New rules for boaters, kayakers on Weeki Wachee River now in effect

New rules for boaters and kayakers are now being enforced on one of Florida’s favorite waterways.

Hernando County, FWC and community leaders were on hand Thursday to unveil and post new signs designating a 5.6-mile stretch of the beautiful Weeki Wachee River as a “Springs Protection Zone.” Anchoring, mooring, beaching and grounding of boats or kayaks in the river is now prohibited from Rogers Park through the state park.

“We still want you to come out and enjoy the river. We want you to swim and snorkel and do those things. It's just, we don't want you to anchor, we don't want you to beach your boat or your kayaks,” Hernando County Commissioner Brian Hawkins said.

The enforcement comes after a years-long push from locals and environmentalists to protect the river from human-caused degradation.

“It's shockingly wonderful. And I think that's one of the things that made us feel very, very motivated to try and protect it,” Jilan Crowley, a member of the Sierra Club who calls Hernando Beach home, said.

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