Nature Conservancy PHOTO CONTEST WINNER!

We are posting the Nature Conservancy's contest winner here because the winning photo is of our loveable, endangered manatee that inhabits FL waterways during the winter.

The GRAND PRIZE WINNER is Carol Grant of Clearwater, Florida. She took this photo at the Three Sisters Spring wintering site in Crystal River, Florida.
(Click the photo for a larger image)

Visit the Nature Conservancy website to see all of the photo entries.

The Florida Forever Coalition invites you to take a hike with us on Saturday, February 20th, 2010.

Across the state, supporters of Florida Forever have organized hikes and outings to celebrate Florida’s natural treasures and the outdoor recreation opportunities provided by Florida Forever, our state’s land preservation program. To bring awareness to the benefits of public land conservation, the Central Florida chapter of the Florida Forever Coalition will hike the Little Big Econ State Forest in Seminole County. Noted environmental writer and documentary filmmaker, Bill Belleville, will also share his knowledge of local history and the environment.

Our hike begins at the Little Big Econ State Forest/Flagler Trail Head located at:

3290 Snowhill Road, Chuluota, Florida 32766, starting at 10:00am.

Contact Holly Davenport at 850-222-0199 or EMAIL HOLLY HERE with any questions.

CLICK ON THE POSTER TO PRINT IT AND SEND IT TO INVITE ALL YOUR FRIENDS!

WRITE A LETTER TO FLORIDA LEGISLATORS TO SUPPORT SPRINGS PROTECTION IN FLORIDA!

This coming Tuesday's Florida Springs Rally in Tallahassee will bring attention again to the long-standing need for the Florida Legislature to pass meaningful legislation to protect Florida's unique and precious freshwater springs (and the surrounding upland areas which recharge and sustain them). The gray area on the map at left shows the extent of the aquifer that is deep underground. Springs protection is vital. Degradation is already apparent. Until now our legislators have only authorized studies. Action is required NOW!

Our springs are the source of water for at least six rivers --including the the Wekiva. They also indicate the health of the Floridan Aquifer which is the primary source for our drinking water and all other water uses.

HERE is the letter that the Friends of the Wekiva River has sent in advance of the springs rally to key state Senators and Representatives. You may use it as a guide to write your own letter in your own words. Please contact your individual state Senator and Representative -- especially if you cannot make Tuesday's rally -- and let them now that you support practical springs protection legislation. You can locate contact information for Florida legislators online at www.flsenate.gov and www.myfloridahouse.gov. Do your part by writing a letter TODAY!

Florida Springs Rally, Feb. 16, 2010 in Tallahassee

Florida Springs Rally

Are you saddened that Florida’s springs are becoming polluted and losing their flow? Have you wanted to do something meaningful to help save them? This is a way for you to make a difference.

Legislation to protect Florida’s springs was introduced but failed to pass in each of the last five legislative sessions. This was due, in part, to inadequate public support for meaningful protection. In order to demonstrate public concern for the health of Florida’s springs and support for significant regulatory protection, a special event will be held at the Capitol during a Legislative committee week Tuesday, February 16, 2010.

The event will begin with a Run for Wakulla Spring. Local youth will collect a bottle of water from Wakulla Spring and deliver the water by relay runners from the spring 16 miles to the Capitol. They will arrive at the Capitol at 12:00 noon for the start of the Florida Springs Rally. Their message will be: “Save Wakulla Spring for the Next Generation.”

The Florida Springs Rally will be attended by delegations of citizens from the major springs and cities in north and central Florida. Prior to the rally, delegates will ask their legislators to attend the rally and meet with them at their Capitol offices. Their message will be ”Real Legislative Protection in 2010.”

The event is sponsored by the following organizations:

Florida Federation of Garden Clubs
Friends of Wakulla Spring
1000 Friends of Florida
Friends of the Wekiva River
Audubon of Florida
Save Our Suwannee
Florida Wildlife Federation
Rainbow River Conservation
Florida Sierra Club
Homosassa River Alliance
Florida Defenders of the Environment
Friends of Lower Suwannee River
The Nature Conservancy
St. Johns Riverkeeper
Save the Manatee Club
Apalachicola Riverkeeper
North Florida Springs Alliance
Our Santa Fe River
Global Underwater Explorers
Putnam Co. Environmental Council
National Association for Cave Diving
NSS Cave Diving Section

For further information or to find out how you can help, contact:
Phone (850) 556-3072 email: florida_springs@comcast.net

RIVERFEST - Sat. March 6, 2010 Schedule of Activities

Wekiva RiverFest 2010 Schedule of Events
All Activities are FREE except for Pontoon Boat Rides!

10 am to 3 pm Wekiva Paintout Art for Sale! Live Oak Pavilion within State Park (Wekiva Paintout Wetroom/Gallery Also At Wekiva Island)

10 am to 1 pm Wekiva Scenic Investigations (WSI) Get your teams together for WSI. You will be given a map to help you locate the necessary clues. Once you have figured out the clues you must solve the puzzle. All correct solutions are eligible for prizes. Start your WSI anytime between 10:00 AM and 1:00 PM at the FOWR Information Booth or the Children’s Activity Pavilion. When you determine your solution, submit it to the FOWR information booth.

10 am to 4 pm Children’s Nature Activities at the Sinkhole Pavilion

10 am to 4 pm Wekiva Oriented Films Equinox Productions at Wekiva Island

10 am to 2 pm Orienteering Boy Scout Troop 550. Learn basics of navigating with map and compass, how to measure your pace, and basic hand held GPS use. There will be an orienteering course where participants will have the opportunity to participate in an orienteering exercise where you will try to locate control points using a map and compass or GPS.

10 am to 4 pm Canoe & Kayak Basics Demonstration by Travel Country, Apopka.

10 am, 12 pm “The Buzz on Bees” Happy Bee Honey Farm Booth #10 Exhibitor area

11 am to 2:30 pm Pontoon Boat Rides Must register at the FOWR Information Booth. For FOWR Members Only – JOIN TODAY! $10 suggested donation for current members or free with new FOWR membership. Boats leave from Wekiva Island.

11 am Guided Hike through the Park by the Florida Trail Association

11 am & 2 pm Birds of Prey “Eagle Lake” Doris Mager will give an informative presentation with live Birds of prey. Near Live Oak Pavilion in the Park. Sponsor-J.Parker D. Sharpe

11-3 - Leave Hourly Guided Walking Tour by Wekiva Wilderness Trust. This short 30-minute trip is a comfortable walk. The guide will explain the different types of natural communities in the park and the variety of wildlife. Leave from Nature Center.

12 – 3 pm Live Music at the Spring by Acoustic Flair

1: 30 pm Guided Nature Tour of Florida Ecosystems by Dr. Jay Exum, FOWR Board Member. This hike will take you from the Wekiwa Spring across floodplain wetlands, mesic hammock, wet flatwoods, and into the longleaf pine Sandhills. Dr. Exum will talk about dominant plants search for wildlife in each community and talk about how these systems are dependent on each other. Registration and Departure from FOWR Information Booth

RIVERFEST - Sat. March 6, 2010

On Saturday, March 6th, the Friends of the Wekiva River will host the 5th Annual Riverfest from 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. in the Wekiwa Springs State Park. We will have art on display in the Live Oak Pavilion and there will be live music near the Springhead, food vendors, live animal demonstrations, canoe rentals, children’s activities, Wekiva Scenic Investigation – WSI, guided hikes and exhibitors from eco-friendly organizations to help increase public awareness of the Wekiva River and its importance to our central FL community. All Riverfest activities on Saturday are FREE and the art can be purchased throughout the day. There will be shuttle busses going back and forth between the Park, Wekiva Island (formerly Wekiva Marina) and the Baptist Church all day from 10:00 am – 5:00 pm so you can park at any of the three places. There is a special State Park Entrance Fee of $2 per person ON SATURDAY ONLY with children under 12 free. Daily Park Entrance fees are $4 per person or $6 per vehicle up to 8 people.

CLICK HERE TO PREVIEW THE RIVERFEST SCHEDULE OF FREE ACTIVITIES!

The most exciting part of this event is that the proceeds from art sales will be donated to the Friends of the Wekiva River (FOWR), a non-profit organization whose sole purpose is to preserve and protect the beauty and natural functions of the Wekiva River basin: For more information about this organization and its’ supporters, please visit www.friendsofwekiva.org or To find out more about the artists schedule and view their work, visit http://www.wekivapaintout.com/, or follow us on Facebook by searching for Wekiva Paint Out. Send an email to the Event Director thru the website if you need additional information: Leslie@wekivapaintout.com

What is Wekiva Scenic Investigation (WSI)?

Wekiva Scenic Investigation (WSI)

The purpose of the hunt is to encourage people to learn about the environment in a fun way and allow them to explore more than they would have on their own! It’s also fun and free! It’s sort of like a scavenger hunt but more like CSI on TV. It is a wonderful family activity! Kids under twelve will need adult supervision.

The Wekiva Scenic Investigation will require participants to go to a variety of locations in the vicinity of the springs, find answers to clues, and then put them all together for the “big answer”. Wekiva Scenic Investigators will be given a map with the clues written on the back and room to write their answers. They will have to physically go to all the sites listed to get the answer to each clue. All sites are in the Riverfest area of Wekiwa Springs State Park.

When Investigators have all the answers, they will use one letter from each answer to come up with the solution to the “big answer.” They will write the solution along with their group’s names, addresses and phone numbers on the tear-off portion of the map and turn it in at the Friends of the Wekiva River Information Booth by 3:30 pm. At 3:45 there will be prize drawings from those entries with the correct solutions. You don’t have to be present to win. Everyone wins even if they don’t get a prize because they will have toured the park, gone out in a canoe, and will go home with the map as a souvenir of a fun day.

Please get your team together, come out to the Wekiva RiverFest on Saturday, March 6, 2010 and join in the fun of our WSI. You can pick up your WSI map and list of clues between 10:00 am and 1:30 pm at the Friends of the Wekiva River Information Booth or at the Children’s Activity pavilion.

Look for the WSI logo throughout the Riverfest area!

WSI was developed by the Wekiva River Aquatic Preserve for Wekiva RiverFest 2010