Water Lettuce Warriors: National Public Lands Day
- When: Saturday, October 5, 2024, 8:00 am - 12:00 pm
- Location: Ichetucknee Springs State Park 12087 S.W. Highway 27, Fort White, FL 32608
- Cost: Park fee is waived for water lettuce volunteers. Staff will confirm that vehicle passengers who had fee waived did participate in volunteer event.
We need your help! A nuisance plant known as water lettuce (Pistia stratiotes) is on the rise within Ichetucknee Springs State Park and the lower Ichetucknee River system. Several workdays have been scheduled for 2024 and 2025 in a continuing effort to reduce the spread of water lettuce. We are kicking this off on National Public Lands Day, an annual event where volunteers commit to restore and preserve public lands of all types and sizes.
We are looking for volunteers to spend up to 4 hours on the Ichetucknee River to hand-remove water lettuce. Be prepared to get wet and muddy while working to protect one of Florida's most beautiful rivers.
In a typical workday, we organize teams stationed along strategic sections of the river. Some team members work on the banks at specific locations to deter excessive bank erosion, receiving water lettuce off the river and transporting them above the high-water mark to decompose. Other members are stationed on the river in non-motorized craft to harvest plants and transport them to the bank crew. Others will carefully wade into hard-to-reach locations with hand tools such as rakes and pitchforks to access remote water lettuce rafts and to aid the boat crews.
Participants are encouraged to wear river-appropriate clothing and sun-protection, including river/water slippers, sun hats, sunblock, poison ivy block, and swim gear useful in wading situations. Flip flops and bare-feet are not recommended. Participants may also want to bring packed lunches as most workdays are in relatively remote locations. Drinking water is provided, but volunteers are also encouraged to bring personal water bottles.
We will be meeting at the park's visitor center on the south side of the park. Because we have to shuttle participants to areas of the park without visitor access, we will begin promptly at 8 AM. This way we will have plenty of time to get important work done while also having room for questions and rest. Volunteers who arrive tardy and miss the preliminary training at 8 will be unable to participate.
If you anticipate bringing a group of 5+, please let us know so that we can plan accordingly.
- Website: www.floridastateparks.org
- Contact Name: Caitlin Gonsiorek
- Contact Phone: (386) 324-5001
- Contact Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
- Category: Family Fun
While we have no age restrictions, everyone who participates should be able to independently follow directions and established safety measures. Participants should be able to withstand variable outdoor conditions, including sun and insects. You will need to be able to lift up to 20 lbs. Ground conditions will be uneven dirt and sloped when on land. On water there is a moderate current with soft, deep mud.
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