The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) will hold a public meeting on March 25 to discuss the Jenkins Creek Dredging and Shoreline Stabilization Project in Hernando County. The event is scheduled from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Hernando County Utilities Department Conference Room in Brooksville.
During the meeting, FWC staff will present project design plans and restoration goals, while also inviting public comments and questions about the initiative. Jenkins Creek, located in Spring Hill next to Linda Pederson Park, is a brackish stream system with a spring boil that provides warm-water habitat for manatees during colder months. According to FWC’s Manatee Warm-Water Habitat Action Plan, Jenkins Creek Spring serves as a secondary refuge for manatees.
Ongoing monitoring by FWC aims to better understand seasonal patterns of manatee use and site accessibility. Access to the springheads can be limited due to the narrowness of the spring run, woody debris, and eroding banks. Currently, there are no state-designated manatee protection zones at this location.
The project’s main objective is “to remove shoals, debris, and wood material that currently restrict manatees’ access to warm-water springheads during winter months and, where necessary, stabilize the shoreline to eliminate bank erosion and sedimentation to promote site restoration and resiliency.”
Community members who wish for more information or have questions about the meeting may contact Anna Laws at (352) 460-7332 or via email at Anna.Laws@MyFWC.com.
According to its official mission, FWC works to protect Florida’s fish and wildlife resources through research and technical expertise. The commission also encourages public participation in conservation decision-making processes (source). Over 40% of FWC’s funding comes from external grants supporting research projects (source).
For those requiring special accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act, notifications should be made at least five days before the meeting by calling (850) 488-6411 or using Florida Relay Service numbers provided by FWC.
Concerns regarding discrimination or requests for further information can be directed either to FWC’s Office of Human Resources in Tallahassee or the Department of Interior’s Office of Diversity, Inclusion & Civil Rights in Washington D.C.
