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ROBERT KINGThe attraction dredged without Swiftmud permission and that puts it in apparent violation of its lease with the water management district.
BROOKSVILLE - The Southwest Florida Water Management District has determined that Weeki Wachee Springs broke the terms of its lease and is giving the park three weeks to explain why the lease should not be terminated - a move that could close the park.
At issue is construction done last weekend in the Weeki Wachee River and on the park's riverfront beach known as Buccaneer Bay, which sits no more than 50 yards from the head of the famous Weeki Wachee spring.
Park officials have acknowledged that staffers used heavy equipment to scrape sand from the river bottom and spread it back on the beach to correct some recent erosion.
Swiftmud, as the water district is known, has owned the spring and the land around it since 2001. It allows Weeki Wachee Springs LLC - the latest in a long line of park operators - to lease the property and run the attraction, which had been in business since 1947.
The issue came to light after the work was witnessed Saturday night by a Times reporter acting on a tip. Another eyewitness captured some of the weekend work on videotape.
Swiftmud officials sent staffers to the river to investigate after getting questions about the work from the Times. They found conditions "consistent with dredging and filling, and beach replenishment activities," according to a letter written Friday by Swiftmud attorney Bill Bilenky. Swiftmud has also seen the videotape, provided anonymously to the district.
In his letter to Weeki Wachee Springs attorney Joe Mason, Bilenky said the park should have obtained state and federal permits before doing the work, as well as Swiftmud's permission.
None of that occurred, according to Bilenky.
Weeki Wachee Springs general manager Robyn Anderson and marketing director John Athanason have said they were not aware permits or permission were needed.
They said reclaiming eroded sand from the river has been part of preparing Buccaneer Bay for a new season for years. Mason said Friday he had not yet received Swiftmud's letter. He declined to comment on it until he does.
Bilenky's letter said the park has 21 days to state why the breach does not constitute good cause to terminate the lease. Without a response - and possibly even with one - Swiftmud may recommend that its governing board kill the lease.
Swiftmud's board meets next on Mar. 30.
- Robert King covers Spring Hill and can be reached at 848-1432. Send e-mail to rking@sptimes.com