The 3rd Thursday of each month

Time: 8:30 AM- approx. 11:30

Location: Wekiva Island, 1014 Miami Springs Dr., Longwood, FL

Registration is required. Click here to register. 

Thank you, Wekiva Island, for donating canoes for this activity!

BECOME A CITIZEN SCIENTIST AND HELP MONITOR OUR SPRINGS!

SpringsWatch is a citizen science program that provides volunteers with hands-on training in the field.  That “field” is Florida’s beautiful springs!  Volunteers learn all aspects of water quality monitoring and get to know the wildlife and plants that depend on springs systems.  This fun and educational day on the water also contributes to our springs knowledge database as well as that of other environmental agencies across the state.

Currently, the Florida Springs Institute has 11 active SpringsWatch groups across Florida, including Wekiwa Springs.  During SpringsWatch sessions, volunteers collect data on water temperature, dissolved oxygen, specific conductance, vertical light attenuation, aquatic vegetation, wildlife, and human uses.

SpringsWatch is a great way to get out to the springs, learn, and help generate data that supports them. 

Information provided by The Florida Springs Institute

https://floridaspringsinstitute.org/

Join us for our monthly board meeting!

The 3rd Thursday of each month

Time: 8:30 AM- approx. 11:30

Location: Wekiva Island, 1014 Miami Springs Dr., Longwood, FL

Registration is required. Click here to register. 

Thank you, Wekiva Island, for donating canoes for this activity!

BECOME A CITIZEN SCIENTIST AND HELP MONITOR OUR SPRINGS!

SpringsWatch is a citizen science program that provides volunteers with hands-on training in the field.  That “field” is Florida’s beautiful springs!  Volunteers learn all aspects of water quality monitoring and get to know the wildlife and plants that depend on springs systems.  This fun and educational day on the water also contributes to our springs knowledge database as well as that of other environmental agencies across the state.

Currently, the Florida Springs Institute has 11 active SpringsWatch groups across Florida, including Wekiwa Springs.  During SpringsWatch sessions, volunteers collect data on water temperature, dissolved oxygen, specific conductance, vertical light attenuation, aquatic vegetation, wildlife, and human uses.

SpringsWatch is a great way to get out to the springs, learn, and help generate data that supports them. 

Information provided by The Florida Springs Institute

https://floridaspringsinstitute.org/

Wekiva Springs State Park Rec Hall 3-5 p.m

Thursday, March 7th, 7:00 pm

Come join us for a special and informative event! Jim Adamski will be leading a presentation about Public Lands, what they are, their history and their current threats. You can expect lots of interesting facts with scenic pictures to accompany and probably some great discussion! Hope you can join us as we all learn more about the public lands we all love.

Please email michelle@friendsofwekiva.org to join the list!

(FOWR Board will meet from 5:30-6:30 in the same location.)

Join us for our monthly board meeting!

Sunday, March 3, 9:00 - 11:00 am

Come take a hike with us! Board member and Wildlife Ecologist Dr. Jay Exum will be leading us on a guided tour through this magical preserve. Native and visiting birds will be the main topic but there's so much to learn about all the different habitats found in RSRSR. Hope you can join us!

Please email michelle@friendsofwekiva.org to join the list!

The 3rd Thursday of each month

Time: 8:30 AM- approx. 11:30

Location: Wekiva Island, 1014 Miami Springs Dr., Longwood, FL

Registration is required. Click here to register. 

Thank you, Wekiva Island, for donating canoes for this activity!

BECOME A CITIZEN SCIENTIST AND HELP MONITOR OUR SPRINGS!

SpringsWatch is a citizen science program that provides volunteers with hands-on training in the field.  That “field” is Florida’s beautiful springs!  Volunteers learn all aspects of water quality monitoring and get to know the wildlife and plants that depend on springs systems.  This fun and educational day on the water also contributes to our springs knowledge database as well as that of other environmental agencies across the state.

Currently, the Florida Springs Institute has 11 active SpringsWatch groups across Florida, including Wekiwa Springs.  During SpringsWatch sessions, volunteers collect data on water temperature, dissolved oxygen, specific conductance, vertical light attenuation, aquatic vegetation, wildlife, and human uses.

SpringsWatch is a great way to get out to the springs, learn, and help generate data that supports them. 

Information provided by The Florida Springs Institute

https://floridaspringsinstitute.org/

Join us for our monthly board meeting!

Thursday, January 25, 2024, 7:00 pm , Markham Woods Church
 

Mark Pafford will deliver a  presentation on “Advocacy: How to communicate with our representatives on the national, state and local levels.”  More details to follow!

The 3rd Thursday of each month

Time: 8:30 AM- approx. 11:30

Location: Wekiva Island, 1014 Miami Springs Dr., Longwood, FL

Registration is required. Click here to register. 

Thank you, Wekiva Island, for donating canoes for this activity!

BECOME A CITIZEN SCIENTIST AND HELP MONITOR OUR SPRINGS!

SpringsWatch is a citizen science program that provides volunteers with hands-on training in the field.  That “field” is Florida’s beautiful springs!  Volunteers learn all aspects of water quality monitoring and get to know the wildlife and plants that depend on springs systems.  This fun and educational day on the water also contributes to our springs knowledge database as well as that of other environmental agencies across the state.

Currently, the Florida Springs Institute has 11 active SpringsWatch groups across Florida, including Wekiwa Springs.  During SpringsWatch sessions, volunteers collect data on water temperature, dissolved oxygen, specific conductance, vertical light attenuation, aquatic vegetation, wildlife, and human uses.

SpringsWatch is a great way to get out to the springs, learn, and help generate data that supports them. 

Information provided by The Florida Springs Institute

https://floridaspringsinstitute.org/

Join us for our monthly board meeting!

The 3rd Thursday of each month

Time: 8:30 AM- approx. 11:30

Location: Wekiva Island, 1014 Miami Springs Dr., Longwood, FL

Registration is required. Click here to register. 

Thank you, Wekiva Island, for donating canoes for this activity!

BECOME A CITIZEN SCIENTIST AND HELP MONITOR OUR SPRINGS!

SpringsWatch is a citizen science program that provides volunteers with hands-on training in the field.  That “field” is Florida’s beautiful springs!  Volunteers learn all aspects of water quality monitoring and get to know the wildlife and plants that depend on springs systems.  This fun and educational day on the water also contributes to our springs knowledge database as well as that of other environmental agencies across the state.

Currently, the Florida Springs Institute has 11 active SpringsWatch groups across Florida, including Wekiwa Springs.  During SpringsWatch sessions, volunteers collect data on water temperature, dissolved oxygen, specific conductance, vertical light attenuation, aquatic vegetation, wildlife, and human uses.

SpringsWatch is a great way to get out to the springs, learn, and help generate data that supports them. 

Information provided by The Florida Springs Institute

https://floridaspringsinstitute.org/

Saturday, December 16 2023

Christmas Bird Count.  If you love birding and interested in participating this year please contact Jay Exum for more details!
jayhexum@gmail.com

Join us for our monthly board meeting!

The 3rd Thursday of each month

Time: 8:30 AM- approx. 11:30

Location: Wekiva Island, 1014 Miami Springs Dr., Longwood, FL

Registration is required. Click here to register. 

Thank you, Wekiva Island, for donating canoes for this activity!

BECOME A CITIZEN SCIENTIST AND HELP MONITOR OUR SPRINGS!

SpringsWatch is a citizen science program that provides volunteers with hands-on training in the field.  That “field” is Florida’s beautiful springs!  Volunteers learn all aspects of water quality monitoring and get to know the wildlife and plants that depend on springs systems.  This fun and educational day on the water also contributes to our springs knowledge database as well as that of other environmental agencies across the state.

Currently, the Florida Springs Institute has 11 active SpringsWatch groups across Florida, including Wekiwa Springs.  During SpringsWatch sessions, volunteers collect data on water temperature, dissolved oxygen, specific conductance, vertical light attenuation, aquatic vegetation, wildlife, and human uses.

SpringsWatch is a great way to get out to the springs, learn, and help generate data that supports them. 

Information provided by The Florida Springs Institute

https://floridaspringsinstitute.org/

Join us for our monthly board meeting!

The 3rd Thursday of each month

Time: 8:30 AM- approx. 11:30

Location: Wekiva Island, 1014 Miami Springs Dr., Longwood, FL

Registration is required. Click here to register. 

Thank you, Wekiva Island, for donating canoes for this activity!

BECOME A CITIZEN SCIENTIST AND HELP MONITOR OUR SPRINGS!

SpringsWatch is a citizen science program that provides volunteers with hands-on training in the field.  That “field” is Florida’s beautiful springs!  Volunteers learn all aspects of water quality monitoring and get to know the wildlife and plants that depend on springs systems.  This fun and educational day on the water also contributes to our springs knowledge database as well as that of other environmental agencies across the state.

Currently, the Florida Springs Institute has 11 active SpringsWatch groups across Florida, including Wekiwa Springs.  During SpringsWatch sessions, volunteers collect data on water temperature, dissolved oxygen, specific conductance, vertical light attenuation, aquatic vegetation, wildlife, and human uses.

SpringsWatch is a great way to get out to the springs, learn, and help generate data that supports them. 

Information provided by The Florida Springs Institute

https://floridaspringsinstitute.org/

Saturday, October 14, 8:00-1:00 pm

FOWR Paddle from Kings Landing
5722 Baptist Camp RD., Apopka , FL 32712

We will be paddling against the current along Emerald Cut…one the most beautiful paddles in Central Florida! We will turn around and paddle down stream for about 1 hour, then up stream to return to Kings Landing.

Bring you own water craft or rent a single kayak for $30, double $45 (cash on the morning of the paddle).

E-mail michelle@friendsofwekiva.org to reserve your spot! Include the names and e-mail address of the people in your party and whether you plan to bring your own water craft or rent a single or double kayak.

Bringing water, snacks, a picnic lunch, hat, sunscreen, a dry bag for your cell phone, water shoes and anything else that will make your paddle comfortable is recommended!

Hope to see you there!

Join us for our monthly board meeting!

The 3rd Thursday of each month

Time: 8:30 AM- approx. 11:30

Location: Wekiva Island, 1014 Miami Springs Dr., Longwood, FL

Registration is required. Click here to register. 

Thank you, Wekiva Island, for donating canoes for this activity!

BECOME A CITIZEN SCIENTIST AND HELP MONITOR OUR SPRINGS!

SpringsWatch is a citizen science program that provides volunteers with hands-on training in the field.  That “field” is Florida’s beautiful springs!  Volunteers learn all aspects of water quality monitoring and get to know the wildlife and plants that depend on springs systems.  This fun and educational day on the water also contributes to our springs knowledge database as well as that of other environmental agencies across the state.

Currently, the Florida Springs Institute has 11 active SpringsWatch groups across Florida, including Wekiwa Springs.  During SpringsWatch sessions, volunteers collect data on water temperature, dissolved oxygen, specific conductance, vertical light attenuation, aquatic vegetation, wildlife, and human uses.

SpringsWatch is a great way to get out to the springs, learn, and help generate data that supports them. 

Information provided by The Florida Springs Institute

https://floridaspringsinstitute.org/

Join us for our monthly board meeting!

The 3rd Thursday of each month

Time: 8:30 AM- approx. 11:30

Location: Wekiva Island, 1014 Miami Springs Dr., Longwood, FL

Registration is required. Click here to register. 

Thank you, Wekiva Island, for donating canoes for this activity!

BECOME A CITIZEN SCIENTIST AND HELP MONITOR OUR SPRINGS!

SpringsWatch is a citizen science program that provides volunteers with hands-on training in the field.  That “field” is Florida’s beautiful springs!  Volunteers learn all aspects of water quality monitoring and get to know the wildlife and plants that depend on springs systems.  This fun and educational day on the water also contributes to our springs knowledge database as well as that of other environmental agencies across the state.

Currently, the Florida Springs Institute has 11 active SpringsWatch groups across Florida, including Wekiwa Springs.  During SpringsWatch sessions, volunteers collect data on water temperature, dissolved oxygen, specific conductance, vertical light attenuation, aquatic vegetation, wildlife, and human uses.

SpringsWatch is a great way to get out to the springs, learn, and help generate data that supports them. 

Information provided by The Florida Springs Institute

https://floridaspringsinstitute.org/

Join us for our monthly board meeting!

2023 Sample Season

Sign Up Here

Sign up to volunteer for the Wekiva Wild and Scenic River Systems’ 2023 Dragonfly Mercury Project Sample!

See this video for more details!

Every year we sample four sites around the Wekiva River System for juvenile dragonfly called nymphs or larvae. This year we will be sampling the Wekiwa Springs Run, Lake Norris, Camp Joy, and Wekiva Falls. 

Want to be prepared for this event? Check out this video on how to ID dragonfly nymphs to family, the DMP webpage, or download the DMP sampling guide here.

The Dragonfly Mercury Project engages citizen scientists such as students and teachers in the collection of juvenile dragonflies, also known as dragonfly larvae, from national parks for mercury analysis.

Dragonfly Mercury Project Article from the National Park Service

Mercury is a toxic pollutant that can harm human health and wildlife health. Mercury often enters parks as air pollution from distant, human-caused sources, like coal-burning power plants. Dragonfly larvae are excellent indicators of mercury risk because they can live for years underwater eating insects and even small fish. Once it is deposited, mercury can build up inside the larvae and give scientists insight into the health of the waters in which they live. Using parks as classrooms, this study provides data for natural resource managers to protect human and wildlife health.

Explore this interactive Story Map to see how studying mercury in dragonflies connects people to parks and helps scientists learn about mercury pollution across the country.

Why Juvenile Dragonflies?

Dragonflies live in streams, wetlands, lakes, and other water bodies across the country. We usually see the luminescent wings and elongated bodies of the adults zoom across the water’s surface.

Just below the surface, on rocks, plants, and in the sediment, are the juvenile dragonfly larvae. Dragonflies spend most of their life in the water as larvae.

Check out this cool dragonfly larvae video!

• Dragonfly larvae eat a lot of smaller insects and even small fish, making them high on the food chain. Each time a predator eats prey with mercury inside, they accumulate that toxin too.

• Dragonfly larvae are a food source for many fish and birds. Other fish, birds, and mammals then eat those fish and birds. Mercury in the larvae, therefore, tell us if there is a risk to humans and other animals.

• Unlike fish, dragonfly larvae are easy to catch with a net and to identify. They are also smaller than many fish, making them easier to sample and analyze.

After collection, dragonfly larvae samples are shipped to the U.S. Geological Survey Contaminant Ecology Laboratory in Corvallis, Oregon for mercury analysis.

What Have We Discovered?

Explore the overall park and site-specific sample results on the Dragonfly Mercury Project Data Map.

Study results show that:

• Dragonfly larvae are an effective biomonitoring tool.

• The DMP is a great way for people to help with meaningful research and learn through experience.

• Mercury levels can be very different in nearby locations. This may mean that things like elevation or vegetation have an important influence on mercury risk in parks.

• Most sample sites are in the moderate to low-risk category, but 12% of sites are at high or severe risk for mercury, potentially causing harm to fish, wildlife, and people who eat those fish and wildlife.

• Continuing to sample and study mercury in dragonfly larvae could help researchers predict potential risks to other animals and see how well efforts to reduce mercury (in the U.S. and internationally) are working.

Reference: Eagles-Smith et al. 2020

Thank you!

Thank you to all of our dedicated community scientists who help with this project! It takes a lot of dedication to stay motivated, especially when the nymphs are hard to find! We could not do this project without you!

Check out some pictures from this year’s samples below!

The 3rd Thursday of each month

Time: 8:30 AM- approx. 11:30

Location: Wekiva Island, 1014 Miami Springs Dr., Longwood, FL

Registration is required. Click here to register. 

Thank you, Wekiva Island, for donating canoes for this activity!

BECOME A CITIZEN SCIENTIST AND HELP MONITOR OUR SPRINGS!

SpringsWatch is a citizen science program that provides volunteers with hands-on training in the field.  That “field” is Florida’s beautiful springs!  Volunteers learn all aspects of water quality monitoring and get to know the wildlife and plants that depend on springs systems.  This fun and educational day on the water also contributes to our springs knowledge database as well as that of other environmental agencies across the state.

Currently, the Florida Springs Institute has 11 active SpringsWatch groups across Florida, including Wekiwa Springs.  During SpringsWatch sessions, volunteers collect data on water temperature, dissolved oxygen, specific conductance, vertical light attenuation, aquatic vegetation, wildlife, and human uses.

SpringsWatch is a great way to get out to the springs, learn, and help generate data that supports them. 

Information provided by The Florida Springs Institute

https://floridaspringsinstitute.org/

2023 Sample Season

Sign Up Here

Sign up to volunteer for the Wekiva Wild and Scenic River Systems’ 2023 Dragonfly Mercury Project Sample!

See this video for more details!

Every year we sample four sites around the Wekiva River System for juvenile dragonfly called nymphs or larvae. This year we will be sampling the Wekiwa Springs Run, Lake Norris, Camp Joy, and Wekiva Falls. 

Want to be prepared for this event? Check out this video on how to ID dragonfly nymphs to family, the DMP webpage, or download the DMP sampling guide here.

The Dragonfly Mercury Project engages citizen scientists such as students and teachers in the collection of juvenile dragonflies, also known as dragonfly larvae, from national parks for mercury analysis.

Dragonfly Mercury Project Article from the National Park Service

Mercury is a toxic pollutant that can harm human health and wildlife health. Mercury often enters parks as air pollution from distant, human-caused sources, like coal-burning power plants. Dragonfly larvae are excellent indicators of mercury risk because they can live for years underwater eating insects and even small fish. Once it is deposited, mercury can build up inside the larvae and give scientists insight into the health of the waters in which they live. Using parks as classrooms, this study provides data for natural resource managers to protect human and wildlife health.

Explore this interactive Story Map to see how studying mercury in dragonflies connects people to parks and helps scientists learn about mercury pollution across the country.

Why Juvenile Dragonflies?

Dragonflies live in streams, wetlands, lakes, and other water bodies across the country. We usually see the luminescent wings and elongated bodies of the adults zoom across the water’s surface.

Just below the surface, on rocks, plants, and in the sediment, are the juvenile dragonfly larvae. Dragonflies spend most of their life in the water as larvae.

Check out this cool dragonfly larvae video!

• Dragonfly larvae eat a lot of smaller insects and even small fish, making them high on the food chain. Each time a predator eats prey with mercury inside, they accumulate that toxin too.

• Dragonfly larvae are a food source for many fish and birds. Other fish, birds, and mammals then eat those fish and birds. Mercury in the larvae, therefore, tell us if there is a risk to humans and other animals.

• Unlike fish, dragonfly larvae are easy to catch with a net and to identify. They are also smaller than many fish, making them easier to sample and analyze.

After collection, dragonfly larvae samples are shipped to the U.S. Geological Survey Contaminant Ecology Laboratory in Corvallis, Oregon for mercury analysis.

What Have We Discovered?

Explore the overall park and site-specific sample results on the Dragonfly Mercury Project Data Map.

Study results show that:

• Dragonfly larvae are an effective biomonitoring tool.

• The DMP is a great way for people to help with meaningful research and learn through experience.

• Mercury levels can be very different in nearby locations. This may mean that things like elevation or vegetation have an important influence on mercury risk in parks.

• Most sample sites are in the moderate to low-risk category, but 12% of sites are at high or severe risk for mercury, potentially causing harm to fish, wildlife, and people who eat those fish and wildlife.

• Continuing to sample and study mercury in dragonfly larvae could help researchers predict potential risks to other animals and see how well efforts to reduce mercury (in the U.S. and internationally) are working.

Reference: Eagles-Smith et al. 2020

Thank you!

Thank you to all of our dedicated community scientists who help with this project! It takes a lot of dedication to stay motivated, especially when the nymphs are hard to find! We could not do this project without you!

Check out some pictures from this year’s samples below!

Join us for our monthly board meeting!

The 3rd Thursday of each month

Time: 8:30 AM- approx. 11:30

Location: Wekiva Island, 1014 Miami Springs Dr., Longwood, FL

Registration is required. Click here to register. 

Thank you, Wekiva Island, for donating canoes for this activity!

BECOME A CITIZEN SCIENTIST AND HELP MONITOR OUR SPRINGS!

SpringsWatch is a citizen science program that provides volunteers with hands-on training in the field.  That “field” is Florida’s beautiful springs!  Volunteers learn all aspects of water quality monitoring and get to know the wildlife and plants that depend on springs systems.  This fun and educational day on the water also contributes to our springs knowledge database as well as that of other environmental agencies across the state.

Currently, the Florida Springs Institute has 11 active SpringsWatch groups across Florida, including Wekiwa Springs.  During SpringsWatch sessions, volunteers collect data on water temperature, dissolved oxygen, specific conductance, vertical light attenuation, aquatic vegetation, wildlife, and human uses.

SpringsWatch is a great way to get out to the springs, learn, and help generate data that supports them. 

Information provided by The Florida Springs Institute

https://floridaspringsinstitute.org/