Action Alert: Zoning Change Application for High Density Development on the Ichetucknee Trace on March 5th.

High density land use developments are often the death knell of the health of our robust Springs’ Heartland. A townhouse development project over the Ichetucknee Trace threatens to disturb the underground flow of water that is feeding Ichetucknee Springs and spring run. The “seepage springs” North of Alligator Lake form the headwaters of the Ichetucknee Springs.

This proposed development is within a downward sloping gradient and is prone to erosion, run off, land subsidence, and ground seepage from further upstream and higher ground. This is an existing naturally hilly and undulating landscaped community of Lake City. 

In this Lake City community some residents spoke in favor of the current housing allotment, ie. one house, parking, and small storage per 1/4 acre; not 16 townhouses on 1.7 acres. There is a need for erosion control such as terracing which has been used on these private properties.

Interestingly, Columbia County Tourism Development agency is using. “Springs Lands” as a new tagline. These “seepage springs” and the freshwater systems generate value and worth inside the Headwaters of the Ichetucknee Springs. The Ichetucknee State Park is the prize jewel not only for Columbia County, but also to the Florida State Park System which is often rated #1 in many awards and kudos for its utterly magnificent spring run.

Whether or not this gets permitted, we are once again at a pivotal time in our clean water future of North Central Florida’s Springs and freshwater systems which of course includes our own drinking water. Please, to “save our springs” we need to do better with education. If the State says it’s OK to build high density on top of spring-water traces, then people think it really is OK. Behind the permitting activity, we have watched the lamenting of these decisions.

This Google Map link shows the exact location of the property. The location in question is the entire right hand street here in this link. Take a drive on SE Magnolia Loop and see.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/bcffvmiMsVnDwhxB7

“Seepage springs” exist above many lakes in this region of Florida and these springs never stop flowing except under extreme dry spells. They fill the lakes in the next bottom basin, and they are everywhere in North Central Florida. Many people have some sort of seepage, or water flow…that is if you chose to live with the Cody Escarpment off of The Ridge.

The question we must all ask is whether conventional building in these locations is sustainable considering the importance of our natural spring system. We live on top of one of the most active and prolific freshwater aquifers on the planet, homes here need to accommodate the flow and for the sake of all of human and natural health, protect it from toxic pollution.

Recognizing and respecting the natural flow of water will invariably improve all the homes’ built foundations in this community.  It may mean buying properties or correcting the current construction for flow. “Fallingwater” by Frank Lloyd Wright comes to mind.

What you can do:

Contact by phone or email Lake City Planning and Zoning Dept ASAP. They will meet at 5:30 in pm Lake City on March 5th. Raise the alarm that the water ‘trace’ that feeds the Ichetucknee springs and the spring run is at risk.

Talking points may include

• High density zoning change is a direct threat to Ichetucknee Springs.
• The area is environmentally sensitive due to seepage springs that feed Alligator lake and the Ichetucknee Trace.
• This high density townhouse development threatens to disturb the underground flow of water that is feeding Ichetucknee Springs and spring run
• During the past two years, no Environmental Resource Permit (ERP) has been secured while clearing, prepping and the city has even installed wastewater sewer without this important permit in place.
• Downsloping seepage has been impacting existing building foundations’ in this neighborhood for decades. 
• Two new houses just got permitted and built directly on top of a seepage discharge and are already showing signs of subsidence.  The mounds of dirt for both properties have already washed into low lying neighbors’ yards and the street. 

City employees tell citizens “a water line” was hit where seepage springs are present. The city employees keep patching the streets that are collapsing from the underground flow. The seepage should flow naturally. The more interaction with this seepage system the worse it is for this neighborhood and downstream impacts from human run off and pollution.

As residents in these springs’ filled lands, we must steward these important systems for the next generations, otherwise they will be left wondering why we didn’t do more to save our springs?