Waste line aimed for St. Johns

Published 7/31/08 The Florida Times-Union
Some environmental activists want to fight Georgia-Pacific's mill outside Palatka, whose wastewater would flow downstream toward Jacksonville. But they also blame Florida's Department of Environmental Protection for making an agreement with the mill years ago that led to a court order mandating the construction.

Building the 4-mile pipeline would let Georgia-Pacific stop discharging into Rice Creek, a much smaller waterway where the plant violates clean-water standards. But it would also mean diluting the wastewater in the river, which flows to Jacksonville.
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It's time to say no to massive withdrawals from the aquifer

Published 7/29/2008 - The Florida Times-Union
...the fate of the St. Johns and its health has always been secondary to development, jobs and money. It's time to say no more.

Instead of recommending yet another withdrawal from the aquifer, the district staff should be reviewing all consumptive use permits.

Are the numerous bottling plants that suck water out of our aquifer really in the public's interest? Does the state really need so many lush, green golf courses?
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Critters wildly popular on license plates

Published July 28, 2008 - Florida Today
The "Helping Sea Turtles Survive" tag has topped Florida's 19 other "eco" plates this year, selling 1,732 countywide through June. But only 34 of the "Trees are Cool" and 18 of the "Protect Florida Springs" plates, both introduced in October, have been sold this year.
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BRA Sponsors Fanning and Manatee Springs Working Group

Published 2008-07-30 - Biological Research Associates
Fanning and Manatee Springs Working Group is dedicated to protecting springs and water resources.

With assistance from Biological Research Associates as a sponsor, the Group is working to better the community through information and communication.

For more information about the Fanning and Manatee Springs Working Group, please contact them at (352) 377-8693. For more information about BRA’s Water Resource Management services, please contact (800) 497-9242.
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Encounters with Nature in Florida’s Crystal River

Published 7/28/2008 - TransWorldNews
Crystal River is a nature enthusiasts’ paradise abundant with wildlife and offering countless eco-tours. From diving to manatee safaris and manatee snorkeling tours, the place “Where Man and Manatee Play” is an ideal place to be visited by those who seek a true encounter with nature.
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Springs Celebration at Poe Springs Park

Published North Florida NewsDaily
A celebration of Florida’s springs will be held on Saturday, August 2, at Poe Springs Park in High Springs.

The Springs Celebration, which runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., will feature displays and activities designed to demonstrate the importance of Florida’s springs and to foster appreciation and respect for these natural resources.

Parking and admission to the park is free throughout the event.

Poe Springs Park is located at 28800 N.W. 182nd Ave., High Springs. For more information, call (352) 264-6800 or visit http://www.santaferiversprings.com
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Mermaid Camp Is A Fantasy Come True

Published 7/28/2008 - Hernando Today
The Mermaid Camp - held mostly every weekend during the summer at Weeki Wachee Springs - has an age limit. No one younger than 7 and no one older than 14 can be admitted.

The camp runs for eight hours each day. At the end, the students give a performance for their families, who watch from the underwater theater.
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Tubing down the river

Published 7/28/2008
From Memorial Day Weekend to Labor Day Weekend, the whole river is open to tubing and the trams are running. Tubes of all sizes can be rented from private vendors outside the park and the best part is that when you are done with your trip down the river, you can just drop off your innertubes at a designated spot and the tubing company will come pick it up for free.

The park has different launching and ending points, and you can choose to raft or tube from anywhere between 1 to 3 hours. At the south entrance of the park, tubers have the opportunity to choose a 1.5 hour float or a 30 minute float on the cool, spring-fed, crystal clear waters of the Ichetucknee River. If you choose to tube the full length of the river for a 3 hour float, get to the north entrance early as only 750 tubers per day are permitted on the sensitive and beautiful upper section of the river. Also at the north entrance of Ichetucknee Springs State Park, enjoy swimming or snorkeling in two pristine springs or take a stroll along the river on the Trestle Point Trail.
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Fight escalates as Niagara bottling plant prepares to open

Published July 27, 2008
Lake County, Groveland and Clermont are working to oppose the bottling facility, and they could join forces with other governments to block Niagara's request before the St. Johns River Water Management District to dig wells on the plant site and withdraw up to 177 million gallons of water a year.

"Can anyone expect citizens across Central Florida to take water conservation seriously if the SJRWMD [St. Johns River Water Management District] approves a permit for a private company to pull millions of gallons of water from the aquifer to bottle and sell throughout the country?"
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Fort White water safe to drink, state toxicologist say

Published 7/25/2008
Toxicologists from the Florida Department of Health did say that "sensitive populations," such as newborn babies, should use bottled water rather than Fort White town water.

The news from the Department of Health comes after nearly five years straight of failed water quality tests of the town's water. The town has been battling fluctuating levels of possibly cancer-causing byproducts in the water, regularly exceeding standards set by the state Department of Environmental Protection.
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Springs Celebration at Poe still needs sponsors!

I received this via email:

We are still slightly short of our sponsorship target for the Springs Celebration. If you or your organization can jump on board, there’s still time to participate. Please contact me ASAP if you can help. Thanks to all who have contributed. We will be acknowledging sponsors during announcements and on display materials and handouts at the Celebration.

We are in the final stages of preparation for the event, which is coming right up at Poe Springs on Saturday August 2 from 11 AM to 3 PM. Many of you are participating as exhibitors and we’re looking forward to seeing you that day. I did an interview about the Celebration for SKY Radio that will be aired this Sunday at 9:05 AM. We’re doing another interview that will be broadcast next week on WUFT-FM.
This year we have access to the Lodge as well as the pavilion, and there will be food vendors so people will be better able to linger near our red and white Celebration tent next to the Lodge. Music is being provided by 4 great performers: Palm Valley, Patchwork, Dale Crider, and Bob Patterson. Remember, admission to the park is free during the hours of 11 AM to 3 PM, thanks to our friends at the YMCA.

Faye Baird
Pandion Systems, Inc.
352-372-4747 x 3263
New Address as of March 25, 2008:
102 NE 10th Avenue, 1st Floor
Gainesville, FL 32601

Camp Kulaqua ensures land never will be developed by creating conservation area

Published 7/25/2008
...the development rights on almost 200 acres of Camp Kulaqua-owned property that borders the Santa Fe River is being bought via a $1.4 million land conservation easement.

A land conservation easement strips the development rights on a piece of land but allows the ownership and some rights of the land to remain with the seller and its descendants.

The Alachua County Commission approved the purchase on July 8 and now all the two parties have to do is sign the agreement.

Purchasing land conservation easements is a cheaper way of preserving land than if the land was bought outright, Buch said, adding that the easements also allow the preservation of land that an owner would otherwise not want to sell but still wants to protect.
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Poe Springs Park should be better used, county says

Published 7/25/2008
Poe Springs Park is "woefully underused" during the winter months and even during many work weeks in the summer, said Alachua County Parks Superintendent Rob Avery.

And that under-usage is costing the county tens of thousands of dollars a year, Avery told the Alachua County Commission on July 8.

Since the 202-acre, county-owned park opened in 1992, the county has supplemented the operating costs of the park run by the YMCA by up to $54,000 a year.

The county will begin advertising the details of the request for proposals for the Poe Springs Park management on July 30.

A mandatory pre-proposal meeting will be held on Aug. 11 for all those interested in submitting a proposal.

The final proposals are due to the county by Aug. 27.
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Boaters plan ‘sit-in’ for manatee awareness

Published July 25, 2008
This showed up on my Google Alerts to late to post for the event, but I still feel it's good information.

Kings Bay is a well-known gathering spot for manatees in the winter, but not a lot of people know the large, slow-moving animals are still around in the summer. Unaware boaters and jet skiers often run over them.

Manatee advocate Tracy Colson says kayakers and boaters stopped in the bay for a sit-in from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. saturday to raise awareness. The Save the Manatee Club is providing banners that say, “Please Slow, Manatees Below.”
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Dive on in

Published July 22, 2008
The National Speleological Society, one of the leading groups in the area of cave exploration, has announced that Lake City will host its 2008 national convention next month.

The NSS 2008 Convention will take place Aug. 11-15 and bring more than 500 cave explorers to Lake City. This is the first time the national convention has taken place in Florida.

For more information about the NSS, visit their website at http://www.caves.org
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When manatees gather, watch but keep your distance

Published 7/26/2008
Florida manatees swim the St. Johns River and its tributaries all year long. However, they are happier in warmer water, so more are seen in spring and summer, which is also their usual mating time.

The large marine mammal is protected under the Endangered Species Act and Marine Mammal Protection Act. A recent Mandarin Sun story on manatee deaths was on Lordahl's mind as the photographer and local attorney walked along the boardwalk.
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Water hogs should prepare to pay more

Published July 23, 2008
Central Florida's two biggest water utilities proposed Tuesday to raise rates for heavy water users, but environmentalists said the hike won't make much difference for an increasingly thirsty region.

Water officials say utilities have long tinkered with rates to guide customer habits.

As a conservation tool, it's probably more effective than any other traditional method.
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Swiftmud Gives OK For More Alafia River Withdrawals

Published: July 25, 2008
The Southwest Florida Water Management District issued a water shortage emergency order this week allowing Tampa Bay Water to withdraw additional water from the Alafia River in preparation for the dry season.

The water will be stored in the C.W. Bill Young Regional Reservoir south of Plant City until it is needed. As of Tuesday, the reservoir, which can hold 15 billion gallons of water, had only about 4.24 billion gallons stored.
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Fishing: Jumping sturgeon seen on canoe trip

Published July 24, 2008
One person's adventure when canoing at the Manatee Springs State Park.

We saw fish from maybe 40 to 100 pounds jumping. ...after a rain and the sun came out the sturgeon started jumping.
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7th Annual StormCon, the World's Largest Stormwater Pollution Prevention Conference

August 3-7, 2008 Orlando, Florida
StormCon is where you will find the latest stormwater program management and BMPs performance case studies, research, technology, and services–in an unparalleled education and training setting for anyone involved in surface-water quality.
More Info http://www.stormcon.com/sc.html

Georgia official: Why wait for feds to OK water wars study?

Published July 24, 2008
Georgia's top environmental official said Thursday the three states that have battled nearly three decades over water shouldn't wait for Congress to approve an independent study on the issue, but should instead pay for it themselves.

...the states could save time by commissioning the study themselves and splitting the cost. The cost is estimated to be about $1 million and it could take 2½ years.
Source

Cement emissions raise mercury in rivers, groups say

Published 7/24/08
A collection of environmental groups warned Wednesday that airborne mercury released from cement factories poses unrecognized risks in states with mercury-rich rivers, such as Florida.

Two plants in North Central Florida already take extra steps to limit mercury releases, said Andrew O'Hare, vice president for regulatory affairs at the Portland Cement Association. Those plants, in Branford near the Ichetucknee River and in Newberry west of Gainesville, are among eight in the state.
Source

Water district must start working for us, the taxpayers

Published July 23, 2008 Commentary
Last week, the water district's staff issued a report recommending that a water-bottling company from California be allowed to drill two 16-inch wells, suck out nearly a half-million gallons a day and bottle it for sale.

Water-district engineers said the withdrawal would have a "negligible" effect on nearby lakes and wetlands. And truth be told, other entities ranging from developments to governments are seeking far more of the precious underground resource. Still, the amount of water Niagara Bottling LLC wants isn't a drop in the proverbial bucket.
Source

Peyton signs ‘historic’ bills

Published 07/24/2008
Mayor John Peyton on wednesday passed an irrigation bill and one that regulates fertilizer use — into law.

Peyton said the algae bloom in the St. Johns River two years may have been the catalyst for the recent regulation. Fueled by excessive nutrient levels, many areas of the river were covered in a fluorescent green scum that threatened plant and animal life.
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Makai Kayak & Kanoe Marks First Anniversary

Published July 23, 2008
Makai Kayak & Kanoe, on the section of Main Street between U.S. 19 and the Pithlachascotee River known as the Palm District, is celebrating its first anniversary.

The business offers a variety of guided tours, including half-day paddling trips through Werner-Boyce Salt Springs State Park. Another gulf-front tour passes the stilt houses between Green Key and Durney Key.

For full details on this weekend's anniversary celebration call 727-232-1823, or visit http://www.makaikayak.com
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The Florida Boat Ramps and Photos Map

I think this information can be very useful for those visiting Florida Springs and Rivers.

EarthNC has worked with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to make finding the right ramp for your boat as easy as possible. Using information and photos collected by the FWC, they assembled hundreds of Florida Ramp locations in Google Earth and built the ramp information and ground-level photos directly into each ramp’s pop-up window.
http://earthnc.com/floridaramps

Seminole County water board opposes St. Johns withdrawal

Published July 21, 2008
Seminole County's soil and water conservation district passed a resolution last week in opposition to the county's plan to remove up to 5.5 million gallons of water daily from the St. Johns River.

The county's utility is one of 12 in Central Florida seeking to withdraw up to 262 million gallons per day from St. Johns and Ocklawaha rivers.
Source

Apalachicola River and Bay Congressional Forum

Posted Jul 21, 2008
More than 50 people packed the Army Corp of Engineers head quarters in Chattahoochee for the areas first Apalachicola River and Bay Congressional Forum.

"The most endangered species in Florida are of the two legged variety, the commercial fisherman working on the bay and the harvester on the flood plain," Dan Tonmeire said.
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Fla. to Ga.: Water war not just about mussels

Published July 21, 2008
Floridians upset by the lower flows coming down the Apalachicola River from Georgia made a clear point Monday: The tri-state battle over water isn't just a case of people vs. mussels.

"Georgia's governor is fond of saying this is a people versus mussels issue regarding Atlanta and the Apalachicola River and Bay," said Jeremy Branch, a Jackson County, Fla., commissioner. "The issue at hand is Atlanta's greed and gluttony versus Floridians' necessity and survival."
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Florida Springs for the Family

These are the Florida Springs that I feel are the most family friendly in Florida. It is a work in progress. This version is currently .5


View these Springs in Google Earth (Download this KML file)


View Larger Map

PC's top 12 Florida Springs for the Family
1) Ichetucknee Spring, Suwannee County
2) Ginnie Spring, Gilchrist County
3) Jackson Blue Spring, Jackson County
4) Gilchrist Blue Spring, Gilchrist County
5) Silver Glen Springs, Marion County
6) Alexander Springs, Lake County
7) Madison Blue Spring, Madison County
8) Fanning Springs, Levy County
9) Vortex Spring, Holmes County
10) Volusia Blue Spring, Volusia County
11) Silver Springs
12) Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park


Note: These springs were chosen based on the clarity of water, and activities to do within the park such as snorkeling, kayaking, tubing and camping. This list might change as I visit more springs in the future.

Tubing the Ichetucknee a cool way to spend a hot summer day

Published July 20, 2008 - Excellent Article
Like all of Florida’s state parks, Ichetucknee Springs State Park is open from 8 a.m. until sundown all year. The headspring is a National Natural Landmark as formally noted by the US. Department of the Interior.

May through September is prime tubing time, and October through March is scuba diving season.

It is considered the most pristine spring-fed river in the state with 230 million gallons of fresh water flowing daily within the 2,241-acre park.
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Concern for profit takes shine off Silver Springs

Published July 20, 2008 Opinion
With the addition of theme parks around Florida, Silver Springs, of course, lost appeal to the roller-coaster enthusiasts. However, there is still a lot that Silver Springs can offer today’s public. The park added a concert venue years ago that brought a major influx of visitors. The concerts breathed new life into an otherwise suffering park.

What kind of management is running our beloved park?

They are Palace Entertainment, a huge conglomerate based in California. They manage a list of various theme parks around the United States. Palace Entertainment, in turn, is held by a company in Spain. These people have no concern to run Silver Springs professionally. They are about one thing: Making a profit.
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Guest column: Mayor declares war on crime, continues cleanup of the river

Published 7/20/2008
We have no greater gift than the St. Johns River. The 45,000 jobs it provides, the tourism it draws and the ecosystem it feeds are crucial to the prosperity of our city.

But our river is sick. The algae blooms two years ago were a clear indication of its failing health. The health department labeled 54 of its 71 tributaries as unsafe or hazardous.

For years, Jacksonville leaders have talked about the need to clean up our river. We are committed to that effort and will invest $700 million, along with our partners, over the next 10 years to restoring the health of the lower St. Johns.
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Balancing act

Published July 20, 2008 Opinion
By any measure, water is critical to environmental and economic health. Pollute it sufficiently and it becomes virtually useless for drinking and recreation. But entire economies and communities would die if lakes, rivers and oceans were off limits to commerce.

Balance must be the objective.

In a broad sense, achieving a better balance is the goal of a lawsuit filed in federal court last week in Tallahassee by five environmental groups. They sued the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, contending that the EPA is violating the federal Clean Water Act by not setting new limits for urban and agricultural runoff that fuels algae blooms in Florida waterways.
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Jump Into Blue Spring

Published July 20, 2008
As summer heats up, Blue Spring State Park is the perfect place to picnic and cool down.

The head waters of the spring feature wide steps, which are perfect for your dismount into the water. You can just pull up here and sit down. But be ready, it's a balmy 72 degrees.

Scuba divers enjoy plunging into the 110-foot deep hole where clean water boils forth from the Florida Aquifer.
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St. Johns staff favors letting bottler tap into water

Published July 18, 2008
California-based Niagara Bottling LLC should be given a five-year permit to take Florida fresh water from the ground for resale, according to a staff recommendation submitted to the governing board of the St. Johns River Water Management District. The company, which is assembling a $15 million water-bottling plant near Groveland, wants a 20-year permit.
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State agency has concerns about 'monster pipe'

Published July 19, 2008
Marion County officials don’t want to see their plan to cut down on the pollution flowing to the Silver River through the State Road 40 “monster pipe” turn into a pipe dream. But officials with one state office have concerns the county’s solution could actually lead to pollution.

Meanwhile, four years after Ocala and county officials first started to try to solve the monster pipe problem, untreated stormwater and all the oil, grease and chemicals it carries, from a 2½ mile of stretch of SR 40 starting at Southeast 25th Avenue, continues to flow through the 52-inch wide pipe’s mouth into a creek feeding the Silver River.
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