HERANDO COUNTY, Fla. — New protections are being made to help preserve the Weeki Wachee River.

What You Need To Know

  • A new springs protection zone will bar visitors from anchoring or beaching vessels on the Weeki Wachee River

  • The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission voted Wednesday to stop such activities along the river, running the length from the Weeki Wachee Springs State Park to Rogers Park
  • Hernando County, along with FWC, will be enforcing the new rule that is now in effect
  • The protection designation makes the Weeki Wachee the largest such zone in the state since the legislature began protections last year

Last week, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission voted to prohibit visitors from beaching, grounding, mooring or anchoring their watercraft along the river. Officials say it's an issue that has been slowly plaguing the waters.

“What once was a beautiful, serene atmosphere is not that way anymore," said longtime Weeki Wachee resident Stephanie Kozuch. She said there is nothing like walking in one’s back yard to the pristine view.

“The crystal-clear water, the nature, and every time I see a manatee, after all these years, it’s still amazing to me and exciting," Kozuch said.

Recently, concern has been growing among those who call the river home — many have the opinion that the river is being loved to death.

“It became a problem because of the depth of the river, the amount of people, and the activity on the river — it became almost impossible," Kozuch said. "It’s a scary situation. You’re moving on a fast-moving river and if you don’t know how to navigate this river or deal with the swift current, it can become a problem.”

Photos taken by those who live along the river show visitors anchoring and grounding their vessels — the very thing officials believe is slowly degrading the river. 

The recently approved FWC rule will encompass the length of the river from Weeki Wachee Springs State Park to Rogers Park.

“This is where the springs protection zone will end," Kozuch said. "So beyond that bridge, it does not apply.”

The protection designation makes the Weeki Wachee the largest such zone in the state since the legislature began protections last year.

“It’s got to start somewhere," Kozuch said. "And then maybe they’ll look at maybe extending it which could be a possibility — the entire river, possibly.”

Hernando County, along with FWC, will enforce the new rule that is now in effect.

“I hope that we see the river heal — I hope we see the eel grass come back," Kozuch said. "This is such an important sanctuary for manatees, for instance. They come here for sanctuary in the winter time. They’ve got to have something to eat or they are not going to come back.”