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Bones Discovered At Weeki Wachee Springs State Park

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By TONY HOLT

Hernando Today

Published: December 6, 2008

WEEKI WACHEE - The cleanup of algae and sediments along one of the area's most famous landmarks came to a sudden halt Thursday.

Discovering a pile of bones will cause that to happen.

A medical examiner arrived at Weeki Wachee Springs State Park to collect them and determine whether they were human remains. A day later it was announced they were from an animal skeleton.

The crew could return to work.

"There were maybe one or two in question," said park spokesman John Athanason of the Thursday's bone discovery. "We decided to err on the side of caution."

The findings were not a surprise to anyone, Athanason said.

It is believed some of the algae - which are approximately 3 feet thick in some places - have been there since before the park opened 61 years ago. There is always the possibility of finding old bones during such a massive cleanup.

The Southwest Florida Water Management District, known as Swiftmud, is supervising the restoration project.

Last year, the district renovated the parking lot at Weeki Wachee, which improved the storm water runoff.

Athanason said animal and human bones dating back to thousands of years have been found at springs across Florida.

The bones at Weeki Wachee were discovered underwater near the main spring where the mermaids swim, Athanason said.

Reporter Tony Holt can be reached at 352-544-5283 or wholt@hernandotoday.com.

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