Unfortunately, many of Florida's springs are in serious decline. Our springs have been significantly impacted by encroaching development, pollution, and excessive groundwater withdrawals.
One of our most iconic springs, Silver Springs, has experienced dramatic decreases in flow (over 50% in the last 50 years) and increases in nitrate levels in recent years (176% increase).
The health of Silver Springs could be further degraded by a proposed cattle operation that would be located within its springshed. The Adena Springs Ranch wants a permit to withdraw over 13 million gallons of water a day (MGD) from the aquifer to irrigate pasture lands for 30,000 head of cattle and a slaughterhouse.
This is more water than the entire city of Ocala uses on a daily basis!
We are already withdrawing water from the aquifer at a rate that is unsustainable. JEA and all of us in Northeast Florida are contributing to this problem. The health of Silver Springs is already in serious decline. Silver Springs is an important source of clean, fresh water for the St. Johns River system. It feeds the Silver River that flows into the Ocklawaha which is the largest tributary of the St. Johns River.
So, a new website (www.iLoveSprings.org (http://www.ilovesprings.org)) and facebook page (www.facebook.com/ilovesprings (http://www.facebook.com/ilovesprings)) have been created to raise awareness about this issue and the plight of our springs and groundwater resources.
Help save Silver Springs!
Thanks for posting about this. I went to the links to post a comment on the SJRWMD website, which basically is that the applicant should be limited to the number of the cattle that the land can naturally support (with rainfall to keep the grass growing). We can't keep giving away our natural resources like this and expect them to last much longer.
Quit building golf courses! Reduce the amount of water they are allowed to use. Close a few.
Nope, as a matter of fact I don't play. But I can't imagine anything - farming excepted - that uses more acquirer water than all those courses in Florida - the golfing capital of the world according to the license plates.
It is about time we focus on the the St.Johns headwater systems.
For the longest time,there has existed general public awareness that the Everglades "System" is composed of elements extending North to Orlando; the Kissimmee River,along with general reference and awareness that the St Johns River is composed of elements extending South to Orlando.
There has been less awareness that the largest tributary system of the St Johns extends far south and to the West of Orlando.
In fact,during the earliest days of the Jacksonville Riverkeeper organization,in a spirit of consensus and outreach,there was agreement to not disagree over the Ocklawaha Rodman Reservoir,a vestige of the Cross Florida Barge Canal.
(Gainesville based Florida Defenders of the Environment formed in response to the Barge Canal proposal and desires to preserve the Ocklawaha River.FDE's own David White traveled to Jacksonville to spearhead the creation of the Jacksonville Riverkeper organization.the Rodman impasse was chalked up to "Jacksonville".)
Green Giants are breaking free of bindings.
Thank you too "Robin " Lewis of Salt Springs..........your 'come to Jesus' meetings with organizations and on the ground knowledge,coupled with comfort with ' bullets whizzing through the air ' is empowering.
http://www.ocala.com/article/20110806/ARTICLES/110809747/1402/NEWS?p=1&tc=pg
According to Roberts, Stronach’s vision is to raise, harvest and sell all-natural, hormone-free, grass-fed beef cattle to supply to his “built-in customer base†in his other operations throughout the country, as well as to restaurants.
http://www.ocala.com/article/20120404/articles/120409888
"This is not a done deal," Neil Chonin, attorney with Southern Legal Counsel, told the 200 people at the meeting. "The (water district's) governing board is not the final word."
Quote from: riverkeepered on April 07, 2012, 10:11:46 PM
Ocklawaha which is the largest
BOY THEY GOT THAT PART RIGHT!
OCK... LOL
GLASS BOTTOM BOAT! (not urbandictionary style) LOL
Scare the heck out of the representatives, take them to the mud bogs in Keystone Heights, which used to be large lakes.
Here are some scary and sad stats for you about Silver Springs. The reduced flow and pollution problems are unfortunately similar for many of our springs.
According to Dr. Bob Knight, Director of the Florida Springs Institute, and the Silver Springs 50-year Retrospective Study:
• Flows have declined by 32% during the past decade and 50% since 1965
• NO3-N has increased by 176% (2,600% over the entire period of record of more than 100 years)
• Water clarity has decreased
• Nighttime dissolved oxygen has declined by about 19%
• Submerged aquatic plant biomass has declined by 21%
• Total algal biomass has increased by 371%
• Ecosystem productivity has declined by 27%
• Insect productivity has declined by 72%
• Fish biomass has declined by 92%
Quote from: mtraininjax on April 10, 2012, 07:20:16 AM
Scare the heck out of the representatives, take them to the mud bogs in Keystone Heights, which used to be large lakes.
The Reps have already responded. Answer is to pump water up,to the lakes.Not making this up. See Evergladeshub.
Quote from: riverkeepered on April 15, 2012, 04:47:08 PM• Fish biomass has declined by 92%
I wonder how much the removal of the Rodman Dam would improve this statistic?
If you haven't read the book Ditch of Dreams it's a pretty good story about the history of the barge canal and the struggle to remove the last two major pieces of it left on the Ocklawaha (Eureka Dam and the Rodman Resivoir/Dam)
And every time they try to remove the dam, fishermen raise bloody heck, and everyone backs down.
Quote from: Debbie Thompson on April 16, 2012, 12:39:47 PM
And every time they try to remove the dam, fishermen raise bloody heck, and everyone backs down.
Damn the Dam!
-Josh
Feds to take renewed look at Rodman dam
http://www.news4jax.com/news/Feds-to-take-renewed-look-at-Rodman-dam/-/475880/10955640/-/xi53q3/-/index.html (http://www.news4jax.com/news/Feds-to-take-renewed-look-at-Rodman-dam/-/475880/10955640/-/xi53q3/-/index.html)
It is critical that we protect the aquifer and Silver Springs AND restore the flow of the Ocklawaha. The health of the St. Johns River depends upon it.
The aquifer is the source of Silver Springs which flows into the Silver River, an Outstanding Florida Water, and then into the Ocklawaha, a designated Aquatic Preserve and the largest tributary of the St. Johns River.
Here's a chance to learn more about this issue by attending the Silver Springs & Florida's Imperiled Waters Forum on May 15th at the Wyndham.
Dr. Bob Knight, Director of the Florida Springs Institute, and other experts will be discussing the declining health of many of our springs and waterways and the threats to Silver Springs from the proposed cattle operation in Marion County.
Find out more at www.iLoveSprings.org (http://www.ilovesprings.org) or on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/events/219443394833637/ (http://www.facebook.com/events/219443394833637/).
Saltwater seeping into irrigation supply for farmers in St. Johns County
http://staugustine.firstcoastnews.com/news/news/77981-saltwater-seeping-irrigation-supply-farmers
(http://staugustine.firstcoastnews.com/news/news/77981-saltwater-seeping-irrigation-supply-farmers)
Also, consider this editorial from Ocala Star-Banner:
Will the Silver Springs become all dried up?
[urlhttp://www.ocala.com/article/20120506/COLUMNISTS/120509811][/url]
QuoteOver the course of those eight decades, the average flow has measured 727 cubic feet per second (cfs). The highest measurement was in 1960, at 1,130 cfs. The lowest was, well, last month.
As Lee recited the USGS figures, he pointed out that in 2000, Silver Springs' flow rate dropped below 500 cfs for the first time. A year later, in March 2001, it fell below 400 cfs for the first time; and last month, it fell below 300 cfs for the first time.
Silver Springs Forum on Tuesday, May 15th at the Wyndham - www.iLoveSprings.org (http://www.ilovesprings.org)
Sad stuff :(
Ron Littlepage says time is running out for Florida's springs.
http://jacksonville.com/opinion/blog/400601/ron-littlepage/2012-05-18/time-running-out-floridas-springs (http://jacksonville.com/opinion/blog/400601/ron-littlepage/2012-05-18/time-running-out-floridas-springs)
Not if we all get involved and do something about it. Governor Scott has got to know that Floridians want to protect our natural resources. http://www.flgov.com/contact-gov-scott/ (http://www.flgov.com/contact-gov-scott/)
Protecting our springs and water resources is absolutely critical to our economic future and quality of life.
Unfortunately, most people are not aware of the significant pollution problems that exist and the impact we are having on our springs, lakes, rivers and aquifer from overpumping.
If you care about springs, watch this inspiring presentation by renowned nature photographer John Moran from the "Silver Springs and Florida's Imperiled Waters Forum." The before and after photos of springs is startling.
John Moran
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NninVcnjII8&feature=relmfu
(http://john%20moran
Also, watch Senator Bob Graham's speech from this past weekend's "Speak Up for Silver Springs" event at Silver River State Park. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ue5LK_KZWwM (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ue5LK_KZWwM)
Don't be fooled by all the rain. Our water woes have not been resolved. We still have water supply problems and nutrients are still polluting our waterways.
This issue has received statewide attention as Senator Graham, the Florida Conservation Coalition (www.floridaconservationcoalition.org (http://www.floridaconservationcoalition.org)), conservation groups, and concerned citizens throughout the state have rallied around Silver Springs as a posterchild for our water problems in Florida.
It has also received national attention in the New York Times - http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/23/us/florida-worries-as-growth-threatens-its-freshwater-springs.html?_r=1&pagewanted=all (http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/23/us/florida-worries-as-growth-threatens-its-freshwater-springs.html?_r=1&pagewanted=all).
Now, it is getting the attention of an international audience - http://www.canada.com/technology/Stronach+controversial+cattle+ranch+plan+moooves+toward+deadline/7083918/story.html (http://www.canada.com/technology/Stronach+controversial+cattle+ranch+plan+moooves+toward+deadline/7083918/story.html).
If we can't save Silver Springs, then what can we save? The bottom line is that clean water and a healthy environment are key to Florida's economic future. We better wake up soon, as we are on the verge of destroying Florida's most precious assets.
Speaking about Silver Springs. Are they ever going to remove Rodman Dam?
Quote from: acme54321 on August 21, 2012, 08:16:34 AM
Speaking about Silver Springs. Are they ever going to remove Rodman Dam?
No!
I'm sure Scott does not care about Silver Springs. Caring about Florida's water would impede cattle, and industrial and other business that damage our resources. Just follow the money from Georgia Pacific, Sugar, Nestle, etc.
I took my grandchildren to Silver Springs recently. I had not been there in about 25 years. How sad. The formerly pristine white sand in the main springs was covered with algae. Little bits of white peeking through. The schools of fish that used to swim under the glass bottomed boats were gone. We saw maybe a dozen fish the whole trip. While you used to be able to detect the flow of water gushing from the springs by the sheer volume of it, you couldn't even tell any longer. It understand the flow has been reduced by something like half.
We can set aside the health of the historic Silver Springs tourist attraction, first opened in the 1870's. I hope it can make it, but with the state of the Silver River, it's iffy. Plus, Mickey Mouse destroyed all our "Old Florida" attractions like Silver Springs, Rainbow Springs, etc. They couldn't compete.
But the rivers themselves...they need to be saved. I was shocked at the state of the Silver River when I saw it. In only 25 years.
A big part of the blame here belongs with the various water management districts around the state approving these withdrawals from the aquifer.