Additional Sponsors

Plantation Realty Inc

Friends of the Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge
Friends of the Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge

We Need Your Help!

A GREAT OPPORTUNITY

"I can't believe we are finally on point in a drive to acquire forever the springs and to offer the public a way to see manatees in a natural situation. What a great opportunity, not to mention a great tourist draw, for the city, the county, and the state. Dreams do come true."
--Helen Spivey, Co-Chair, Save the Manatee Club, Board of Directors

Three Sisters Springs is a complex of three spring areas, with many vents and sand boils that help feed Kings Bay, the headwaters of Crystal River, in Citrus County, Florida. These springs also constitute one of the most important natural warm-water refuges for the endangered Florida manatee.

But the Three Sisters Springs property is in danger of being developed and land acquisition of the springs and vulnerable parts of the spring basin remains the single most important protection strategy.

Donations are currently being accepted to match state grants in order to purchase the Three Sisters property. Please read more about the issue, check out the photos, watch the video highlighting the beauty of the springs, and find out how you can help save Three Sisters Springs for future generations.

Project Scope

  • An environmental education center and visitor center for Crystal River NWR
  • Interpretive kiosks
  • Land Based manatee viewing platforms
  • Hiking and bicycling trails
  • Restoration of part of the property back to cypress forest and wetlands to help restore natural water filtration
  • Improvement of lake Linda as wildlife habitat including the possible creation of a small impoundment for wading bird, waterfowl and shorebird use
  • A unique state of the art spring wildlife viewing station which allows the general public to view manatees, fish and the springs in a rich way without manatee disturbance

The Mission

Manatee Protection

  • Protects the spring-shed area for vital manatee habitat.
  • Provides increased land based observation and control of a popular human manatee interaction area.
  • Ensures access to an important area for manatee rescue and release operations.
  • Greatly increases the observation of vital manatee habitat by both the public and law enforcement personnel, allowing for increased reporting of violations and more rapid intervention when necessary for law enforcement operations.

Water Resources

  • Restoration of hardwood swamps to help restore natural filtration of storm water returning to Kings Bay.
  • Protecting the immediate spring shed area for the last of the crystal clear springs flowing into King's bay.

Habitat Enrichment

Improvement of lake Linda as wildlife habitat including the possible creation of a small impoundment for wading bird, waterfowl and shorebird use.

Ecotourism

A unique state of the art spring wildlife viewing station which allows the general public to view manatees, fish and the springs in a rich way without manatee disturbance

In Conclusion

The Fish & Wildlife Services concluded that if the springs and surrounding land were not added to the refuge, "the manatees and their habitat would be negatively affected by the development of a subdivision."

An unprecedented community consensus has formed in support of public ownership of this last totally fresh water spring complex on Kings Bay.

How can you help

(none of us can do this alone but we all can do it together)

Stay informed

Show up at city and county meetings and make a statement in support of the three sisters springs project: the project will die if we do not keep up the public pressure.
    Write letters to:
  • The following news papers:
    • Citrus County Chronicle
    • The St. Petersburg Times
  • Your elected officials
    • Crystal River City Council
    • Tallahassee Legislators
    • Governor Crist
    • Members of Congress

Network

Lobby your organization to join the partnership

Ask your company or organization to donate