Thank you to the speakers, sponsors, and attendees of the Weeki Wachee River Summit!

A consortium of Hernando County conservation organizations hosted the Weeki Wachee River Summit including Sierra Club Adventure Coast Group, Hernando Audubon Society; Florida Native Plant Society--Hernando Chapter; and the Weeki Wachee River Rescue Team. At the event, we discussed the present & future conditions of our waters plus future initiatives by Hernando County and state agencies to protect, maintain, and restore riverine conditions!

Featured Speakers:

• Eugene Kelly, Vice Chair of the Sierra Club Adventure Coast, with an overview of the Weeki Wachee River and Springs.
• Hernando County representatives will provide updates on the Springs Protection Zone, watershed improvements, and other initiatives to protect the river and watershed.
• Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Madison Trowbridge on the ongoing dredging project and other District initiatives.
• Tammy Heon, Director of Hernando County Tourist Development, on the value of the Weeki Wachee Springs & River to our local economy.
• Andy Pitkin of Karst Underwater Research on the vast underground connections to the river.
• Brittany Hall Scharf, UF IFAS Hernando Extension and Tiare 'TJ' Fridrich, Manatee Biologist with Save the Manatee Club on Environmental Education Along the Weeki Wachee River and Protecting the Manatees in the WWR.
• A panel of local officials and organization representatives including, Jeff Rogers, P.E. – Hernando County Administrator, Madison Trowbridge, Ph.D. – SWFWMD Springs Scientist, George Foster – Landowner Representative, Taylor Masnjak – Get Up and Go Kayaks, Business Owner, Jasmine Tavares – Weeki Wachee High School Student, and Shannon Turbeville – Weeki Wachee River Advocate.