Who: Southwest Florida Water Management District staff
What: The District is installing approximately 3,000 aquatic plants along the Weeki Wachee River headspring.
When: Thursday, April 9, 10 a.m.
Where: Weeki Wachee Springs State Park, 6131 Commercial Way, Spring Hill
Why: This is the final phase of a restoration project that also involved removing sediments, Lyngbya algae and other invasive vegetation to help improve the water quality.
As part of the project, approximately 101,200 aquatic plants and 6,400 wetland plants will be installed. So far just over 47,000 aquatic plants and 600 wetland plants have been installed.
The project area stretches from the spring vent to the vicinity of the Weeki Wachee Springs State Park’s boat dock.
Approximately 6,130 cubic yards of accumulated sediments were removed from the springs and piped underneath County Road 550 to District property located across the street from the park.
Lyngbya is an invasive algae that grows and spreads rapidly. It attaches itself to plants and the bottoms of water bodies, forming large mats. These mats grow and then break off, spreading to other areas.
Lyngbya crowds out native vegetation and disrupts the natural filtration process as well as decreases the amount of native habitat for fish nurseries.
District staff will monitor the springs to see how fast the Lyngbya grows back. This data will be used in planning upcoming restoration efforts at Chassahowitzka Springs.
The restoration project is the second project aimed at cleaning up the springs. The first project, which was completed last year, captures and treats stormwater runoff from U.S. Highway 19 and the Weeki Wachee Springs State Park’s parking lot.
The total cost of the restoration project is $645,815, which is being funded by the state’s Water Management Lands Trust Fund through the District’s Coastal Rivers Basin Board.
District Contact: Robyn Felix, 800-423-1476, ext. 4770