SPringsWatch: Wekiva River
This group is currently accepting volunteers.
Volunteers will be provided with canoes for sampling sessions. Paddling experience is recommended.
The Wekiva River is located 17 miles north of Orlando. It is a major tributary to the St. Johns River, receiving over 50% of its flow from more than 30 artesian springs. The Wekiva River begins at Wekiwa Spring, a second magnitude spring discharging over 43 million gallons per day. The river is also fed by Rock Springs Run, which flows roughly 8.5 miles before meeting with the Wekiva River. Because of its natural beauty and cool waters, the Wekiva River is a popular destination for paddlers, swimmers, and visitors enjoying other water-related activities.
SpringsWatch volunteers conduct monthly sampling sessions along the upper Wekiva River. The map above shows the eight river stations. Our Wekiva group collects data on water temperature, dissolved oxygen, specific conductance, vertical light attenuation, aquatic vegetation, and visual bird surveys.
SpringsWatch offers participants a deep dive into understanding the ecology of Florida springs as well as a fun day on the water helping to generate research which supports them. To learn more about the data our volunteers are collecting, click on the monitoring summary or dashboard links below.
Click here or scroll down to sign up, contact us, or learn more about other SpringsWatch locations.
wekiva River SpringsWatch Data AND Monitoring Summaries
Become a citizen scientist and help protect Florida's springs!
Springswatch volunteer application form
*Groups with a wait list are at capacity and currently not accepting new volunteers. If you wish to select one of these groups, we suggest applying for an additional group with no wait list to ensure you are able to participate in sampling as soon as possible. Apply for as many as you like!
SPRINGSWATCH
PROGRAM COORDINATOR
Shannon Letcher
FSI SpringsWatch Coordinator
The Florida SpringsWatch program was funded in part through generous support from the Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida
