Florida’s springs are some of the most iconic and fragile ecosystems in the world. Every year thousands of visitors paddle, swim, and explore these crystal clear waters, but without the right knowledge even well-meaning recreation can unintentionally harm the wildlife that makes these places so special.
Thanks to funding from our Foundation’s Protect Florida Springs specialty license plate, Alachua County is helping bridge the gap between responsible recreation and manatee protection. This effort brings together local businesses, vacation rentals, and everyday visitors to protect springs habitat while improving our understanding of how manatees use these waterways.
At the heart of the project is the Florida Springs Heartland Manatee Sighting Network, a citizen- science initiative that empowers volunteers and the public to report manatee sightings along the Suwannee, Santa Fe, and Ichetucknee rivers. During the 2024 to 2025 season alone, trained volunteers documented 201 manatees, helping expand what we know about where these animals are traveling.
This project goes beyond data collection. By working directly with tourism-based businesses, the program meets visitors where they are. Educational materials like magnets, brochures, and posters were placed in 55 vacation rentals and distributed to 24 springs-related businesses, ensuring that thousands of visitors learn simple but critical practices, like keeping a safe distance from manatees and avoiding stepping on sensitive aquatic vegetation.
Even small reminders can make a big difference. Stickers placed on more than 100 rental kayaks and canoes serve as real-time prompts for paddlers to protect wildlife while they are on the water. Combined with a targeted social media campaign that reached tens of thousands of people, the project is helping shift behavior at scale and turning recreation into stewardship.
The results are already making an impact. Visitors are more informed, businesses are becoming conservation partners, and researchers are gaining valuable insights into manatee movement in springs that serve as important seasonal habitat. Just as importantly, this project is building a culture of shared responsibility where everyone who enjoys Florida’s springs plays a role in protecting them.
Florida is home to more than 700 freshwater springs, and each one depends on thoughtful management and public awareness to survive. By connecting science, outreach, and community partnerships, this project is helping ensure these waters and the manatees that rely on them remain part of Florida’s future.
If you care about Florida’s springs and the ecosystems they support, you can help fund research like this by purchasing our Protect Florida Springs specialty license plate. Order your plate today and help protect Florida’s most extraordinary waters.
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