The Rainbow River is one of Florida’s most treasured natural wonders — a crystal-clear, spring-fed oasis that draws families, paddlers, swimmers, and wildlife alike. Protecting it should be straightforward: follow the rules, keep plastics out, and take care of the ecosystem so it can thrive. Yet beneath the surface lies an emerging problem that isn’t often discussed — plastics introduced not by careless visitors with disposable bottles, but through the herbicides used to control invasive plants.
Plastic Ban vs. Plastic Reality
The Marion County Sheriff’s Office is clear: plastic containers, especially disposable ones, are prohibited on the Rainbow River. Visitors may only bring reusable bottles, a rule intended to reduce litter and preserve the river’s pristine condition. This makes sense — after all, discarded Gatorade, Soda and water bottles don’t belong in such a fragile ecosystem.
The problem is that the herbicide Endothol is not just applied in liquid form — it is embedded within tiny polyethylene polymers that serve as carriers. When sprayed or released into the water, these polymers slowly absorb water releasing the chemical into the river. These Polyethylene pellets become jelly and float and migrate around the river. The clear jellies look like fish or frog eggs and may be getting consumed. In other words the birds, fish, animals and bugs are possibly eating Polyethylene. Proper disposal and recycling are critical when we are dealing with plastics. Yet the reality is that residues from the polymer carriers of the herbicide Endothol itself, are being put directly into the water.
Polymer Residues in the River
Aquathol Super K being used to try to kill Hydrilla, is applied in granular form, and its formulation includes polymers designed to deliver the active ingredient Endothol. In theory, these polymers should break down over time. In practice, volunteers from One Rake at a Time report seeing polymer residues — often called “polymer jellies” — on the river bottom nearly every day. These residues don’t disappear quickly; instead, they accumulate, helping smother native vegetation and adding to the layers of muck that already weigh down the ecosystem. The Manufacturing company says the jellies will last at least 5 years.
Plastics, whether packaging or polymer residues, share a troubling trait: they don’t truly degrade. Instead, they fragment into smaller and smaller pieces over decades or even centuries. A plastic bag or polymer gel might vanish from sight, but it doesn’t go away — it becomes part of the microplastics family . These tiny particles persist in the environment, infiltrating food chains and water supplies. Research has already detected microplastics in human blood, with unknown long-term health consequences. Plastic, after all, is new to human history. Unlike wood, metal, or natural fibers such as cotton and wool — materials that decompose naturally — plastics remain with us, often for 500 years or more.
Who Bears Responsibility?
So who is responsible for the plastic residues left behind by herbicide applications? Should it be the manufacturer, the applicator, the regulatory agencies, or the local community? At present, it is our local community. State government agencies are quick to regulate a visitor’s disposable bottle, yet the very chemicals introduced into the river for management purposes are exempt from the same scrutiny. That double standard leaves the community wondering: if we are serious about eliminating plastics from the Rainbow, shouldn’t that commitment apply to all sources?
Short-Term Fixes, Long-Term Risks
The Environmental Protection Agency has reviewed herbicides like Endothol for safety, but most assessments emphasize short- to medium-term impacts. Long-term, cumulative effects from decades of use — especially when polymers linger in sediment — are far less understood. Over time, those residues may prove to be more damaging than anyone anticipated.
A Better Way: Manual Removal
There is, however, a proven alternative. Hand-raking invasive plants like Hydrilla may be labor-intensive, but it is targeted, safe, and free of hidden plastic residues. Manual methods are also community-building: neighbors, students, and volunteers can come together to protect the river directly. Those of us who live work and play on the river are on the front lines and it is really up to us. If we don’t do it who will? Hand-raking keeps the ecosystem intact, avoids unintended side effects of herbicides, and creates an opportunity for residents to engage with their river in meaningful stewardship.
The solution is simple: prioritize manual methods first. If invasive weed growth becomes overwhelming and herbicides are still deemed necessary, then at least the community should be notified in advance and given the chance to attempt manual removal, and be fully informed about when herbicide applications are scheduled.
A Call for Collaboration
Protecting the Rainbow River needs cooperation among agencies such as FWC, SWFWMD, DEP, Tallahassee, the local Aquatic Preserve Manager, and our Rainbow Springs State Park Manager with the people who live here. Especially the people who live along the banks and paddle its waters. I believe our government people want to help and many of them are helping now. Together, we can ensure that management practices honor both the letter and spirit of the plastics ban, and that our actions do not leave a hidden legacy of polymers beneath the surface.
The Rainbow River deserves better than to quietly accumulate plastic in its sediment. We have the tools, the volunteers, and the will to do it right. By choosing careful, manual and mechanical methods and demanding accountability for polymer residues, we can safeguard this irreplaceable treasure for future generations.
Thank you, Art Jones