The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) Governing Board recognized Earnie Olsen of Citrus County as one of this year’s springs community partners at its May Governing Board meeting.

Olsen is the supervisor of the Marine Science Station in Crystal River and has taught at the center since 2008. Olsen and his staff lead daily field trips, taking Citrus County students by boat to experience the Crystal River/Kings Bay springs and the local riverine, coastal and estuarine ecosystems. Olsen also leads an annual District-sponsored summer camp program that focuses on springs and connects the local community with his environmental education efforts through camp sponsorships and media coverage.

In March, the District’s Governing Board also recognized Cheryl Paradis as a springs community partner. Paradis served as the director and lead teacher at the Springs Coast Environmental Education Center on the Weeki Wachee River since 2008. Each year, she passionately educates approximately 8,000 Hernando County students, teachers and families about Weeki Wachee Springs and how to protect the springshed.

This is the fifth year the District has recognized springs community partners for joining in the community effort to improve the five first-magnitude springs in Citrus, Hernando and Marion counties.

There are more than 150 documented springs throughout the 16-county District, with five first-magnitude spring groups that collectively discharge more than one billion gallons of water per day.