Save Our Waters

29th Annual Save Our Waters Week

FEATURED ACTIVITIES

September 21-28, 2024

Theme - TREE UP TO SAVE OUR WATERS 

Saturday, Sept. 21, sunrise to 11:30am. 35TH ANNUAL LAKES, RIVERS, AND COASTAL CLEANUP. Groups and or organizations are encouraged to volunteer. Registration deadline: Monday, Sept. 16, 2024. Download application or email [email protected] for an application.

Saturday, Sept. 21, 3-5pm. PRESENTATION BY DR. STEVE NOLL, master lecturer at the University of Florida. Presentation chronicles Florida’s long and difficult relationship with water. Location: Old Courthouse Heritage Museum, Inverness. Register at 352-341-6428. 150 people. FREE. Sponsored in part by the Inverness Cultural Heritage Council and Keep Citrus County Beautiful.

Monday, Sept.23, Tours at 9:30 am &11:30am. TWO 2-HOUR TOURS OF KINGS BAY sponsored by Birds Underwater Dive Center. Call 352-563-2763 to reserve a spot. Capacity 12 people per tour. Free.

Monday, Sept. 23. Tour from 10am to noon. GUIDED KAYAK TOUR of Three Sister Springs. Launch on a guided tour to Three Sisters Springs while learning from our Springs Team scientists about the District's efforts to protect the area. Reserve your seat by Sept. 12 by calling 813-445-5220 or email [email protected] to register. Capacity: 10. FREE.

Tuesday, Sept. 24, 9:00am. TOUR CITRUS COUNTY’S RECENTLY UPGRADED AND EXPANDED SOUTHWEST REGIONAL WATER RECLAMATION FACILITY located in the Sugarmill Woods community. Learn how the facility uses advanced water treatment and reduces groundwater withdrawals. Registration required. For registration and tour location call 352-527-7684 or email [email protected]. Capacity: 20. FREE.

Wednesday, Sept. 25, 10am. OUTBACK KAYAK TOUR sponsored by Hunter Springs Kayaks. Call 352-228-4715. Deadline to register Sept. 13. Capacity:10 per tour. FREE.

Wednesday, Sept. 25, 11am. NATURE CRUISE WITH CRYSTAL RIVER WATERSPORTS. One-hour cruise down the Indian River/Canal to the Indian mounds. To register call 352-795-7033. Capacity: 16 people. Cost: $10 - refunded at end of tour. Please be sure you are attending before making reservation. No cancellations or refunds prior to trip.

Wednesday, Sept. 25. Tours at 8 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. PONTOON BOAT TOURS OF THE CRYSTAL RIVER NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE. Enjoy a staff-guided pontoon boat tour of the refuge islands in Kings Bay. Tours depart from the Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge, 1502 S.E. Kings Bay Dr., Crystal River. To register email [email protected]. Capacity: 24 people per tour. FREE. 

Thursday, Sept. 26. Tours 10:30am and 1:30pm. HERITAGE ECO BOAT TOURS AT CRYSTAL RIVER PRESERVE STATE PARK sponsored by Crystal River Preserve Adventures. Experience estuary boat tours on the Crystal River. Depart from Crystal River Preserve State Park, 3266 N. Sailboat Ave. Call 855-613-2777. Advance registration required. Capacity 24 people per tour. FREE.

Friday Sept. 27, 8-11am. COME PADDLE THE CRYSTAL RIVER with the staff from Florida Public Archaeology Network, St. Martins Marsh Aquatic Preserve, and Florida Park Service and learn the natural history of the river. Depart from Crystal River Preserve State Park – Visitor Center kayak launch, 3266 N. Sailboat Ave., Crystal River, FL 34428. For more information, email Nigel Rudolph at [email protected]. Capacity: 20 people. Pre-registration required. Cost: $25 to rent a kayak (click here to register/reserve kayak) https://www.eventbrite.com/e/903205872077?aff=oddtdtcreator $20 if you bring your own kayak (click here to register) https://www.eventbrite.com/e/903196253307?aff=oddtdtcreator.

Friday, Sept 27, 9-11am. CITRUS COUNTY RECYCLES. Guided bus tour of three recycling facilities in the county. Registration is required. Space is limited. Call (352) 201-0149 before Sept. 23 to reserve a seat. Capacity: 40 people. $10 donation suggested.

Saturday, Sept. 28, 3-5:30pm - COMMUNITY FORUM. Come and hear from a panel on the importance of trees in our community. Key community experts, and other topic related professionals will discuss the importance of tree canopy for smart growth in our community. Audience will have time to ask topic related questions. Location: Old Courthouse Heritage Museum, Inverness. Register at 352-341-6428. 150 people. FREE. Sponsored in part by the Inverness Cultural Heritage Council and Keep Citrus County Beautiful.

EVENTS OUTSIDE THE WEEK OF SAVE OUR WATERS FEATURED ACTIVITIES:

Thursday, Oct. 24, 5:30pm. LOCAL MIDDLE SCHOOLS ENVIRONMENTAL JEOPARDY COMPETITION. Local middle schools compete in testing their environmental knowledge. Public invited. Event held at Conference Center, College of Central Florida, Citrus Campus, 3800 S. Lecanto Hwy, Lecanto. Call (352) 613-6850 for information. FREE.

Thursday, Oct. 24, 7pm. LOCAL HIGH SCHOOLS ENVIRONMENTAL JEOPARDY COMPETITION. Local high schools compete in testing their environmental knowledge. Public invited. Event held at Conference Center, College of Central Florida, Citrus Campus, 3800 S. Lecanto Hwy, Lecanto. Call (352) 613-6850 for information. FREE.

Photo Contest. Typically runs from July through August. All Photos must have been taken in Citrus County within the last year. First place prize is $150, second place prize $75, third place prize $50. To enter, visit https://www.chronicleonline.com/contests/.

Poster Contest. Runs from 01/01/25 through 02/21/25. Students in grades K-12 are encouraged to create a poster depicting a water-saving idea, in slogan form, drawing form, or both.  Original artwork only. For details, email [email protected] or call 352-527-7684.

Editorials - Community leaders contribute to guest editorials on Save Our Water’s week theme of the year. Editorial available to the public between second/third week of September.