Healthy rivers depend on healthy underwater habitats. Thanks to a new partnership with JAXPORT, our Foundation, and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), efforts to restore submerged aquatic vegetation in the St. Johns River are expanding, helping improve habitat for fish, manatees, and countless other aquatic species.
With support from JAXPORT, three acres of eelgrass are being restored in Lake George, the second-largest lake in Florida. The restoration site was selected by FWC biologists because of its potential to maximize ecological benefits across the broader St. Johns River basin.
Submerged aquatic vegetation is one of the building blocks of a healthy freshwater ecosystem. These underwater plants provide food, shelter, and nursery habitat for fish, crabs, manatees, and many other species while helping improve water quality and stabilize sediments. A single acre of submerged aquatic vegetation can support tens of thousands of fish and millions of invertebrates, making habitat restoration an investment that benefits the entire ecosystem.
Lake George has experienced significant losses of aquatic vegetation following hurricanes Matthew and Irma, making restoration a priority for FWC and its partners. Reestablishing eelgrass in carefully selected locations helps jumpstart the recovery of habitats that support Florida’s native fish and wildlife.
As part of the project, the Foundation funded the installation of a temporary 1,500-foot protective enclosure around the restoration site. The fence allows newly planted eelgrass to become established before being exposed to grazing pressure. Once the vegetation is mature enough to thrive on its own, the fencing will be removed.
This project is one example of how partnerships make conservation possible. If you’ve been following along with our work, you may remember when we first shared the story of efforts to restore this iconic fishery. Legendary angler and conservationist Johnny Morris made a personal donation of $200,000 to our Foundation support eelgrass restoration in Lake George, while the Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Outdoor Fund matched that contribution with an additional $200,000 grant.
By working alongside FWC and private partners like JAXPORT and Bass Pro Shops, we can restore habitats that support recreational fishing, improve water quality, and strengthen Florida’s iconic waterways for generations to come.Â
