Citrus County, FL Water-wise News for August; Save Our Waters Week, Sept. 20-27 - FREE water tours
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Wed - August 6, 2025
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Irrigate once per week according to the last digit of your home address as detailed below. If you have a WaterSense labeled irrigation controller that is scheduled correctly, there is no need to make adjustments -- the controller will automatically default runtimes to 100% of scheduled irrigation. Would you like to report watering new plants? Call 352-527-7669.
August - November: One scheduled irrigation of 1/2-inch to 3/4-inch each week. That is about 30 to 45 minutes per rotor head zone and 15 to 20 minutes per spray head zone.
Per ordinance, watering is limited to one day per week according to the last digit of your home address. Irrigation may occur either before 10:00 a.m. or after 4:00 p.m. (not both), as follows:
WATERING SCHEDULE, Addresses Ending in:
0 or 1 - water on Monday
2 or 3 - water on Tuesday
4 or 5 - water on Wednesday
6 or 7 - water on Thursday
8 or 9 and locations with a mix of addresses or no address - water on Friday
Presentations by Conservation & Wildlife photographer Linda Wilinski. Call 352-201-0149 to reserve a spot.
Lakes Region Library in Inverness, 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.. Enjoy a stunning visual journey of Florida’s springs and wildlife through Linda’s lens. Capacity 75. FREE.
Central Ridge Library in Beverly Hills, 1:45 - 3:45 p.m. Discover how photography can deepen your bond with nature, with tips for stunning shots above and below water. Capacity 55. FREE.
Monday, September 22, 2025
Kayak tour of Three Sisters Springs, 10:00 a.m. Led by the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s springs team scientists. Reserve by September 12. Call 813-445-5220 or email Michele.Sager@WaterMatters.org to register. Capacity 10. FREE
2-Hour Tour of Kings Bay at 9:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. Call Birds Underwater Dive Center, 352-563-2763 to reserve a spot. Capacity 12 per tour. FREE.
Tuesday, September 23, 2025
Bluebird Springs Park Beautification, 9:00 - 11:00 a.m. Hosted by Citrus County Mosquito Control and Parks & Recreation. This event features native and Florida-friendly planting, a spring clean-up, and educational displays from local partners. Bring your gloves and help restore this natural treasure while connecting with the community. Follow link to register. Call 352-527-7478 for information. FREE.
Wednesday, September 24, 2025
Outback Kayak Tour, 10:00 a.m. Call Hunter Springs Kayaks to register, 352-228-4715. Capacity 10 per tour. FREE.
Nature Cruise the Indian River/Canal to the Indian mounds at 11:00 a.m. Call Crystal River Waters Sports, 352-795-7033. Capacity 16. Deposit: $10 - refunded at the end of the tour.
Thursday, September 25, 2025
Tour Citrus County's upgraded & expanded water reclamation facility, 9:00 a.m. Learn how the facility uses advanced water treatment and reduces groundwater withdrawals. To register, email Debra.Burden@citrusbocc.com or call 352-527-7684. Capacity: 20. FREE.
Heritage Eco Boat Tours, Crystal River Preserve State Park, 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Call Crystal River Preserve Adventures to register, 855-613-2777. Max 24. FREE.
Friday, September 26, 2025
Paddle the Crystal River, 8:00 a.m. Hear the natural history of Crystal River from local preserve and Archaeology Network staff. Capacity: 20. $25 to rent a kayak, follow link to register. $20 if bringing your own kayak, follow link to register. Questions? Email Nigel Rudolph at snrdolph@usf.edu.
Learn the Magic of Crystal River, 9:00 - 11:00 a.m. Join Citrus County Parks & Recreation and Mosquito Control at Fort Island Trail Park for hands-on fun exploring Crystal River’s wildlife, casting a line, and enjoying activities for all ages. Learn how healthy rivers support nature and our community. Follow link to register. Call 352-527-7547 for information. Capacity 25. FREE.
Saturday, September 27, 2025
Wildlife Walk on the 7-Mile Loop Trail, 9:00 a.m. Take photos and sound recordings to document local wildlife using the iNaturalist app with Crystal River Preserve State Park and St. Martins Marsh Aquatic Preserve team. Follow link to register. Call 814-590-4452 for information. FREE.
Presentation of Newly published "Cross Florida Greenway Trail Adventure" by authors Max Schulman and Tom Craig, 3:00 p.m. Learn the history of the old Florida Barge Canal construction, the importance of local dams and springs and the need to restore and maintain them. Old Courthouse Heritage Museum, Inverness. Register at 352-341-6428. 150 people.
Available Rebates:
Rain Sensor Replacement — $50
Water Sense Labeled Irrigation Controller — $100 (auto-adjusting controller)
Water Sense Labeled Toilet* -- $100, first toilet / $75, second toilet if replacing a toilet that flushes more than3.5+ gallon per flush (gpf) with 1.28 gpf or less (old toilet typically installed before1995). Pre-approval and photos of existing toilet* required BEFORE toilet is replaced.)
Water Sense Labeled Toilet* -- $25 per toilet if replacing a 1.6 gallon per flush (gpf) with 1.28 gpf or less Water Sense labeled toilet. (old toilet typically installed after 1995). Pre-approval and photos of existing toilet* required BEFORE toilet is replaced.
Upcoming Classes:
August 12, 2025: Vegetable gardening
August 26, 2025: Planning a Florida landscape
September 9, 2025: Lawns in Central Florida
September 23, 2025: Palms in Central Florida
Most classes are held Tuesdays, 2:00 p.m., at the UF/IFAS Extension Building, 3650 W.. Sovereign Path in Lecanto, Florida. To view the complete list of classes and to register, visit https://ccufflprogram.eventbrite.com or call (352) 527-5708 for more information.
September Annuals/Perennials/Wildflowers: Try ageratum, celosia, zinnia, and wax begonia for color into fall. Bulbs: Add color, texture, and pattern to the garden with the many varieties of elephant's ear (Alocasia spp.), calla, narcissus, and zephyr lily. Vegetables: It is time to establish strawberry plants. Other veggies to plant now are broccoli, carrot, cabbage, collards, and many others. Lawns: Determine the cause of any damage to the lawn so the proper remedy is used. Damage from insects, disease, or irrigation failure can produce similar symptoms. Monitor the lawn for signs of insect damage. Fall armyworms, chinch bugs, mole crickets, and sod webworms are still active this month. For more information, visit https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/topics/insect_management_in_your_florida_lawn
Want to add new plants to the landscape? The Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Guide to Plant Selection and Landscape Design offers color images, zone hardiness, drought tolerance, light requirements and more: https://ffl.ifas.ufl.edu/
