Putting the Genie Back in the Bottle – Reversing Decades of Recreational Impacts to a Sensitive Spring-fed River
Kristen Nowak, PWS
Black & Veatch
Tampa, Florida
Authors:
-- Nowak, K.; Long, M.; Kiefer, J.; Harrelson, C., Szafraniec, M.
-- Megan Long, EI, Black & Veatch, Tampa, Florida
The Weeki Wachee River is a spring-fed river in central Florida that advocates say is being “loved to death.” People from all over the world come to this increasingly popular destination to paddle and wade in the crystal-clear waters and to see the iconic Florida manatee. Increased visitor traffic over the last two decades has had a clear impact on the river and its ecosystems, as hundreds of people per month beach their kayaks and wade on point bars, causing extensive vegetation and soil loss and subsequent sedimentation and turbidity. A carrying capacity study was conducted to assess the relationships between recreation, water quality, ecological, hydrological, and geomorphological characteristics. Evidence from the study found strong links between recreational activities and ecological degradation, providing the data necessary to earn the river a “Springs Protection Zone” designation from the State, which restricts people from beaching their vessels. To help reverse the damage that has been done, the State has begun restoration activities to re-establish vegetation and soils on the eroded point bars. The State has also undergone a large public education campaign to teach people how their actions can impact the river and what they can do to protect it. The Weeki Wachee River is a case study of how public outcry, sound science, policymaking, restoration, and education are all key to saving a river.
About Kristin Nowak
Kristen Nowak is a fluvial geomorphologist and wetland scientist with nearly 20 years of experience designing stream and wetland restoration projects and leading environmental flow, water quality, wetland, and geomorphic monitoring studies throughout Florida. Her restoration designs include many thousands of linear feet of stream and hundreds of acres of wetland in both rural and urban settings. She conducted extensive original research concerning the fluvial geomorphology of peninsular Florida streams, developed regional curves for peninsular Florida, and co-authored a peer-reviewed Florida stream restoration handbook. Kristen is a native Floridian who is passionate about land conservation, serving as Board of Directors President of the Green Horizon Land Trust. She loves educating people about the environment because “in the end, we will conserve only what we love, we will love only what we understand and we will understand only what we are taught.” (Baba Dioum)
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristen-blanton-nowak-pws-76872343/