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Open/Closed Status of FWC Offices, Facilities, and Managed Areas

Closures and Updates Related to COVID-19

As COVID-19 (Coronavirus) continues to impact our communities, the FWC is taking proactive measures to protect stakeholders, staff and volunteers. Find information related to FWC office, shooting range and campground closures in addition to updates about the temporary suspension of check station requirements and the waiving of a daily use fee on WMAs that require it by clicking the red "COVID-19 Updates" button below. Before visiting a WMA, check the open/closed status of that WMA, which is available below by region. To align with the goals of safer-at-home orders, all WMAs in south Florida’s Broward, Monroe, Miami-Dade and Palm Beach Counties are closed until further notice. Please also note some WMAs and recreational areas within WMAs throughout the state have been closed by partner agencies. WMA users are reminded to engage in social distancing. Group size should be limited to 10 people and groups should remain 50 feet apart. In addition, all recreational boats must be at least 50 feet apart, and each recreational vessel must not have more than 10 people on board.

Covid-19 Updates

Some Renewal Deadlines Extended

Per Executive Order 20-08, the deadline for the licenses listed below that require renewal in March or April has been extended for at least 30 days from the current expiration date.

  • Commercial Freshwater licenses
  • Charter Fishing Licenses
  • Captive Wildlife Exhibition and Sale Licenses
  • Venomous/Conditional/Prohibited Reptiles
  • Private Game Preserves and Farms
  • Marine Special Activity Licenses

Any changes or extensions to Executive Order 20-08 will be posted here so please check back.

Below is a list of FWC-managed areas and facilities, including wildlife management areas, fish management areas, shooting ranges and regional offices. If an area, in part or all, has been closed due to COVID-19 or other reason (storm activity/other natural occurrence or for repairs/renovations), it will be noted next to the area's listing. If nothing is noted next to the name of the area, it is open.

In the Event of a Storm or Disaster

For the latest disaster-related news and updates, follow us on Twitter.

This page will be updated daily at noon and 6 p.m. Eastern time.

FWC Regions

In accordance with COVID-19 guidelines regarding large gatherings, please see the following updates from FWC's partners and cooperators concerning their campgrounds and recreational areas:

  •  The South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) temporarily suspended all camping on District-managed lands for 60 days, effective March 19.
  • The Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD) closed all campgrounds throughout its 16-county region for 30 days beginning March 18. Recreational day-use activities are still allowed.
  • The Suwannee River Water Management District closed Goose Pasture individual camp and group camp sites as of March 23. Individual and small group day-use of District lands will continue, however, groups larger than 10 people are prohibited.  
  • The Northwest Florida Water Management District closed each of its reservation campsites and developed recreation areas beginning March 23 for the next 60 days. This includes picnic areas, swimming areas, and other developed recreation sites. 
  • The St. Johns River Water Management District suspended camping for 30 days beginning March 20. Most district lands remain open at this time for day use.
  • All camping and cabin reservations at Florida State Parks have been canceled.
  • All Florida Forest Service offices and facilities where the public may congregate, which includes all day-use areas, campgrounds and developed recreation sites, are temporarily closed until further notice. Florida State Forests remain open with trail use, hunting and fishing still allowed.
  • Campgrounds on the Apalachicola, Ocala and Osceola National Forests are closed indefinitely beginning March 21. Apalachicola National Forest announced temporary shutdown of some facilities. Most recreation areas on the Ocala National Forest are closed, though, it remains open to turkey hunting. 
  • The Avon Park Air Force Range Public Recreation area (PRA) is temporarily closed until further notice due to COVID-19. 
  • U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service national wildlife refuges and national fish hatcheries will remain open to the public. However, visitor centers and other facilities may be closed and scheduled events may be canceled.
  • Eglin Air Force Base Reservation/WMA has closed beaches until April 30 (unless extended or rescinded). Previously authorized camping permits will be honored, but no new camping permits will be issued. The area remains open for spring turkey hunting and fishing, except fishing from closed beaches is prohibited.

Wildlife Management Areas

If an area, in part or all, has been closed due to storm activity/other natural occurrence or for repairs/renovations, it will be noted next to the area's listing. If nothing is noted next to the name of the area, it is open.

Fish Management Areas

Shooting Ranges

Offices

  • Northwest Regional Office/Bay - Closed
  • Panama City Beach LE Field Office/Bay - Closed
  • Pensacola LE Field Office/Escambia - Closed
  • Carrabelle LE Field Office/Franklin - Closed
  • Blackwater Wildlife Field Office/Santa Rosa - Closed
  • Joe Budd Field Office/Gadsden - Closed
  • Apalachicola WEA Field Office/Gulf - Closed
  • Blackwater Fisheries Research & Development Center/Okaloosa - Closed
  • Midway Fisheries Field Office/Gadsden - Closed
  • North Florida Waterfowl Field Station/Leon - Closed
  • FWRI Field Station/Franklin - Closed
  • Joe Budd Aquatic Education Center/Gadsden - Closed
  • Russell Park Building/Leon - Closed
  • Tallahassee Headquarters/Leon - Closed

Wildlife Management Areas

If an area, in part or all, has been closed due to storm activity/other natural occurrence or for repairs/renovations, it will be noted next to the area's listing. If nothing is noted next to the name of the area, it is open.

Fish Management Areas

  • Alligator Lake
  • Baymeadows - Closed as a result of park closure.
  • Bethesda pond - Closed as a result of park closure.
  • Camp Blanding area
  • Crystal Springs
  • Eagle Lake
  • Hanna Park ponds - Closed as a result of park closure.
  • Huguenot Pond
  • Koon lake
  • Lakes Lochloosa
  • Lang Lake
  • Montgomery Lake
  • Oceanway Pond - Closed as a result of park closure.
  • Pope Duval East and West ponds - Closed as a result of park closure.
  • Ronnie Vanzant Park
  • St. Augustine Road ponds (North and South) - Closed as a result of park closure.
  • Suwannee Lake
  • Watertown Lake

Shooting Range

Offices

  • North Central Regional Office/Columbia - Closed
  • Camp Blanding Field Office - Closed
  • FWRI Wildlife Research Lab/Alachua - Closed
  • Habitat & Species Field Office/Clay - Closed
  • Habitat & Species Field Office/Levy - Closed
  • Habitat & Species Field Office/Sumter - Closed
  • Habitat & Species Field Office/Suwannee - Closed
  • Habitat & Species Field Office/Taylor - Closed
  • Invasive Plant Mgt. Field Office/Citrus - Closed
  • Law Enforcement Field Office/Citrus - Closed
  • Jacksonville Zoo Field Lab - Closed
  • Jacksonville University Field Lab - Closed
  • Jacksonville Law Enforcement Field Office/Duval - Closed
  • FWRI Freshwater Fish. Field Office/Alachua - Closed
  • FWRI Lab/Levy - Closed
  • FWRI Fisheries Research/Duval - Closed
  • Freshwater Fisheries Field Office/Duval - Closed

Wildlife Management Areas

If an area, in part or all, has been closed due to storm activity/other natural occurrence or for repairs/renovations, it will be noted next to the area's listing. If nothing is noted next to the name of the area, it is open.

Fish Management Areas

  • Bear Creek
  • Clear Lake
  • Chain of Lakes (Cook, Winona, Palatlakaha, Crescent, Louisa, Minnehaha, Hiawatha, Minneola, Wilson, Susan and Cherry)
  • East Lake Tohopekaliga
  • Fox Lake
  • Hal-Scott Lake
  • Lake Blue Cypress
  • Lake Dias
  • Lake Griffin
  • Lake Ivanhoe
  • Lake Jackson
  • Lake Lawne
  • Lake Marian
  • Lake Panasoffkee
  • Lake Santiago
  • Lakes Tohopekaliga (West Lake Tohopekaliga), Cypress, Hatchineha, and Kissimmee, Osceola and Polk counties
  • Lake Underhill
  • Pellicer Pond
  • Secret Lake
  • Shadow Bay Park
  • South Lake
  • Starke Lake
  • Turkey Lake

Shooting Ranges

Offices

  • Northeast Regional Office/Marion - Closed
  • Caravelle Habitat & Species Field Lab/Putnam - Closed
  • De Leon Springs Fisheries Lab/Volusia - Closed
  • Eustis Fisheries Research Lab/Lake - Closed
  • Florida Bass Conservation Center - Closed 
  • Guana River Habitat & Species Field Lab/St. Johns - Closed
  • Indian River FWRI Lab/Brevard - Closed
  • Kissimmee Fisheries Office/Osceola - Closed
  • Melbourne Fisheries Field Lab/Brevard - Closed
  • North Florida Alligator Field Office/Lake - Closed
  • Ocala Conservation Center - Hunting & Game Management/Marion - Closed
  • Prairie Lakes Habitat & Species Field Lab/Osceola - Closed
  • Richloam Bass Conservation Center/Sumter - Closed
  • T.M. Goodwin Waterfowl Office/Brevard - Closed
  • Titusville Law Enforcement Field Office/Brevard - Closed
  • Tosohatchee Habitat & Species Field Office/Orange - Closesd
  • Triple N Habitat & Species Field Lab/Osceola - Closed
  • Vero Beach Field Office/Indian River - Closed

The Southwest Regional Office is closed to the public January through April, 2020 due to construction.   

Wildlife Management Areas

If an area, in part or all, has been closed due to storm activity/other natural occurrence or for repairs/renovations, it will be noted next to the area's listing. If nothing is noted next to the name of the area, it is open.

Fish Management Areas

  • Al Lopez Park Lake - Closed until further notice.
  • Bobby Hicks Park Pond - Closed until further notice.
  • Dover District Park Lake - Closed until further notice.
  • Edward Medard Park Reservoir - Closed until further notice.
  • Freedom Lake Park
  • Gadsden Park Pond - Closed until further notice.
  • Hardee County Park
  • Lake Crago - Closed until further notice.
  • Lake Istokpoga
  • Lake Parker - Closed until April 2.
  • Lake Seminole
  • Lake Tarpon
  • Lake Thonotosassa
  • Largo Central Park Nature Preserve - Closed until further notice.
  • Manatee Lake - Closed until further notice.
  • Marl Pits 1, 2 & 3 - Closed until further notice.
  • Middle Lake
  • Mosaic (Lakes Haul Road, Pine East, Pine West, Coulter, SP11, SP12 North, SP12 South, LP 5, LP2 East, LP 2 West and S8) - Closed until further notice.
  • Saddle Creek Park
  • Steven J. Wortham Park Lake
  • Tenoroc (Lakes A, B, C, F, G, 2, 3, 4, 5, Butterfly, Fish Hook, Half-Moon, Horseshoe, Hydrilla, Legs, Lost Lake East, Lost Lake West, Tern, Picnic Lake, East Pasture, West Pasture, Cemetery and Derby) - No lake-specific reservations are being taken at this time.
  • Walsingham Park Lake
  • Webb Lake - Closed until further notice.

Shooting Ranges

Offices

  • Southwest Regional Office/Polk - Closed 
  • Babcock/Webb WMA Field Office/Charlotte - Closed
  • Charlotte Harbor Field Lab/Charlotte - Closed
  • Chassahowitzka WMA Field Office/Hernando - Closed
  • Chinsegut Conservation Center/Hernando - Closed
  • Crooked Lake WEA Field Office/Polk - Closed
  • Fish and Wildlife Research Institute (FWRI)/Pinellas - Closed
  • Florida Youth Conservation Center - Apollo Beach/Hillsborough - Closed
  • Hilochee WMA Field Office/Lake - Closed
  • Invasive Plant Mgt. Field Office/Polk - Closed
  • Kissimmee River PUA Field Office/Highlands - Closed
  • Lake Wales Ridge WEA Field Office/Highlands - Closed
  • Law Enforcement Field Office/Hillsborough - Closed
  • Law Enforcement Field Office/Lee - Closed
  • Marine Mammal Pathobiology Lab/Pinellas - Closed
  • Platt Branch Mitigation Park Field Office/Highlands - Closed
  • Stock Enhancement Research Facility/Manatee - Closed
  • Tenoroc PUA Office/Polk - Closed
  • Tenoroc Shooting Center/Polk - Closed

Wildlife Management Areas

If an area, in part or all, has been closed due to storm activity/other natural occurrence or for repairs/renovations, it will be noted next to the area's listing. If nothing is noted next to the name of the area, it is open.

Fish Management Areas

Shooting Ranges

Offices

  • Regional Office/Palm Beach - Closed
  • Big Cypress Field Office/Collier - Closed
  • Alligator Project Office/Okeechobee - Closed
  • Biological Field Station/Okeechobee - Closed
  • Corbett WL Management Office/Palm Beach - Closed
  • Crew WEA Office/Lee - Closed
  • Dupuis Office/Palm Beach - Closed
  • Everglades Youth Camp/Palm Beach - Closed
  • Exotic Fisheries Laboratory/Palm Beach - Closed
  • Fisheating Creek WL Mgt. Office/Glades - Closed
  • Fla. Keys WEA/Monroe - Closed
  • Jupiter Office/Palm Beach - Closed
  • Marathon LE Office/Monroe - Closed
  • Miami Office/Dade - Closed
  • Okaloacoochee Slough WL Office/Hendry - Closed
  • Radio Shop/Palm Beach - Closed
  • South Florida Regional Laboratory/Monroe - Closed
  • South Florida Shop/Collier - Closed
  • Sunrise Office/Broward - Closed
  • Tequesta Field Laboratory/Palm Beach - Closed
  • Dinner Island WL Office/Hendry - Closed