The Southwest Florida Water Management District, together with Citrus and Marion counties and the cities of Crystal River and Dunnellon, will proclaim March 14-20 as Springs Awareness Week.

Nitrate pollution from overusing fertilizers is one reason the quality of our springs is declining. Everyone who lives, works and plays in west-central Florida can take these simple steps to help protect our springs:

• Don’t fertilize before a heavy rain.
• Sweep up any fertilizer spilled on paved areas or any excess on the lawn and place it back in the fertilizer bag.
• Use only slow-release fertilizer.
• Leave a 10-foot no-pesticide, no-fertilizer zone around water bodies.
• Hire only certified landscape professionals.
• Read and follow all fertilizer label instructions.

The Dunnellon City Commission, the Marion County Board of County Commissioners and the District’s Withlacoochee River Basin Board have already signed Springs Awareness Week proclamations. The City of Crystal River is scheduled to sign a proclamation on March 8, and the Citrus County Board of County Commissioners is set to sign their proclamation on March 9.

• Click here for a list of March events in Citrus County