What does it take to restore a wetland, marsh or other aquatic habitat?
It takes more than simply putting plants back in the ground or removing unwanted vegetation. Aquatic habitat restoration is careful, long-term work that requires creativity, planning and an understanding of how natural systems work together.
On Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026, Trout Lake Nature Center will take a closer look at that work with Jasmin Linkutis, a Biological Scientist III with the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).
- Linkutis will present Aquatic Habitat Restoration from 1:30–2:30 p.m. as part of National Public Lands Day.
Seeing Restoration in Action
Linkutis works in FWC’s Habitat and Species Conservation division, within the Aquatic Habitat Conservation and Restoration section, where she serves as a project manager implementing large aquatic restoration projects on public lands.
Her work includes Pine Meadows, Lake Apopka and Emeralda Marsh — places where careful habitat management can benefit wildlife and the health of these aquatic systems.
During the presentation, she will share examples of recent projects, explore restoration techniques and introduce some of the basics of marsh ecology.
For many of us, a marsh may simply look like water, grasses and open sky. Look closer, and an entirely different world comes into view.
Birds move through the vegetation. Plants respond to changing water levels. Wildlife depends on the food, shelter and conditions these places provide.
What may look simple from a distance is anything but simple up close.
A Scientist in the Field
Linkutis’s favorite areas of study include botany, ornithology and imperiled species — subjects that connect closely with the plants and wildlife found in these habitats.
Her work brings those interests into the field, where understanding the relationships within an ecosystem helps guide restoration decisions.
National Public Lands Day
National Public Lands Day is a fitting time to hear about this work. The day recognizes the public lands we share and the people who help care for them — including the wetlands, marshes and waterways that support Florida’s wildlife.
At Trout Lake Nature Center, we believe education is part of conservation. The more closely we look at the natural world, the more there is to discover — and the more meaningful it becomes to care for it.
Join us Sept. 26 to hear directly from an FWC scientist and discover more about the work behind Florida’s aquatic habitats.
Program Details
Aquatic Habitat Restoration with FWC Biologist Jasmin Linkutis
Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026
1:30–2:30 p.m.
Trout Lake Nature Center
520 East CR 44
Eustis, Florida 32736
Admission: Free for TLNC members; $5 per vehicle for non-members.
For information about this and other upcoming programs and events, visit TroutLakeNatureCenter.com.
About Trout Lake Nature Center
Trout Lake Nature Center is a nonprofit environmental education and conservation organization in Eustis, Florida. TLNC’s mission is to connect people with nature through education and conservation.
