Celebrate Save Our Waters Week, Sept 17-24th, with Citrus County and Macaroni Kid! There are lots of free events happening during save our water week, kicking off with a Coastal Clean Up Project. Macaroni Kid Citrus is putting a team together for the clean up and we hope that you will join us!
Plus find 15 ideas for how your family can help save our waters every day.
- Citrus County's 33rd Annual Lakes, Rivers & Coastal Cleanup (Adopt-A-Shore), Saturday Sept 17th, sunrise to 11:30am. Get your own group together or join Citrus Macaroni Kid and volunteer to Clean up our water ways! Macaroni Kid will be cleaning at Hernando Beach at 8am and then at Liberty and Wallace Brooks Park at 10am. Join us for both times or pick the one that's easiest for your family. To register for the Citrus Macaroni Kid team, email Betsy at mackidcitrus@macaronikid.com by Sept 1st. If you prefer to get your own team or group together and target a different part of the county you can find registration forms HERE. Save Our Waters Week t-shirts and supplies for all registered volunteers.
- Kayak Tours of Kings Bay, Monday Sept 19th 10am-12pm. Learn about Three Sisters Springs from the District's Springs Team scientists. FREE, 10 person capacity. RSVP by Sept 8th by calling 352-796-7211 ext 4768 of email Michele.sager@watermatters.org
- Kayak Tours with Crystal River Kayak Company, Tuesday Sept 20th at 8am,10am or 12pm. Paddle through Three Sisters Springs. $10 (refunded at end of tour), 10 person capacity per tour. Register by calling (352) 795-2255, press 1.
- 3-Hour Eco Tour of Kings Bay with Hunter Springs Kayaks, Wednesday, Sept 21 at 10am or 2pm. FREE, 10 person capacity. RSVP by Sept 14th by calling 352-228-4715
- 1 hour Nature Cruise with Crystal River Water Sports. Cruise down the Indian River to the Indian Mounds. $10 (refunded at the end of the tour), 16 person capacity. Register by calling 352-795-7033
- Pontoon Boat tour with Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge, Wednesday Sept 21st at 8am or 9:30am. Staff-guided tour of the refuge islands in Kings Bay. Departs from the Crystal River Wildlife Refuge, 1502 SE Kings Bay Dr, Crystal River. FREE, 24 person capacity per tour. Register by emailing monica_scroggin@fws.gov
- Water Reclamation Facility Tour, Wednesday Sept 21st at 9am. Come out to the Southwest Regional Water Reclamation Facility located in Sugarmill Woods to learn how water quality is being improved with this advanced treatment system. FREE, 20 person capacity. Register by emailing debra.burden@citrusbocc.com
- Crystal River Natural History Kayak Tour, Friday Sept 23rd, 8-11am. Learn the history of the Crystal River from Florida Public Archaeology Network, St. martins March Aquatic Preserve and Florida Park Service Staff while paddling along the river in your own kayak or rent on to join in. $20 if using your own kayak (Register Here), $25 if renting one to use (Register Here). For more information email Nigel Rudolph at snrudolph@usf.edu
- Florida's Water Resources: We are Losing Them! Presentation, Saturday, Sept 24th at 3pm. This live presentation by local wildlife photographer and water champion, Gary Kuhl will be held at the Old Courthouse Heritage Museum in Inverness. Gary will discuss Citrus County's water issues and possible solutions. FREE, 150 person capacity. Register online HERE or by calling 352-341-6428.
- 1 hour Boat Tour with Manatee Tour and Dive, Saturday, Sept 24th at 2pm. Afternoon sightseeing tour of the Crystal River. Launch from 36 NE 4th St, Crystal River. FREE, 22 person capacity. Reserve your spot by calling 352-795-1333.
Ways you can Help Save Our Waters |
Help protect our waters every day!
At home:
- Fix Leaks. Even small leaks can add up to thousands of gallons of wasted water a year. Check hose connections and under sinks regularly to catch leaks as soon as they start.
- Take showers instead of baths and set a timer!
- Don't run the water while you are brushing your teeth. Just rinse your tooth brush before and after brushing.
- Wash full loads of laundry and dishes. saves 5-45 gallons per load!
- When appliances need replacing look for high-efficiency options to save water.
- Cut down on garbage disposal use. they use a lot of water to run properly. May of the items that are put in garbage disposals can be put in an outdoor compost.
Outside:
- Turn off your hose when not in use.
- Make or buy a rain barrel and use the water you collect to water your plants.
- Water just where you need it. If you water your garden or lawn. Position your sprinklers so that only needed areas are getting water and not pavement or fences.
- Use Drip irrigation to water plants.
- Update your yard with Water Smart Plants.
- Use mulch to help retain water for your plants.
In Our Community:
- Be sure all of your trash goes to appropriate receptacles.
- Encourage friends to not be litter bugs!!
- Keep a go bag of plastic gloves and trash bags to pick up trash you see. Even if it's not near water it all ends up there eventually.
Need more ideas? Check out our Pinterest Board of Water saving hacks:
