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State-funded eelgrass plantings begin on Weeki Wachee River; nonprofit and contractor report initial work and monitoring plan
Summary
The Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida and contractor CN Shoreline described a newly completed eelgrass restoration project on the Weeki Wachee River: crews planted roughly 44,000 units across about 8.7 acres, installed protective cages and will monitor survival and expansion for three years under a state-funded initiative.
A state-funded initiative to restore native submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) on the Weeki Wachee River is underway, the Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida and contractor CN Shoreline told the Hernando County Commission on June 10.
The foundation said the effort, funded through a legislative appropriation and coordinated with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), installed more than 44,000 planting units of eelgrass across roughly 8.7 acres of river between Rogers Park and the state-park boundary. Contractor CN Shoreline said the project combined mechanical planting units and peat pots, and placed temporary protective exclusion cages (GrowSAV units) over selected potted plants to prevent grazing by manatees and turtles while the plants establish.
Why it matters: Native eelgrass and other submerged aquatic vegetation support fisheries, water clarity and spring-run habitats. SAV loss had been attributed to sedimentation, boating impacts and competition from invasive algae; county and state efforts to reduce those stressors preceded the planting project.
Project method and monitoring: CN Shoreline reported crews planted mechanical units on 3-foot centers and installed 132 protective cages each holding five potted plants; the cages remain for roughly 12 months while staff conduct monthly maintenance. The contractor will monitor survival, coverage, density and spread at one, two and three years post-installation and clean cages where algae accumulates. Foundation staff described community outreach during plantings, including encounters with supportive paddlers and residents.
Next steps: The FWC foundation and contractor will continue monthly maintenance and the formal multi-year monitoring regimen. County staff said they plan to pursue complementary canal and channel work in partnership with the Southwest Florida Water Management District and local stakeholders; separate canal-dredging and restoration studies are underway to identify problem reaches and prioritize future work.
Funding and partners: The project is funded through the state legislative appropriation and managed by the Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida in coordination with FWC and CN Shoreline. County staff noted the work follows adoption of the river's SWIM plan and the spring-protection zone and complements other recent navigational and restoration projects.
