Save Our Paddle Sport Access to Three Sisters Spring
50 Comments
E
Elizabeth Pohl-Provost
11 years ago
The swimmers and snorkelers are the ones who harrass the manatees not the paddlers
S
Steve Hickey
11 years ago
If the kayaks are eliminated so should yhe swimmers. I
G
Gary Rankel
11 years ago
At the very least, if paddler access into Three Sisters Spring is denied, paddler access into other roped off manatee protection areas in Kings Bay should be permitted.
R
Ricky Williams
11 years ago
I support banning ALL activities in the spring when manatees are present. I also support a paddle sport landing, but with a park entry fee, either daily fee or annual stae Park paa.
G
Garry koch
11 years ago
Featured
If we cant get access to the springs please give us a few tie points to tie off our kayaks. If you want to protect the manatee keep the power boats away and have all those tour people to kayak in to see the manatee.
B
Brian Kauffman
11 years ago
Save our access.
T
Tony Fekete
11 years ago
To say that swimmers impact the manatee less than kayakers is just asinine...
P
Paul Just
11 years ago
Although it would require a little "policing," allowing a certain number into the springs at a given time is preferred, rather than not allowing any paddlers at all . . . I was a volunteer for the USFWS for many years, and realize how important this is.
T
Tina Sapienza Chard
11 years ago
seems like the paddlers are far more respectful of nature...let them continue to enjoy and teach others!!
L
Linda Brown Paddle the Mitten LLC
11 years ago
I was questioned about my paddle board 2 years ago in another Florida spring. I found that it was the lack of education on the part of the park worker that was frustrating.
L
Lars Andersen
11 years ago
By prompting paddlers who might otherwise stay out of the water to get in and swim among the manatees, this proposed ruling would actually increase the number of people in the water with manatees rather than reduce it. Once again, FWS is showing favoritism for swim tour operations over the needs of wintering manatees. One day, when they get it right, Crystal River will be a world-class ecotourism destination. As it is, it's an abomination that flies in the face of animal protection (of an endangerd species, no less) and the role of wildlife refuges. Histories and nature conservation texts for decades to come will use the recent years of Crystal River management as an example of how not to do wildlife protection and conservation. Get everyone out of Three Sisters in winter and let Crystal River shine in world opinion.
M
Mark Moore
11 years ago
Because of my age and physical limitations, it is difficult for me to swim far and get back into a kayak from the water.
K
Kurtis Galbraith
11 years ago
i believe paddlers are of less impact to the manatees than are swimmers. Clearly this move to ban paddlers is driven by tour boat operators that bring the throngs of swimmers.
S
steve Kingery
11 years ago
makes sense
J
Jack LaMarre
11 years ago
II have never seen a kayaker bother the manatees, but many times when I am there I have seen lots of swimmers that have been left off by the tour boats pestering the manatees
M
mary gracely
11 years ago
the people who need to be banned on the motor boats that crowd in the area the swimmers and snorkelers, they're loud the oil and gas emissions that leak from the power boats is disgusting the harassment of the manatees from the snorkel hours is outrageous those are the people who need to be banned not kayaks
J
Joy Williams
11 years ago
By banning paddlers, you're banning the wrong people. I've seen kids (who aren't taxpayers) yelling and screaming at the manatees, kicking up the sand at the bottom with their fins. One brat pushed my kayak into the rocks! Let's put blame where it belongs. The manatees seemed to love swimming under and alongside my kayak. They didn't appear stressed in the least by the kayakers.
G
Glen Cook
11 years ago
Why ban kayaks from the springs when swimmers can go in? Why do you always try to take away our privledges when we pay your salaries and buy this land to allow everyone to have access?
J
James Zoschenko
11 years ago
Paddle boats are less invasive to manatee than swimming!
J
Judie Small
11 years ago
Featured
When did you last see a kayaker riding a manatee? Swimmers are the main problem. I would perfer to see the springs closed to everyone during the cold weather. Use the new boardwalk aroung the springs.
The swimmers and snorkelers are the ones who harrass the manatees not the paddlers
If the kayaks are eliminated so should yhe swimmers. I
At the very least, if paddler access into Three Sisters Spring is denied, paddler access into other roped off manatee protection areas in Kings Bay should be permitted.
I support banning ALL activities in the spring when manatees are present. I also support a paddle sport landing, but with a park entry fee, either daily fee or annual stae Park paa.
If we cant get access to the springs please give us a few tie points to tie off our kayaks. If you want to protect the manatee keep the power boats away and have all those tour people to kayak in to see the manatee.
Save our access.
To say that swimmers impact the manatee less than kayakers is just asinine...
Although it would require a little "policing," allowing a certain number into the springs at a given time is preferred, rather than not allowing any paddlers at all . . . I was a volunteer for the USFWS for many years, and realize how important this is.
seems like the paddlers are far more respectful of nature...let them continue to enjoy and teach others!!
I was questioned about my paddle board 2 years ago in another Florida spring. I found that it was the lack of education on the part of the park worker that was frustrating.
By prompting paddlers who might otherwise stay out of the water to get in and swim among the manatees, this proposed ruling would actually increase the number of people in the water with manatees rather than reduce it. Once again, FWS is showing favoritism for swim tour operations over the needs of wintering manatees. One day, when they get it right, Crystal River will be a world-class ecotourism destination. As it is, it's an abomination that flies in the face of animal protection (of an endangerd species, no less) and the role of wildlife refuges. Histories and nature conservation texts for decades to come will use the recent years of Crystal River management as an example of how not to do wildlife protection and conservation. Get everyone out of Three Sisters in winter and let Crystal River shine in world opinion.
Because of my age and physical limitations, it is difficult for me to swim far and get back into a kayak from the water.
i believe paddlers are of less impact to the manatees than are swimmers. Clearly this move to ban paddlers is driven by tour boat operators that bring the throngs of swimmers.
makes sense
II have never seen a kayaker bother the manatees, but many times when I am there I have seen lots of swimmers that have been left off by the tour boats pestering the manatees
the people who need to be banned on the motor boats that crowd in the area the swimmers and snorkelers, they're loud the oil and gas emissions that leak from the power boats is disgusting the harassment of the manatees from the snorkel hours is outrageous those are the people who need to be banned not kayaks
By banning paddlers, you're banning the wrong people. I've seen kids (who aren't taxpayers) yelling and screaming at the manatees, kicking up the sand at the bottom with their fins. One brat pushed my kayak into the rocks! Let's put blame where it belongs. The manatees seemed to love swimming under and alongside my kayak. They didn't appear stressed in the least by the kayakers.
Why ban kayaks from the springs when swimmers can go in? Why do you always try to take away our privledges when we pay your salaries and buy this land to allow everyone to have access?
Paddle boats are less invasive to manatee than swimming!
When did you last see a kayaker riding a manatee? Swimmers are the main problem. I would perfer to see the springs closed to everyone during the cold weather. Use the new boardwalk aroung the springs.