Waterways
Established by the Hernando County Board of County Commissioners, the Waterways Advisory Committee maintains the County's waterways for both commercial and recreational purposes.
Waterways
Spring Protection Zone
Vessel operators are prohibited from anchoring, mooring, beaching or grounding a vessel within the Weeki Wachee River Springs Protection Zone. (F.S. 327.45) It encompasses 5.61 miles from Rogers Park to the headsprings in the state park. Violators are subject to a $140 fine. With limited exceptions, most tubes and rafts are not considered vessels under Florida law.
The springs protection zone is designed to protect the river’s ecology and does not alter the public access to the spring. It only regulates vessels, not the activities of people.
Activities like swimming, snorkeling and floating on a raft or tube are permitted.
Visitors are encouraged to use best practices to help protect the river such as not trampling vegetation, climbing on banks or trees, or discarding litter.
Historic Port Authority
The Hernando County Port Authority consists of the five Board of County Commissioners of Hernando County. The Port Authority meets once a year.
Background:
At the February 23, 2021 regular meeting of the Board of County Commissioners, Ordinance 2021-01 was adopted to create the Hernando County Waterways Advisory Committee. This also transferred the Hernando County Port Authority's current membership to the Advisory Committee and delineated the Advisory Committee's powers and duties. The committee now serves in an advisory capacity to the Board. In that same action, the Board of County Commissioners also approved filing a local bill in the next legislative session to appoint the Board as the Port Authority's governing body.
Action:
Support a local bill to be filed designating the Hernando County Board of County Commissioners the governing body of the Hernando County Port Authority.
Boaters Alert
Report Marine Invaders: 1-877-STOP-ANS
Non-native, invasive plants and animals can seriously damage Florida’s precious marine environments and the economy they support.
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