September 19, 2026 - A Night of Discovery: Wekiva Bioblitz at Wilson’s Landing
Friends of Wekiva River was proud to partner with Wekiva Wild and Scenic for an evening Bioblitz at Wilson’s Landing. In just two hours, 47 participants explored the area and logged their findings on iNaturalist, contributing valuable data to our understanding of the Wekiva Wild and Scenic River System.
The results were impressive: more than 600 observations representing over 200 different species! Every observation helps document the remarkable biodiversity of the Wekiva River Basin and builds a clearer picture of the river system we work to protect.
FOWR President Jay Exum joined participants in the field, along with Kelly Green, President of the Wekiva Wilderness Trust. Many thanks to Bioblitz co-hosts Val Hahn and Ellie Shultz for leading the evening, and to fellow partners iNaturalist and the Seminole Education, Restoration & Volunteer (SERV) Program for helping make it happen.
Thank you to everyone who came out to explore, observe, and contribute. Citizen science like this is one of the best ways to get to know the Wekiva up close, and we hope to see you at the next one!
October 17, 2026 - Cheers to 10 Years: Florida Springs Council’s Riverside Revelry
On October 17, Friends of Wekiva River joined our partners at the Florida Springs Council to celebrate a milestone: 10 years of springs advocacy! The Riverside Revelry took over Wekiva Island, which generously closed to the public for the evening so springs protectors could gather along the river.
Advocates, elected officials, artists, and longtime conservation champions came together for music, food, art, raffles, and a silent auction. It was especially inspiring to see so many new faces alongside familiar ones, all united by a love of Florida’s springs.
Congratulations to the Florida Springs Council on a decade of protecting our springs, and thank you to Wekiva Island for hosting such a memorable celebration. Here’s to the next 10 years!
October 23, 2026 - Celebrating the Wekiva Through the Lens: Wild and Scenic Photo Gallery Opens at Lyonia
Friends of Wekiva River was delighted to help spread the word about the opening night of the Wekiva Wild and Scenic River System Photo Gallery at the Lyonia Environmental Center, and to attend as guests. Hosted by our partners at Wekiva Wild and Scenic, the evening brought the river community together to celebrate the beauty of the Wekiva through the eyes of local photographers.
A highlight of the night was the return of former River Ambassador Ashley Konon, who shared reflections from her eight years of service to the Wekiva. Guests enjoyed refreshments provided by the Friends of Lyonia Environmental Center, along with live harp music by FOWR board member Michelle Jamesson. Special thanks go to Christie Miller and the Lyonia Environmental Center team for bringing the gallery to life, and to the many contributing photographers whose work fills its walls.
It was a wonderful reminder of the partnerships and shared passion that keep this national treasure protected. Congratulations to Wekiva Wild and Scenic on a beautiful opening!
Haven’t seen it yet? The gallery is on display at the Lyonia Environmental Center in Deltona through mid-January. It’s well worth the trip.
Event photos courtesy of @r.e.v.e.c.c.a.photo and @its.ranger.val
October 25, 2026 - That’s a Wrap on the 2026 Dragonfly Mercury Project Season!
Our partners at Wekiva Wild and Scenic wrapped up their 2026 Dragonfly Mercury Project (DMP) season with a final sampling session at Wekiva Falls. The team finished in a record 32 minutes!
What is the DMP?
The Dragonfly Mercury Project is a nationwide community science effort that collects dragonfly larvae for mercury analysis. Dragonflies spend most of their lives underwater as larvae, eating smaller insects and even small fish, taking up the mercury inside their prey. Because they’re easy to catch and sample, they make ideal bioindicators of mercury levels in an area.
Why does that matter? Most elevated mercury comes from human activity and reaches protected areas through air pollution. Mercury doesn’t break down. It builds up in the tissues of living things and can cause disease in wildlife, and it’s toxic to people too. Volunteers collect samples at local sites, which are then sent to a U.S. Geological Survey lab for analysis, helping scientists better understand and prevent mercury contamination.
Congratulations to Wekiva Wild and Scenic and their hardworking crew of community scientists on a great season! Enjoy some highlights from the 2026 sampling sessions below.
Want to get your feet wet? DMP sampling picks back up in 2027. To hear about it and other volunteer opportunities, subscribe to the Wekiva Wild and Scenic monthly newsletter here.
