Water district must start working for us, the taxpayers
Thu, 24 Jul 2008 22:19:00
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 |
Peyton signs ‘historic’ bills
Thu, 24 Jul 2008 22:13:00
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.
Source |
Makai Kayak & Kanoe Marks First Anniversary
Thu, 24 Jul 2008 11:30:00
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. |
The Florida Boat Ramps and Photos Map
Wed, 23 Jul 2008 01:56:00
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 |
Seminole County water board opposes St. Johns withdrawal
Tue, 22 Jul 2008 02:24:00
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
Tue, 22 Jul 2008 02:21:00
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.
Source |
Fla. to Ga.: Water war not just about mussels
Tue, 22 Jul 2008 02:18:00
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. |
Florida Springs for the Family
Mon, 21 Jul 2008 21:06:00
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, |
Tubing the Ichetucknee a cool way to spend a hot summer day
Sun, 20 Jul 2008 23:07:00
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 |
Concern for profit takes shine off Silver Springs
Sun, 20 Jul 2008 22:59:00
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 |
Guest column: Mayor declares war on crime, continues cleanup of the river
Sun, 20 Jul 2008 22:57:00
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 |
Balancing act
Sun, 20 Jul 2008 13:30:00
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 |
Jump Into Blue Spring
Sun, 20 Jul 2008 06:26:00
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 |
St. Johns staff favors letting bottler tap into water
Sun, 20 Jul 2008 06:24:00
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.
Source |
State agency has concerns about 'monster pipe'
Sun, 20 Jul 2008 06:24:00
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 |
Mystery Over How River Became the Big Muddy St. Johns River Sediment Can Damage Underwater Plants and Kill Small Sea Life.
Sun, 20 Jul 2008 06:22:00
Published 18 July 2008
The dark water of the St. Johns River turned a creamy coffee color Thursday afternoon as rainstorms poured thick sediment into the waterway in downtown Jacksonville.
Turbid water streamed through McCoys Creek and created a plume of muddy water starting south of the creek and reaching toward the Main Street bridge. The spill's source wasn't certain Thursday.
Source |
Jumping Sturgeon Strike Fishermen on Yellow River
Sun, 20 Jul 2008 06:21:00
Published July 18, 2008
Two brothers from Milton were struck by a sturgeon estimated at 5-6 feet long on June 28 in the Yellow River in Northwest Florida while bass fishing. But neither of them needed medical attention
Source |
Environmental groups sue EPA
Sun, 20 Jul 2008 06:20:00
Published July 17, 2008
Five environmental groups filed a federal lawsuit against the Environmental Protection Agency today, saying state and federal officials have done nothing in 10 years to set pollution limits for lakes, rivers and springs that are being damaged by algae blooms.
Source |
Huge, jumping fish active on Suwannee River
Sun, 20 Jul 2008 06:15:00
Published 7/16/2008
The sturgeon that have been spotted jumping in the river are about four feet long and weigh about 40 pounds.
Sturgeon migrated to the Suwannee River in the spring to spawn. In the fall, they’ll migrate back to the Gulf.
The Suwannee River holds the largest viable population of sturgeon -- there are about 6,500 to 7,500 sturgeon in the 60-mile stretch of the river.
Source |
Palm Bay project could alter path of stormwater
Fri, 18 Jul 2008 01:16:00
Published July 17, 2008
It has rained many days in Palm Bay during the past two months, pushing volumes of fresh water into the Indian River Lagoon.
But a project the St. Johns River Water Management District currently is working on would stop the flow of about 60 percent of that water into the lagoon and divert it instead to the St. Johns River -- as happened before engineers dug canals over |
Rain keeps algae away from St. Johns River
Fri, 18 Jul 2008 01:12:00
Published 7/17/2008
“Algae started out in the end of May or June looking like it was going to bloom a bit, but within the last month rain has made the blooms nonexistent,” said Kraig McLane, the St. Johns River Water Management District lower basin program manager.
Near the Dames Point Bridge in Jacksonville, where salt and fresh water meet, is one area where the effects of algae die-off on fish |
Teenagers Learn Environmental Lessons at SEEK 2008 Conference
Fri, 18 Jul 2008 01:10:00
Published 07-17-2008
Teenagers from across Florida took over the Lodge at Wakulla Springs Park for two 4-day sessions in July. The 2008 SEEK environmental conference attracted 62 high school students from as far away as Miami Beach to the conference’s new home near Tallahassee.
SEEK (Save the Earth’s Environment through Knowledge) is sponsored by the Florida Federation of Garden Clubs. Lynn |
Lithia Springs Park (Hillsborough County)
Thu, 17 Jul 2008 02:18:00
Picture of Lithia Springs Major below was taken 7/14/2008
More Photos
3932 Lithia Springs Road
Lithia, FL 33547
Contact: (813) 744-5572
Cost: $1 per person
Hours:
Spring 8 am - 6 pm (M-F) 8 am - 7 pm (Sa, Su)
Summer 8 am - 7 pm (M-F) 8 am - 8 pm (Sa, Su)
Fall/Winter 8 am - 6 pm
Park Brochure (PDF)
Park Map (PDF)
Outfitter:
Alafia River Canoe Rentals, Inc.
4419 River Drive
Valrico, FL |
Silver Glen Springs (Marion County)
Thu, 17 Jul 2008 02:17:00
Picture taken 7/8/2008
More Photos |
Is the water safe?
Thu, 17 Jul 2008 01:56:00
Published July 15, 2008
Bacteria, and rarely amoeba, do indeed float around in lakes and other bodies of water that don’t have much movement, especially when the weather gets hot. Sometimes their levels are too high and can be a danger to swimmers’ health.
In the past two decades, there has been an increase in the number of recreational water illness outbreaks associated with swimming pools, |
Florida Springs News
