Water Lettuce Warriors at Ichetucknee Springs State Park
- When: Saturday, October 19, 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 the 2024 and 2025 season in a continuing effort to reduce and eventually remove this troublesome plant.
We are seeking additional volunteers willing to spend one or more Saturdays on the Ichetucknee River to hand-remove water lettuce in order to protect our fragile ecosystem. All ages who can follow directions and contribute to a safe working environment for approximately 4 hours are welcome to join.
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. Participants also need 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.
- 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: Free
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