Weeki Wachee Preserve (also given as Weekiwachee Preserve) is an 11,206 acre preserve in

Hernando County Hernando County () is a county located on the west central coast of the U.S. state of Florida. As of the 2020 census, the population was 194,515. Its county seat is Brooksville, and its largest community is Spring Hill. Hernando County is in ...

Florida Florida ( ; ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It borders the Gulf of Mexico to the west, Alabama to the northwest, Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia to the north, the Atlantic ...

. The preserve is located at 2345 Osowaw Boulevard in

Spring Hill, Florida Spring Hill is a census-designated place (CDP) in Hernando County, Florida, United States. The population was 113,568 at the 2020 census, up from 98,621 at the 2010 census. Spring Hill belongs to Florida's Nature Coast region and is in the ...

. The preserve offers recreational opportunities including hiking and bike trails, fishing, birding, hunting and boating for hand-launched non-gasoline engine crafts.Weekiwachee Preserve
Southwest Florida Water Management District The site is known for its population of black bears. It is Site 69 on the west section of the

Great Florida Birding Trail Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail (''GFBWT'') is a 2,000 mile (3200 km) long collection of more than 500 locations in the U.S. state of Florida where the state's bird habitats are protected. The trail promotes birdwatching, environmen ...

History

The preserve was previously used as a limestone mine until 1995 when it was acquired by the

Southwest Florida Water Management District The Southwest Florida Water Management District (or SWFWMD, pronounced as "swiftmud" based on the word acronym) is one of five regional agencies directed by Florida state law to protect and preserve water resources. Established in 1961, the agen ...

provided funds to help SFWMD to obtain the land through their Environmentally Sensitive Lands Program. Between 1995 and 1996 a total of 7,136-acres were purchased for 15.1 million dollars. The additional 4,070-acres were obtained between 1997 and 2001. The limestone mines have since filled with water and are now manmade lakes. In 1997, the SFWMD proposed their "Plan for the Use and Management of the Weekiwachee Preserve." Originally, there was no fishing or boat launching of any kind within the preserve when it was first opened to public. Dogs were also not allowed in the preserve until 2020. Swimming was going to be permitted "only within a proposed beach and picnic complex." In the original plans but this complex was never realized. Swimming is now strictly prohibited within the preserve. In addition to the preserve's proposed recreational uses, SFWMD wanted to use the area for environmental research.

References

Protected areas of Hernando County, Florida Southwest Florida Water Management District reserves {{HernandoCountyFL-geo-stub

History

See also

References