caring for your spring
Shad near the headsprings
Rainbow Springs
Rainbow Springs
Government principals at the state, county and city level know that Rainbow Springs is an outstanding world class natural treasure and they have committed to protect it by bringing resources and allowing visitors to enjoy the springs in some areas and restricting use in others. This allows the vegetation to be robust and wildlife to seek protection and shelter and not be crowded out by human recreation. Florida DEP and the Southwest Florida Water Management District have active programs in monitoring the quality and flow rates of the water with the goal of developing policies that will maintain and improve the quality of Rainbow Springs.
River Cleanup Results
Two non-profit organizations are also active in caring for Rainbow Springs. The Friends of Rainbow Springs (FORS) is headquartered at the Rainbow Springs State Park and is active in park support. It runs weekend programs such as Art in the Park and Cracker Days which draw thousands of visitors.
Wood Duck Box Project
Rainbow River Conservation (RRC) is focused on protecting Rainbow Springs and the full Rainbow River through Conservation, Stewardship, Education and Advocacy. It runs the annual river cleanup in May where 150 or more people kayak, canoe and dive and clean all debris from the river. RRC has installed 48 Wood Duck boxes on the river and maintains them each fall before the nesting season. It has written grants to get river front property acquired. It also wrote the grant the new kayak ramp at Blue Run of Dunnellon Park built and reduce stormwater runoff into the river. RRC supports an education program that recently developed a video showing the value of aquatic vegetation and defining river etiquette for recreational users that will help protect this vegetation. This video is shown at the State Park river access points.
These two organizations along with several hundred volunteers that they bring to improvement activities show the public really cares for Rainbow Springs.
