WEEKI WACHEE A dredging company will soon begin a multimillion-dollar restoration project of the Weeki Wachee River. The river has been made shallower and wider by increased public use in recent decades.
The river’s most vocal advocate filed a complaint with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection last month. They claimed that the agency, which manages the Weeki Wachee Spring State Park at the headwaters of River, is not doing enough for the waterway and the dredging investments approved by state lawmakers.
Shannon Turbeville claims that he doesnt believe the agency followed the legal requirements to obtain input from citizens advisory committees prior to updating the state parks management plans. However, his main concern is the lack of adequate enforcement measures to ensure the river’s health.
There are many examples on social media of people continuing to ignore the rules for kayakers, such as staying in their boats, avoiding shorelines and sandbars, and staying out of the water. These activities Do not harm the river. Soon, the river’s portions that are not in the state park will be subject to enforceable prohibitions.
But, despite the long-standing rules prohibiting people from getting out of their boats River watchers within the state park boundaries say it happens all of the time without any state officials taking any action.
The Southwest Florida Water Management District leases the land of Weeki Wachee Springs State Park, which covers 927 acres. The signs within these state park boundaries tell those renting kayaks from the park vendor that they must stay in their boat. It is strictly forbidden for anyone to leave their craft or swim in water.
The majority of the river is located outside the park boundaries and is managed by the Weekiwachee Preserve, a water management district.
In 2019, a Carrying capacity studyIt was shown that people were jumping into rivers by jumping out of their boats, trampling on shorelines or sandbars, swinging off rope swings and leaving their boats. This caused erosion, tree loss and vegetation destruction, water quality degradation, and other problems to the river’s health.
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To prohibit people from leaving their craft on preserve land, the district adopted a new rule. However, enforcement of that rule was a problem up until recently. Hernando County applied to the stateA new law will make the river’s run a springs protection area.
If granted, the new zone will enable local and state law enforcement authorities to cite people who do not follow the rules. a tourism experienceVisitors can stay in their craft to enjoy the natural setting while floating along, but not damaging it.
Two years ago, the park updated its management plan. In October 2019, a public advisory committee was formed to assist with the initiation meeting. Turbeville was part of that committee. However, despite promises that there would again be a meeting to discuss the new management plans after the carrying capacity study was complete, Turbeville said that this didn’t happen.
Dee Ann Miller, spokesperson for the state Department of Environmental Protection said that there was a second input session open for anyone who wants to comment on December’s draft of the plan. She also stated that the management plan was approved by a committee that included representatives from multiple agencies at a second public meeting last month.
Turbeville also raised questions about adequate enforcement after he discovered from a public record request that there were no violations within state park boundaries during summer 2020, despite ongoing rule violations.
The water management district also questioned whether adequate enforcement was being done.
Ellen Morrison, chief of the land resources bureau, stated in a draft that her agency believes that the plan does little to enforce existing rules, such as the rule that prohibits visitors from leaving vessels within the park boundaries. The District believes that both existing rules and proposed rules are essential for limiting and preventing river impacts from visitor use. Therefore, it would be necessary to include this element in the plan.
Susanna Martinez Tarokh (public information officer) stated that the district did not push the issue.
(Morrison) and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection discussed the concerns of the district regarding enforcement. They agreed to address those concerns outside of the plan. She stated that the district will continue monitoring that commitment to ensure that it is being kept.
Miller stated that the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission was the state agency responsible. While the state park management plan might include language for the park and FWC to coordinate their efforts regarding law enforcement, Miller said it does not direct FWC and other law enforcement agencies.
She stated that the agency does not plan to change the approved plan at the moment.
