesup and Monroe. Nestled in the heart of Seminole County, Lake Jesup stands as a testament to both the natural beauty and environmental challenges facing the Sunshine State.

This expansive lake, which shifts from 8,000 to 16,000 acres depending upon the wide-ranging water elevations, has experienced alterations dating back to the 1800s. Steamboats began modifying the lake’s natural connection to the St. Johns River to facilitate easier navigation along the river. Later, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers excavated a channel that diverted the river’s flow past Lake Jesup. This, combined with a train causeway that cut through the floodplain, resulted in only a single channel connecting the two, limiting the river’s capacity to circulate water and flush nutrients from the lake.

The urbanized development of central Florida played a key role in the decline of the lake’s water quality. Decades of wastewater discharges to the lake’s tributaries caused a tremendous increase in nutrient inputs, leading to chronic algal blooms and the buildup of a thick layer of organic muck on the lake bottom.

However, amidst these challenges, concerted efforts have been put in place by the St. Johns River Water Management District, Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Seminole and Orange counties, local cities and an organization called the Friends of Lake Jesup, aiming to restore and rejuvenate this iconic body of water.