Chassowitzka River: is an unspoiled estuarine habitat along Florida’s west coast that serves as important breeding and feeding ground for marine life. Chassahowitzka Springs form the headwaters of the Chassahowitzka River which flows westerly to the Gulf of Mexico through about 9 mi. of low coastal marshland and shallow bays that support an abundant growth of muskgrass which provides food for various birds and the endangered manatee.

The Chassahowitzka River and its expansive coastal swamps are located in western Citrus and Hernando Counties and include the headwaters of the Chassahowitzka River, several tributaries and springs. This 5,676-acre property, purchased in 1991 by SWFWMD District, is part of a large greenway of public lands that protects the Chassahowitzka Swamp ecosystem and wildlife resources. The swamp supports a small population of Florida black bears. The river has been designated an Outstanding Florida Water by the State of Florida.

An Essay on the Chassahowitzka

Chassahowitzka Main Spring

Chassahowitzka Solution Holes

Crystal River: Crystal River flows from a spring-fed bay in Citrus County on Florida’s west coast. The Kings Bay embayment makes this system unique to all other springs in Florida—it is perhaps the greatest concentration of springs in the state. Approximately 600 acres in surface area; the tidally influenced bay encompasses 30 springs discharging from the Floridan Aquifer. Collectively, the springs have an average discharge of 630 million gallons per day (mgd) and form the headwater of Crystal River. A shallow system, depth measurements in Kings Bay vary from approximately three to ten feet with water temperatures ranging from 66 degrees Fahrenheit in the winter to 76 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer. With the exception of conservation lands to the southwest, much of the shoreline along the bay has been altered through recreational and residential development.

Crystal River/King’s Bay- A Natural Wonder in Distress

June 11, 2005:
Where there’s a way, is there a will? by Jim Hunter, Citrus County Chronicle - The desire to restore and protect Kings Bay and the Crystal River has been plainly evident in recent years.

Crystal River/King’s Bay Springs Group - Crystal River is one of the world’s great sites for springs, manatees, diving, and recreation, but its health is bad and deteriorating. It is in critical need of action to attenuate and ameliorate the problems caused by development, pollution, and exotic infestation...

May 3, 2005:
"Senator Fasano & Representative Dean Announce Funding for Citrus County Water Projects" - the 2004-2005 state budget will include important water projects that will directly benefit:

• ...Crystal River & King’s Bay Improvement Project - $200,000

• Community Budget Issue Requests - Crystal River and King’s Bay Improvement - 1/13/2005

March 29, 2005
Surface Water Improvement and Management (SWIM) Program 2004 Annual Report - This report provides a summary of the District’s SWIM Program activities for the calendar year 2004.

In 1987, the Florida Legislature enacted the Surface Water Improvement and Management (SWIM) Act (Sections 373.451-373-4595, Florida Statutes). They recognized water quality in surface water bodies throughout the state had degraded or were in danger of being degraded and important functions, once performed by associated natural systems, were no longer being provided. The functions to be maintained or improved were identified in the SWIM Act and include providing aesthetic and recreational pleasure for the states citizens; habitat for native plants and animals, including endangered and threatened species; and safe drinking water for the state’s growing population as well as attracting visitors and accruing other economic benefits.

November 30, 2004:
"Crystal River / King’s Bay Fact Sheet published by SWFWMD

November 30, 2004:
"Crystal River / King’s Bay Projects Time Line published by SWFWMD

November 30, 2004:
"Budget may boost water cleanup projects - Included in the budget under review by state lawmakers is $500,000 for the county to buy property near the headwaters of the Homosassa River, and $120,000 for a Southwest Florida Water Management District plan to clean lyngbya algae from Kings Bay. St. Pete Times.

Changes In Submersed Macrophytes In Relation To Tidal Storm Surges - Project Report:. Vegetative and herbicide monitoring study in Kings Bay, ...SWFWMD. 1998. Crystal River/Kings Bay Surface Water Improvement and ...

Homosassa River: The river starts at the main spring and runs eight miles to the Gulf of Mexico. The rivers headwaters start and flow from several springs that produce millions of gallons of fresh spring water every hour.

Homosassa River Alliance website

Aerial view of development along the Homosassa River

Spring Description

Rainbow River: The Rainbow River is an important natural resource to the people of the state of Florida. From an ecological perspective, the river has an abundance of diverse plant communities providing excellent habitat for many different types of fish and wildlife. It is this natural beauty that also makes the river an important recreational resource. About 220,000 people visit the river annually to dive, swim, boat, and fish. Of the 33 first magnitude springs in the State of Florida, Rainbow Springs, forming the headwaters of the Rainbow River, is the fourth largest in terms of discharge. The Rainbow River discharges an average of 22 cubic meters per second (m3/s), or 493 million gallons of water per day (mgd) into the Withlacoochee River, just upstream of Lake Rousseau. Because of the Rainbow River’s exceptional scenic beauty and its ecological significance, the river has been designated by the State, to be an Outstanding Florida Water (OFW), an Aquatic Preserve, and a SWIM priority water body. Also, in 1972, Rainbow Springs was designated a National Natural Landmark by the National Park Service.

March 29, 2005
Surface Water Improvement and Management (SWIM) Program 2004 Annual Report - This report provides a summary of the District’s SWIM Program activities for the calendar year 2004.

In 1987, the Florida Legislature enacted the Surface Water Improvement and Management (SWIM) Act (Sections 373.451-373-4595, Florida Statutes). They recognized water quality in surface water bodies throughout the state had degraded or were in danger of being degraded and important functions, once performed by associated natural systems, were no longer being provided. The functions to be maintained or improved were identified in the SWIM Act and include providing aesthetic and recreational pleasure for the states citizens; habitat for native plants and animals, including endangered and threatened species; and safe drinking water for the state’s growing population as well as attracting visitors and accruing other economic benefits. The Rainbow River was adopted as a SWIM water body by the Southwest Florida Water Management District in 1989.

April 2004
Rainbow River - Surface Water Improvement and Management (SWIM) Plan - The SWIM legislation requires the water management districts to protect the ecological, aesthetic, recreational, and economic value of the State’s surface water bodies, keeping in mind that water quality degradation is frequently caused by point and non-point source pollution, and that degraded water quality can cause both direct and indirect losses of habitats.

Withlacoochee River: Located on the northern and eastern borders of Citrus County, the Withlacoochee River presents 45 miles of riverfront beauty. It helps refresh the Tsala Apopka chain of lakes, a 23,000 acre bass-rich playground for fisherman and a wetland home for a dozen species of bird and mammal considered rare elsewhere in America. It also contains some of Florida’s most valuable natural bodies. The Green Swamp, the headwaters of the river, is the second most hydrologically and environmentally significant wetland in Florida (the Everglades is the first). Lake Panasoffkee is one of the oldest lakes in Florida. Florida’s fourth largest first-magnitude spring, Rainbow Spring, lies in the Withlacoochee River Basin.

The Withlacoochee State Forest is the state’s second largest forest, and it, too, lies within the Withlacoochee River Basin. The ecosystem within the basin includes 500 vertebrate species spread out over river floodplain forests, cypress domes, pine flatwoods, sandhills, lake systems, and marshes. The Withlacoochee River provides habitat for such wildlife as deer, bear, bobcat, coyote, raccoon, otter, turkey, fox, wild hog, turtle, alligator, vultures, osprey, and heron.

Discover Citrus County magazine: #100 on Top 100 Discoveries

The Withlacoochee River Project

Hall’s River: Hall’s River Head Spring is located at the upstream end of Hall’s River, a 2.5 mile long tributary of the Homosassa River. Many springs in Hall’s River are hard to locate due to the width, shallowness, and vegetation in the river. The spring pool is approximately 200 feet across and is tidally influenced. Surrounding land is Federal Bird Wildlife Sanctuary.

Halls River a rallying point in election by Justin George, August 20, 2004 - ...Environmentalists, who also strongly objected, sued, fearing the project and the boats Halls River Retreat would harbor would pollute the Halls River, a state-designated Outstanding Florida Waterway...

Halls River rezone is back by Justin George, July 14, 2004 - Longacre sought to rezone his property to general commercial so he could build what is known as Halls River Retreat, a 54-unit condominium time-share complex located on about 10 acres along the Halls River in Homosassa. Commissioners approved the controversial project in February 2002, despite being rejected by a planning advisory board and drawing strong criticism from environmentalists, who sued. That resulted in a judge overturning the decision in November 2002, killing the project.

County legal tab on Halls River a tangled web by Amy Wimmer Schwarb, November 2, 2003 - The figures add up to a clunky accounting of how much money the county spent defending its decision to allow a 54-unit condominium called Halls River Retreat to be built in Homosassa....the records help local taxpayers get a clearer picture of how their money is spent.

Longacre’s website promoting the Halls River Retreat Development as "One of the last parcels of riverfront property available on the Nature Coast..."

Manatee Madness, Dolphin Delirium and Heron Histrionics a trip down the Halls River and Homosassa River (2003?).

Salt River:

Big Lake Henderson

Lake Tsala Apopka

Little Lake Henderson

Lake Hernando

Lake Rousseau

Lake Holathlikaha

Cross Florida Greenways State Recreation and Conservation Area

Crystal River State Archaeological Site

Citrus Tract of the Withlacoochee State Forest

Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge: A 30,000 acre refuge containing coastal saltmarsh, shallow bays, tidal streams, and rivers, mangrove islands, and coastal maritime hammock. The refuge was established primarily to protect waterfowl habitat and is home to over approximately 250 species of birds, over 50 species of reptiles and amphibians and 25 different species of mammals, including the endangered West Indian Manatee. The refuge is only accessible by boat.

Visit the Refuge’s Web Site

"Endangered Cranes take 1,000 mile Plane Trip to Crystal River"

Discover Citrus County magazine: #14 on Top 100 Discoveries

Follow the migration of the whooping cranes... at the Citrus County Audubon Society website

Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge: is located amongst a group of islands in Kings Bay and was established in 1983 specifically for the protection of the endangered West Indian Manatee. This unique refuge preserves the last unspoiled and undeveloped habitat in Kings Bay, which forms the headwaters of the Crystal River. The refuge preserves the warm water spring havens, which provide critical habitat for the manatee populations that migrate here each winter. The refuge is only accessible by boat.

Visit the Refuge’s Web Site

Discover Citrus County magazine: #79 on Top 100 Discoveries

Homosassa Springs Wildlife Refuge: Homosassa Springs Wildlife Park is a refuge where injured or orphaned manatees which have received treatment at a critical care facility are housed, fed, and cared for - until released or for the rest of their lives, depending on whether or not the animal is expected to be able to re-acclimate itself to life in the wild.

The park centers around a large freshwater spring which is the headwater for the Homosassa River - flowing about 2 million gallons of 72-degree spring water every hour. The springs constant temperature attracts manatees during the colder winter months to the springs area.

A Tour of Manatee Country

Aerial view of the Homosassa Springs State Wildlife Park

Pott’s Preserve

Potts Preserve was acquired between 1988 and 1993 to protect the area’s ground water recharge, as well as important surface water features and wetland habitats. Preserve wetlands play a role in both the Tsala Apopka Chain of Lakes and the Withlacoochee River systems. The Tsala Apopka marshes and wet prairies are part of the Floridan aquifer’s recharge/discharge system. The forested river floodplain holds flood waters and filters stormwater runoff, improving the quality of water flowing downstream. Additionally, the site provides habitat to wildlife, including a small population of threatened Florida scrub jays.

The combination of upland and wetland habitats within Potts Preserve provides a unique opportunity to observe "wild Florida." There is something here for everyone: the Withlacoochee River and floodplain forest, freshwater marshes, oak scrub communities, Florida flatwoods, and oak hammocks.

Land alterations conducted prior to District acquisition include, dike construction, a dike road built prior to 1964 to connect islands along the western portion of the property, and clearing scrub and digging ditches to create improved pastures in the 1970s or ’80s. Known formerly Dee River Ranch, the Preserve was renamed in memory of Michael T. Potts, a District employee who lost his life in an accident while performing a pre-acquisition land survey of the property.

Potts Preserve Restoration:

View Map

The Southwest Florida Water Management District will begin work May 12 in Potts Preserve to restore the historic natural flow patterns of water between the preserve’s marsh and the Hernando pool of Lake Tsala Apopka.

District workers will remove the fill material associated with the “western dike” and the “middle road” which have impeded the natural flow of water between the open water areas of the Hernando pool and the preserve’s marsh since the early 1950s.

The dike and road were built by the previous land owners to connect upland islands to provide access to the more remote parts of the preserve, and to increase the amount of usable land for cattle grazing. These filled-in areas have inhibited the natural movement of water from the Hernando pool into the preserve’s marsh, which has impacted the hydrology of the marsh. The project is designed to restore the natural hydrology of the marsh.

Fact Sheet:

• Potts Preserve is located in Northeastern Citrus County, east of Inverness.
• The restoration project is designed to restore the historic natural flow patterns of water between the preserve’s marsh and the Hernando pool of Lake Tsala Apopka.
• Fill material being removed by the District was built by previous land owners to connect upland islands to provide access to the more remote parts of the preserve, and to increase the amount of usable land for cattle grazing.
• The project includes the removal of fill material at 15 locations (including Otter Slide).
• 15,100 cubic yards of material will be removed.
• 4.5 acres of filled area will be graded down to historic wetland levels.
• Project duration will be approximately seven weeks.
• Project cost is $74,000. Funding is being provided by the District’s Withlacoochee River Basin Board.
• The 8,500-acre Potts Preserve was acquired by the District for protection of the area’s groundwater recharge, as well as important surface water features and wetland habitats.
• The preserve’s wetlands play a role in both the Tsala Apopka Lake chain and the Withlacoochee River systems, part of the Floridan aquifer’s recharge / discharge system.

In the News:

May 18, 2010
Potts Preserve restoration work now begun -Citrus Daily

May 11, 2010
Potts Preserve Restoration Work to Begin May 12 -SWFWMD

St. Martin’s Marsh Aquatic Preserve

Discover Citrus County magazine: #89 on Top 100 Discoveries

Flying Eagle Wildlife Management Area

Flying Eagle’s 10,950 acres are a mosaic of small lakes, marshes and swamps, with numerous scattered islands of forested uplands. A broad mixture of hardwood and cypress swamps covers the floodplain of the Withlacoochee River. Flying Eagle is ideal for hiking or horseback riding along the network of wooded roads. In winter the area has abundant bird life, especially waders and ducks. The Tsala Apopka Chain of Lakes which surrounds most of Flying Eagle is connected to the Floridan aquifer’s hydrologic system. The Withlacoochee River forms a portion of the eastern property boundary and is a vital component of regional drainage and flood conveyance.

Two-Mile Prairie

It lies along the southern bank of the Withlacoochee River at the northern end of the Tsala Apopka Lake system. The property consists of 2,900 acres that has a variety of natural upland and wetland plant communities. Of particular interest is the mosaic of sandhill and xeric hammock/scrub communities and cypress swamps, which are quality habitat for a variety of wildlife. Keep your eyes open and you may see an abundance of wildlife that inhabit the property, such as white-tailed deer, turkey, bobwhite quail, morning dove, Sherman’s fox squirrel, Eastern indigo snake and the Florida scrub jay.

Property was purchased jointly by the State of Florida the SWFWMD - management responsibilities given to the Division of Forestry which manages the property as part of the Withlacoochee State Forest.

One of the primary purposes for acquisition of the property is its ability to provide significant water recharge and natural flood control. The District recently completed a hydrologic restoration project that involved the restoration of the conveyance way between the Van Ness Outfall Structure from the Hernando Pool of the Tsala Apopka Chain of Lakes and the depressional areas in Two-Mile Prairie. The restoration enhancements will allow the District to move excess waters from the Hernando Pool more efficiently to storage and recharge areas into the Two-Mile Prairie marsh system. Ecosystem benefits will include wetland restoration, flood protection, and increased groundwater recharge.

Withlacoochee River Canoe Trail

Bluebird Springs

Formerly known as the "Gator Hole," Bluebird Springs was dedicated to the citizens as part of the Villa Sites Addition to Homosassa when it was platted and recorded in 1927. In 1978 Bluebird Springs was acquired by the Citrus County Board of County Commissioners and designated as a county park.

The Bluebird Springs Community Education Project
The Homosassa River Alliance is working to protect & improve the Homosassa Springs and River. The Bluebird Springs with a flow of about 1 million gallons per day is a major contributor to the Homosassa Springs and River system.

Bluebird Springs Chemical Analysis (2/05)