Kings Bay Restoration Project is foremost a research project. We are thrilled to announce that since starting this adventure, we have witness some major accomplishments:

200+ Million Pounds of Lyngbya Removed

Tens of Millions of Eelgrass Plants Have Sprouted

Over 500, previously clogged, Spring Vents Have Been Opened

A restoration project of this magnitude, with this success rate has never been done before. As the invasive Lyngbya continues to infest canals and lakes of Florida, learning how to restore these natural treasures is of utmost importance. Since the beginning of this project, ongoing monitoring and studies of the sites have been conducted. A current study to determine the exact difference in canals filled with Lyngbya vs. restored canals is underway. Catch up on the latest of that research in the link below:

2018 Biological Assessment of Phase 1A Restoration of Kings Bay: Fishes, Macroinvertebrates and Submerged Aquatic Vegetation

2017 Aquatic Faunal Assessment of Submerged Aquatic Vegetation Habitats in the Crystal River Ecosystem

As well each year Save Crystal River outputs an annual report about Kings Bay Restoration Project’s great successes. Please view the past annual reports at the links below:

2015 Annual Report

2016 Annual Report

2017 Annual Report

2018 Annual Report

2019 Annual Report

2020 – 2021 Annual Report

Pilot Phase

The Pilot Phase of the project received initial funding in 2015 to restore 3.41 acres in Kings Bay. The project took 8 weeks to complete and removed 8,000 cubic feet of toxic algae from three canals that feed Kings Bay. About 74 spring vents, previously unidentified, were unclogged and reopened. This site was initially planted with 1,800 plants and during the 2017 monitoring, it was determined that the site now hosts over 5 Million eelgrass plants. That is a ~2800% increase. During snorkel tours, fellow scientists describe it as a “meadow of eelgrass”. Furthermore, 2017 monitoring has found that the Rock Star eelgrass is finally flowering. This is the first known flowering of the Rock Star eelgrass outside of laboratory greenhouses. So far 2 of the 3 years of monitoring have been completed for the site.  Please view monitoring reports for the Pilot Phase at the links below:

2016 Pilot Phase Monitoring Report 1 of 3 Years

2017 Pilot Phase Monitoring Report 2 of 3 Years

Phase 1.A

The Phase 1.A was the second area to receive funding for restoration. Funding was secured in 2016 to restore 8.21 acres in Kings Bay. Over 8,279 cubic feet of Lyngbya and muck was removed from Kings Bay. This area receives heavier boat traffic than the Pilot Phase site. However, during a 2017 initial monitoring tour, blue crabs were spotted throughout the site. Some where even in the cages! This is especially interesting as blue crabs haven’t been seen often in Kings Bay. Now, blue crabs are thriving and as it turns out, blue crabs marked by the Smithsonian Environmental Research Institute and released in the Chesapeake Bay have decided to make Kings Bay its new home (read the article). The blue crabs can thrive in their new clean, grassy, oxygen rich home.

As part of the restoration process, monitoring is conducted in the area. So far 1 of the 3 years of monitoring has been completed for the site. Please view the monitoring report for the Phase 1A at the link below:

2017 Phase 1.A Monitoring Report 1 of 3 Years

Phase 1.B

The Phase 1.B was the third area to receive funding for restoration. Funding was secured in 2017 to restore canals near the Three Sisters Springs in Kings Bay. This area is highly residential and the back canals are typically manatee nurseries; otherwise known as where manatees go to give birth. Since this phase of the project was completed this year, monitoring will commence next year. No reports are available at this time.

In 2018, the FL Legislature provided additional funds to the Kings Bay Restoration Project. Check out the area that will be restored during the 2018 restoration season. Read more here.