A citizen-led restoration effort is paying off for the Homosassa River in Citrus County, with invasive algae nearly eliminated and the river’s sandy bottom visible again for the first time in years. The Homosassa River Restoration Project (HRRP), which secured its first state funding around 2020, is wrapping up Phase III of its cleanup campaign, targeting the stretch where the Homosassa and Hall’s River meet.
Steve Minguy, president of HRRP, said the project is almost complete and that lyngbya, the thick invasive algae that had choked the river for decades, is now almost non-existent in the Blue Waters near the river’s headsprings at the Wildlife Park. Minguy added that he can now see the sandy river bottom from his dock, something he had not been able to do in years.
The Homosassa River was once considered one of the finest fishing destinations in America. President Grover Cleveland and Baseball Hall of Famer Babe Ruth fished it more than a century ago. Painter Winslow Homer, who created numerous works depicting the waterway, reportedly called it the finest fishing in America. Over the decades, lyngbya algae spread across the river bottom, smothering native aquatic plants, cutting off oxygen, and devastating marine life. The algae acted like a thick blanket, strangling the ecosystem that had made the river famous.
HRRP lobbied state officials in Tallahassee for funding and partnered with Sea and Shoreline (SAS), the same organization that successfully rehabilitated Kings Bay in Crystal River. The project faced early hurdles, including permitting from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which slowed initial progress. SAS uses a large vacuuming hose to remove muck and algae from the river bottom, operating much like a giant shop vacuum, filtering out debris while returning cleaner water to the river.
The restoration effort marks a significant turning point for a waterway that had suffered from decades of neglect and environmental damage. With Phase III winding down, community members and conservationists are hopeful the Homosassa River can reclaim its place as one of Florida’s most treasured natural resources. Learn more about the restoration effort through the Citrus County Chronicle and find information on similar projects at Sea and Shoreline.
Originally reported by Citrus County Chronicle – Crystal River
