Restoring Crystal River

Florida’s Crystal River used to be a rich seagrass ecosystem: a perfect source of food for the many manatees that once thrived there, before an invasive algae overtook the riverbed. With the native eelgrass dying out, the manatees were forced to look elsewhere for food – traveling into much more dangerous waters.

After the community rallied together to ask the state for support, the tide is finally beginning to turn. The dead algae can be vacuumed off the riverbed, re-exposing thermal vents that help keep Crystal River clean and warm. New seagrass can be planted by hand in order to restore the manatees food source – and after all that effort, Cyrstal River is finally becoming a safe and healthy haven for the returning manatees once again.