CRYSTAL RIVER, Fla. — Concerns are mounting when it comes to job security at a Citrus County wildlife refuge.

What You Need To Know

  • Staff and employees with the Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge are fearing the elimination of their jobs amid federal spending cuts

  • Two positions, a visitor services specialist and volunteer coordinator, were eliminated last week

  • In 2015, there were 12 employees on staff at the refuge, but following funding cuts in 2018, 2020 and now, only six remain

Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge employees are fearing the elimination of jobs amid federal spending cuts. This isn’t the first time they’ve gone through staff and funding cuts and now are doing what they can to be prepared.

At the water’s edge of King’s Bay, proudly stands the Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge.

For years, the hub has operated as a window to nature for visitors of all ages. But recently, some forceful changes had to be made. 

“Historically, anytime there are governmental cuts, unfortunately, U.S. Fish and Wildlife is one of the most vulnerable agencies, so we tend to feel the blow a little bit more than some of the other agencies in federal government,” said K.C. Nayfield, president of Friends of Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge.

Funding and jobs are being cut at the federal level, and the wildlife refuge and its visitor’s center were included, with two positions being eliminated last week.

“We lost our visitor services specialist and our volunteer coordinator,” Nayfield said. “These were two positions that were vital to make sure this refuge funs smoothly, efficiently and effectively. It’s going to be very difficult to function without them.”

The visitor center coordinator is responsible for education programs, and he said it’s a significant loss that will impact their operation, including field trips.

“These volunteers put in between 25 and 30,000 hours per year and they save U.S. Fish and Wildlife hundreds of thousands of dollars per year with the work they do out here in Three Sisters and in King’s Bay,” said Nayfield.

While the impact from those cuts is being felt immediately, Nayfield said he is remaining optimistic.

“It’s just going to take a little while to adapt and hopefully, maybe, we can get these guys back and fill these positions at some time in the future,” he said.

And he is hopeful that the refuge will be able to continue educating people for years to come.

This is not the first time the refuge has had to deal with cuts. In 2015, there were 12 employees on staff, but following cuts in 2018, 2020 and now, only six remain.