State Senator Jason Brodeur (R-Sanford) yesterday filed Senate Bill 976, Study of the Little Wekiva River. The bill instructs the Department of Environmental Protection to conduct a study of rapid sediment accumulation in the Little Wekiva River– a tributary to the St. Johns River, and one of Seminole County’s environmental treasures.
“Late last year, before I’d taken office, a resident reached out to me alarmed by sediment accumulation along the Little Wekiva River. After visiting the river myself, it’s obvious that the situation requires immediate action,” said Senator Brodeur. “Areas where water was more than five feet deep just two years ago are now almost totally choked with sediment. It’s a threat to wildlife, and it poses a danger to recreational users.”
The quickly accumulating sediment appeared after construction began on a portion of I-4 less than 400 feet from the Little Wekiva. While the cause is still unknown, the bill directs the Department of Environmental Protection to consult with the Department of Transportation to identify the source of the sediment and report on potential means for remediation of the waterway.
“As Chair of the Senate Committee on Environment and Natural Resources, I’m determined to see that our inland waterways and lakes are protected and restored. As a Seminole County native, I grew up along these rivers, and I know what they mean for our ecology and our way of life. We are fighting for our community’s future enjoyment and our health.”
