Thanks to the efforts of Citrus County Aquatics Director Mark Edwards, and staff, an identified derelict vessel was removed from a local waterway on May 7, 2020.

Derelict vessel removed from local waterway

The Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission (FFWCC) requested the County’s assistance in the removal of a derelict vessel that was located in the Floral City Pool of the Tsala Apopka Chain-of-Lakes.  Officer Nicole Muina, FFWCC towed the vessel to the Withlapopka Boat Ramp where Anna Warrick from Citrus County Road Maintenance Division removed the vessel using the trash truck.  The vessel was disposed of at the Citrus County Landfill.

Abandoned and derelict vessels are a problem for many waterways in Florida. Sunken, stranded, and decrepit vessels can be an eyesore and become hazards to navigation. At the same time, these vessels can pose significant threats to natural resources.