The Governing Board of the Southwest Florida Water Management District voted unanimously, Tuesday, September 30 to purchase the 84.5 acre “Boat Springs” parcel, located in the Weeki Wachee Preserve area at the Hernando/Pasco County Line. SWFWMD will pay $1,370.000 for the land, from funds in the Florida Forever Trust Fund. The spring is a 2nd magnitude spring, and the property includes a significant part of the spring run. The proposed purchase is located in the community of Aripeka, and is adjacent to the 11,730 acres that SWFWMD already owns in the Weeki Wachee Preserve.

Charles Lee, director of Advocacy of Audubon Florida appeared at the Governing Board meeting to speak in favor of the purchase. SWFWMD is also considering the purchase of other related spring properties in the area, and is moving forward with other springs-related acquisitions throughout the district.

Charles Lee reflected on the purchase, stating, "This is what our Water Management Districts should be all about. Protecting our springs is among their most important missions. We look forward to supporting further actions by the Southwest Florida District in the near future to buy lands critical to springs preservation”.

In addition to the purchase, SWFWMD has established a “Springs Coast Management Committee” to recommend additional strategic measures to protect the quantity and quality  of water flowing from springs within the district.

For full details on the purchase, check out Item 33 on the September 30th agenda, which can be found by clicking here.