The "US Fish and Wildlife Service(US Fish and Wildlife Service)":http://www.fws.gov/, the "Friends of Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge(Friends of Chassahowitzka)":http://friendsofchazz.org/ and the "Southwest Florida Water Management District(Southwest Florida Water Management District)":/ are holding their last public open house of this manatee season at the newly acquired Three Sisters Springs property on Saturday, Feb. 26, from 8 a.m. to noon.
"This will be the last open house this manatee season, but we plan to host more open house events during next manatee season" said Wildlife Refuge Manager, Michael Lusk. "We hope to begin boardwalk construction in a couple of months to improve the visitor experience for next manatee season."
Staff from the District, the Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Friends of Chassahowitzka will show the public what the future holds for manatees and visitors to Three Sisters Springs. Guides will give visitors walking tours of the property and there will be several informational booths. Free water and portable restroom facilities will also be available.
As an improved road and parking lot on the property have not yet been constructed, free shuttles to the property will be provided. Shuttles will depart from the southeast corner of the Kings Bay Shopping Plaza parking lot on US 19, just north of the former Sonic fast food diner beginning at 8 a.m. Shuttles will run every 5 to 10 minutes, with the last shuttle returning at noon. Only mobility impaired individuals will be allowed to drive to the Three Sisters Springs property while escorted in their respective mobility impaired designated vehicles. All other visitors must use the shuttle to Three Sisters Springs. The property does not yet have established trails, so expect rough and uneven walking terrain. Walking distance to the springs from the shuttle drop-off area is about 40 yards. Fishing, swimming or other access to the springs from the property will not be permitted during the open house.
The Fish and Wildlife Service assumed management of the Three Sisters Springs property on July 28, 2010. The property is being managed as part of the existing Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge. The District purchased part of the property to construct a wetland treatment system to remove pollutants from stormwater before it runs into Kings Bay.
For more information contact Ivan Vicente, US Fish and Wildlife Service, at (352) 563-2088, ext. 213.
"This will be the last open house this manatee season, but we plan to host more open house events during next manatee season" said Wildlife Refuge Manager, Michael Lusk. "We hope to begin boardwalk construction in a couple of months to improve the visitor experience for next manatee season."
Staff from the District, the Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Friends of Chassahowitzka will show the public what the future holds for manatees and visitors to Three Sisters Springs. Guides will give visitors walking tours of the property and there will be several informational booths. Free water and portable restroom facilities will also be available.
As an improved road and parking lot on the property have not yet been constructed, free shuttles to the property will be provided. Shuttles will depart from the southeast corner of the Kings Bay Shopping Plaza parking lot on US 19, just north of the former Sonic fast food diner beginning at 8 a.m. Shuttles will run every 5 to 10 minutes, with the last shuttle returning at noon. Only mobility impaired individuals will be allowed to drive to the Three Sisters Springs property while escorted in their respective mobility impaired designated vehicles. All other visitors must use the shuttle to Three Sisters Springs. The property does not yet have established trails, so expect rough and uneven walking terrain. Walking distance to the springs from the shuttle drop-off area is about 40 yards. Fishing, swimming or other access to the springs from the property will not be permitted during the open house.
The Fish and Wildlife Service assumed management of the Three Sisters Springs property on July 28, 2010. The property is being managed as part of the existing Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge. The District purchased part of the property to construct a wetland treatment system to remove pollutants from stormwater before it runs into Kings Bay.
For more information contact Ivan Vicente, US Fish and Wildlife Service, at (352) 563-2088, ext. 213.