The following is now in the Gainesville Sun online and will appear in the February 27, 2022 Issues of the printed newspaper. We again express our appreciation to Lu Merritt and Nathan Crabbe for the springs series currently running, and to all the grass roots workers desperately trying to do what our state agencies are failing to do.
Comments by OSFR historian Jim Tatum.
jim.tatum@oursantaferiver.org
– A river is like a life: once taken,
it cannot be brought back © Jim Tatum
OPINION
Florida’s springs are in peril because state agencies are failing to protect them
February 23, 2022
Dive in now while there is still water
The Suwannee River Water Management District recently issued a press release with the headline, “Dive in to Preserve Our Springs, Improve Water Quality.” Explaining more, it goes on to say that the district has a campaign that “brings educational resources” to residents and is “an initiative to preserve and protect those unique resources and empower the community to take ownership and pride in being stewards of the region’s natural resources.”
After describing the beauty and attractions of the springs, the release mentions that they are threatened by “decreasing spring flows and excessive nutrients.”
Well, we wonder why. What is causing decreased spring flows, and why are there excessive nutrients?
We enthusiastically support the district’s campaign and its goals to protect springs. However, if it wants to educate, it should reveal that the springs and rivers in North Florida under its jurisdiction are dying and have been for decades. Nature photographer John Moran writes: “The most magnificent springs on the planet are dying on our watch. This is no accident; this is negligent homicide.”
These special names serve only to hoodwink the public into believing that they will provide protection, when in reality the district continues to issue pumping permits for agriculture, water bottling plants and just about anything someone wants water for. Much noise is made about reducing fertilizer, but only very recently has the Florida Department of Agriculture made an attempt to monitor how much fertilizer is being applied.
Here we must point out that at this rate we will not have any flowing springs 217 years from now.
If we examine the motive and sincerity of this press release, it is but another example of self-aggrandizement meant to mislead the public and cover up the fact that our springs are in peril because our water districts and the Department of Environmental Protection are failing to protect them.
Jim Tatum is a board member of Our Santa Fe River who lives in Tampa.
