| What's On This Page: - Wes Skiles - Florida Springs - How to protect Florida Springs |
Three Rivers'
ICHETUCKNEE VIEWS
About the Ichetucknee
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| Florida Springs · Florida’s 700 springs are a world class resource that provide natural, recreational and economic values for the people of Florida. · The largest springs are first magnitude which means their flow is 65 million gallons or more per day. Florida has 33 first magnitude springs; more than any other state or country. · Springs are owned by 2 federal and 3 state agencies, 3 water management districts, 12 counties, 5 cities and many corporations and private citizens. · There are 48 springs in Florida’s state parks; more than are managed by any other entity. The annual attendance of the 16 state parks named for springs is 2.5 million generating a direct economic impact of $121 million. · The 600 manatees that live the farthest north in Florida are dependent on springs as warm water refuges for their survival during the winter. · Several of Florida’s rivers are created by springs including the Wekiva, Wakulla, Wacissa, Rainbow, Homosassa and Silver Rivers. · Springs occur in 40 counties from Tampa, Orlando and Deland, north and west to DeFuniak Springs. · Springs have been magnets for people since the earliest times. They have been the locations of Indian villages, Spanish missions, a trading post, forts, steamboat landings, grist mills, post offices, hotels and towns. · The crystal clear waters of our springs were popular movie sets for decades. Thirty four movies have been filmed at Silver, Weeki Wachee and Wakulla Springs. · Florida’s multimillion dollar bottled spring water industry is dependent on 9 springs for their water supply. · The values of a spring: scenic beauty, fish and wildlife, and recreation are dependent upon water; however protection of the water must occur in the springshed before it reaches the spring. · We use to believe that a spring could be protected by buying it and making it a state park. Manatee Spring was purchased by the state in 1949 and 16 other springs -- the best of the best --have been purchased since then. But now we know that although state acquisition protects the hole where the water flows from the aquifer, it does not protect the water and without the water, all we have is a hole in the ground. · The source of spring water is the rain that falls on the springshed. If more water is withdrawn from the spring’s aquifer then is recharged by rain, the spring will cease to flow. Kissengen Spring, Hampton Spring, Fenholloway Spring, White Spring, and Worthington Spring --- no longer flow. · Springs are the vents of the aquifer. What ever we apply to the landscape in the springshed, in time, will flow from these natural drains. These contaminants include nitrates from livestock wastes, septic tanks, and wastewater sprayfields, and fertilizer from lawns, pastures and golf courses. Over 800 tons of nitrate flow from Silver Springs each year. Chinese Proverb: In order to protect the water we must protect the land. · Nitrate is a nutrient that is degrading the ecology of our springs. The natural level of nitrate in spring water was .02 milligrams per liter (mg/l). Ecological degradation is occurring in springs before nitrate levels reach 1.0 mg/l. The diversity and abundance of birds and other wildlife are declining and algae is smothering the native aquatic plants. · Antihistamines, anticonvulsants, the repellent DEET, and an herbicide have been found in the waters of Ichetucknee Springs. Bacteria have permanently closed springs to swimming including Sulphur Spring, Gemini Springs, Health Spring, Hornsby Spring and occasionally Rock Spring and Volusia Blue Spring. Who would want to swim in algae choked Royal Spring? · We must take action in the springshed before the water reaches the spring and without further delay. · The Department of Environmental Protection’s Springs Initiative has provided funding for springs protection strategies including education, research, monitoring, and best management practices annually since 2001. Stronger regulations are needed to require enhanced land use planning policies, septic tank and wastewater treatment plant up-grades, and other needs. · In conclusion: writer Al Burt said “All of Florida’s common folk need to stand a little taller if Florida’s springs are to survive. Good citizens and good government must act. The good will of the people will become political action. |
| How to Protect Florida Springs Goal: To protect springs by protecting the quality and quantity of the water flowing to the springs. Land Use Planning · Establish spring basin protection zones within one year. (Water Management District and County) · Amend Local Comprehensive Plans to protect spring water quantity and quality within one year. Require coordination of land use and water supply. (City, County, Regional Planning Council, Department of Community Affairs and Water Management District) · Amend the Regional Planning Council Plan to protect springs within one year. (Regional Planning Council) Regulations · Establish nutrient criteria for springs within one year. (Department of Environmental Protection) · Establish a TMDL and implement a BMAP for water quality protection of impaired springs within three years. (Department of Environmental Protection) · Require nitrogen reducing septic systems for new houses and commercial buildings in the protection zone on parcels less than 5 acres. Systems shall reduce nitrogen to at least 10 mg/l. Local governments shall institute a management program to maintain these systems. Conventional septic tanks in the spring basin shall be inspected every 5 years and when the property is sold. Failing systems shall be upgraded. (County and Department of Health) · Develop a wastewater facilities plan for the spring basin within two years. (City, County and Department of Environmental Protection) · Upgrade existing wastewater facilities in the spring basin to advanced wastewater treatment to reduce nitrates to at least 3 mg/l within 5 years. Extend central sewer where feasible to eliminate septic tanks and require hook-ups. (City, County and Department of Environmental Protection) · Develop a master stormwater management plan for the spring basin and approve a karst protection rule within two years. (City, County and Water Management District) · Protect historic spring flow using best available data within two years. (Water Management District) · Require incentives and enforce all applicable water conservation methods and technology within one year. (City, County and Water Management District) Land Uses of Special Concern Unless it is demonstrated that there will be no net increase in nitrogen loads to the aquifer, the following land uses shall not be located in the spring protection zone. · New municipal and industrial wastewater disposal systems. · Land application of wastewater treatment plant and septic tank residuals. · New conventional septic tanks. · New rapid infiltration basins. · New facilities for the transfer, storage or disposal of hazardous waste. · New landfills. · New limerock mines. · Dairy waste disposal. Best Management Practices · Agricultural operations are required to implement applicable best management practices in the spring protection zone within one year. (Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services) Land Acquisition · Acquire vulnerable areas in the protection zone within three years. (Water Management District and Department of Environmental Protection) · Fund Florida Forever within one year. (Legislature) Monitoring · Monitor spring water quality, discharge, ecology, and human use and produce a report card every three years describing the health of the spring. (Department of Environmental Protection and Water Management District) Funding · Provide funding for wastewater facilities, septic systems, stormwater management upgrades and monitoring. (Legislature, City, County, and Water Management District) · Establish the “Florida Springs Protection Trust Fund” to be funded by a tax on bottled water. (Legislature) |
| And below is Evelyn Johnson posing with The Creature From the Black Lagoon filmed at Wakulla Springs. |
| Ichetucknee Springs Basin Working Group: Wes Skiles I am saddened to inform you that our good friend and colleague, Wes Skiles died yesterday while filming for National Geographic in the ocean off of Palm Beach. Wes was an influential member of the Florida Springs Task Force. He was a foremost authority on Florida’s springs and passionate about their importance and need for protection. His years of cave diving exploration in north Florida’s springs led to the finest films ever created about our springs. Wes felt strongly about the need to educate Floridians about springs. One of our task force priorities in our 2000 report was to produce an educational film. This was one of the first projects funded by the Springs Initiative and resulted in “Waters Journey: Hidden Rivers of Florida” which premiered at the Florida Springs Conference in Gainesville in 2003. Prior to Waters Journey, Wes filmed “Polluting the Fountain of Youth” that focused on the Ichetucknee. It was aired nationwide on the Discovery Channel in 1998. The task force presented Wes the Florida Springs Educational Award at the first Florida Springs Conference for this outstanding contribution. Both films awakened Floridians to the plight of our springs. Wes produced other films including “Protecting Florida’s Springs” designed to influence county commissions in springs country and more recently “The Springs Heartland” produced for the Suwannee River Water Management District. Wes was also the catalyst for the National Geographic Magazine article “North Florida’s Springs” in the March 1999 publication. Wes was a charter member of the Ichetucknee Springs Basin Working Group. He attended our first meeting at O'leno State Park in 1995 when we recognized that he knew more about the hydrology of the Ichetucknee then anyone else on the working group. Wes was bigger then life. His laughter would lighten every meeting and his passion for springs protection stirred people to action. He stood ready to do whatever was needed. As we were preparing for the Florida Springs Rally to be held at the Capitol in February, Wes said “Tell me what you want me to do.” I asked that he film the rally and give an inspirational presentation to the audience about how our springs have deteriorated since he has known them. He did both exceedingly well. Florida’s springs have lost their most influential champion and we have lost a special friend. Jim Stevenson |