Great news! It appears there is a good chance that Blue Springs in Gilchrist County on the Santa Fe River will become a state park. The date in Tallahassee is June 19, and the time to act is now. At the end of this post is a list of the Acquisition and Restoration Council (called ARC), council and staff members. Please write to any or all of them to request that they purchase this spring and surrounding land. Blue Springs seems made to order for what the people had in mind when they voted in Amendment 1.
Blue Springs is a second magnitude spring producing approximately 40 million gallons of fresh clean spring water each day. There are 4 large springs and 2 smaller springs on the property, which includes 5 parcels with multiple buildings and 25 campsites with electric and water. In addition there are 100+ primitive campsites, nature trails, and a boardwalk to the Santa Fe River.
Thanks to Charlie Houder, ex-SRWMD employee, for listing some good reasons, which you can mention, or you can add your own.
Among the plus factors is that Blue Spring is categorized just short of a first magnitude spring, with a large discharge. It is one of Florida’s major springs.
Wildlife is of value: it boasts ten species of turtles, second only to the Ichetucknee in the Santa Fe basin. It has very high populations of snails, one of which, Elimia sp. is important for controlling nuisance algae.
The surrounding land totals nearly 400 acres, which would then be protected from development and would further enhance the overall designation of the Santa Fe as an Outstanding Florida Waterway, ecological greenway, and paddling trail.
The venue is already a park and has recreational facilities for swimming, camping and picnicking.
Thanks again go to Charlie Houder for the following list of ARC contacts.
ACQUISITION AND RESTORATION COUNCIL (ARC)
Hank Vinson, Staff Director
Office of Environmental Services, Division of State Lands, Department of Environmental Protection 3900 Commonwealth Boulevard, M.S. 140 Tallahassee, Florida 32399-3000 (850) 245-2713 hank.vinson@dep.state.fl.us
COUNCIL MEMBERS STAFF MEMBERS*
Department of Environmental Protection
Chair
Gary Clark, Deputy Secretary for Land and Recreation Designee for Secretary Jonathon Steverson 3900 Commonwealth Blvd., M.S. 44 Tallahassee, Florida 32399-3000 (850) 245-2043
gary.clark@dep.state.fl.us
Beth Alvi*
Bureau. of Watershed Restoration
Division of Environmental Assessment & Restoration 2600 Blair Stone Road, M.S. 3570 Tallahassee, Florida 32399-2400 (850) 245-7514 elizabeth.alvi@dep.state.fl.us
Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
Eric Sutton, Assistant Executive Director Designee for Nick Wiley, Executive Director 620 South Meridian Street Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1600 (850) 488-3831 eric.sutton@myfwc.com
Gary Cochran* Marathon Building-Koger Center
2574 Seagate Drive, Suite 203 Tallahassee, Florida 32301 (850) 487-9185
gary.cochran@myfwc.com
Florida Forest Service, Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
James (Jim) Karels, Director Administration Building, C-25 3125 Conner Boulevard, Room 228 Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1650 (850) 681-5825
James.Karels@freshfromflorida.com
John Browne* Administration Building, C-25
3125 Conner Boulevard, Room 236 Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1650 (850) 681-5818
john.browne@freshfromflorida.com
Larame Ferry* Administration Building, C- 25,
3125 Conner Boulevard, Room 240 Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1650 (850) 681-5816
larame.ferry@freshfromflorida.com
Division of Historical Resources, Department of State
Rob Bendus, Director R.A. Gray Building, Room 305
500 South Bronough Street, M.S. 4 Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0250 (850) 245-6338
robert.bendus@dos.myflorida.com
Mike Wisenbaker*
B. Calvin Jones Center for Archaeology Governor Martin House, M.S. 8B
1001 De Soto Park Dr. Tallahassee, FL 32301
(850) 245-6318
mike.wisenbaker@dos.myflorida.com
Julia Byrd*
B. Calvin Jones Center for Archaeology Governor Martin House, M.S. 8B
1001 De Soto Park Dr. Tallahassee, FL 32301
(850) 245-6318
julia.byrd@dos.myflorida.com
DACS Appointee
FWC Appointee
Vice Chair Lynetta Usher Griner
Usher Land & Timber, Inc. P.O. Box 1819,Chiefland, FL 32644
(352) 493-4221 or 493-2568
Bill Palmer, PhD, President
Tall Timbers Research Station and Land Conservancy 13093 Henry Beadel Drive, Tallahassee, Florida 32312 (850)i893-4153 x264
Governor Appointees
Mark Middlebrook, Executive Director St. Johns River Alliance 2029 North 3rd Street Jacksonville, Florida 32250 (904) 247-1972
Elva Peppers, Project Manager and Senior Biologist Florida Environmental and Land Services, Inc. 221-4 Delta Court Tallahassee, Florida 32303 (850) 385-6255
info@felsi.org
Maurice “Mo” Pearson President, 3E Consultants
7320 Narcoossee Road, Suite A Orlando, FL 32822 (407) 629-8180
mpearson@3e-c.com
John T. (Jack) Vogel
President, CEO, Natural Resource Planning Services Post Office Box 564 San Antonio, FL 33576
(352) 588-2580 office
jackv@nrpsforesters.com
Additional ARC Support Staff
DEP/
Other DEP
Office of Environmental Services Division of State Lands
3900 Commonwealth Blvd., M.S. 140 Tallahassee, Florida 32399-3000 (Carr Building, 3rd Floor) Phone (850) 245-2784
Marianne Gengenbach, Chief Avis Lockett, Govt. Op. Consult. I
marianne.gengenbach@dep.state.fl.us
Land Conservation Planning: Paula Allen, Program Administrator
Sheryl Boutin, Op. & Mgmt. Consult. Mgr. Jimmy Hamby, Program Analyst Tom Butler, Govt. Op. Consult I paula.l.allen@dep.state.fl.us Land Management Planning:
Keith Singleton, Program Administrator Aric Larson, Govt. Analyst III Bart Bibler, Govt. Analyst II Hank Vinson, Govt. Analyst II
Division of State Lands Kelley Boree, Director Mail Station 100 (850) 245-2555
kelley.boree@dep.state.fl.us
Florida Natural Areas Inventory 1018 Thomasville Road, Suite 200-C Tallahassee, Florida 32303 Phone (850) 224-8207
Gary Knight, Director Dan Hipes, Chief Scientist
GKnight@fnai.org
Division of Recreation & Parks (Land Administration) (850) 245-3051
Sine Murray (Management Plans) (850) 245-3051
Florida Coastal Office Penny Isom (850) 245-2098
Office of Greenways & Trails Samantha Browne (850) 245-2052
Florida Communities Trust Linda Reeves (850) 245-2702
Florida Geological Survey Dr. Jon Arthur (850) 617-0320
Division of Environmental Assessment & Restoration
Lee Marchman – (850) 245-7514 Kim Jackson – (850) 245-8547 Charlie Gauthier – (850) 245-8555
Tommy Walsh
When and if you write your letter to
Officials in charge of this decision, go to our website on how to, PLEASE read this before you do. Making parks money making machines with industry, such as Agriculture, is NOT what our award winning recreational park service is for…. http://www.gainesville.com/article/20150526/OPINION01/150529810/1076/opinion?Title=Editorial-Bad-parks-plan
When did State Park suddenly become
” government involvement”? Good Lord people! The state park system has been going strong for decades. Having grown up camping in parks all over this beautiful country, I have to laugh. Itchatucknee Springs used to be privately owned, with lots of beer drinking and the accompanying trash. I hated when they made it a state park, because I was uninformed. Thought all the fun was gone. No more floating down with cooler. Thing is, its much better now. Cleaner, safer and much more accessible. There is no reason to mistrust the state park system, unless as a matter of principle you hate anything that even sounds like
” government.” Remember, we ARE the government. Its people we elect.
I will be there in Tallahassee support of your beautiful spring. A pleasure to meet you yesterday. Love love love your spring.
I’m all for it!!
Our Santa Fe River explained it to me and I now concur.
State Parks in Florida.
No Alan Fishman the worst news you COULD hear is… Nestles buys it, fences it off, pumps it dry and then charges you for the water that flows under your feet. Ask the residents of Zephyrhills how it happens.
This is the worst news I ever heard. Blue is privately owned and is the only spring that a family can go .. There is no riff raff there. Your talking about word choice.. u go out to the state springs and see what words u hear out there. VERY BAD IDEA FOR STATE TO TAKE IT OVER!!!
No dog in this fight as I no longer live in the area but am dead set against any government involvement in this
State park this will be my last day I ever come here!!!!!
Me too
Comments are great and acceptable. just keep the word choice appropriate for ALL readers
Your tax dollar pays for the park then they charge u too go in they fuck u twice
Too much goverment is a very bad thing very very bad
Half these comments remove all of my hope for mankind. “No alcohol I won’t go?” Good go swim in the open septic tank Ginnie Springs has become. Get a clue and some priorities.
No too goverment
No state park no more adult beverages ill never go again no too state park
Brent Coleman Clemons I’m no drunk but I do enjoy a beer at the spring everybody that drinks a beer isn’t a drunk!!!!! NO TO STATE PARK!!!!!!!!!
Keep up the good work. Hi Billy,Get a haircut. Luv U.
Just another beautiful spring the government will mess up
I’m voting for you.Enviormenst of the YEAR.
Looks so refreshing.
Any hope for Poe Springs? What is going on there is pretty disgusting (heavy drinking, smoking, spitting chewing tobacco into the spring). It would be nice to be able to go back there some day.
The drunks will have to find a new place to gather…lol
oh, no! no more beer(s)
There are 3 Blue Springs parks, one named as a State Park.
You’ll need another name for it. There’s already a Blue Springs State Park.
Yes, Brandi. You will still be able to camp. If and when this deal goes through, we are hoping the transition will be smooth.
We are camping there on June 19. Is there still going to be camping if it is a state park. This is a family outing we do every year.
All humans leave a footprint… http://www.gainesville.com/article/20150524/OPINION03/150529875/-1/opinion?Title=Robert-Knight-If-we-sacrifice-our-springs-are-we-sacrificing-Florida-8217-s-future-
Meh. I am 99% sure the state will take it over and govern everystep visitors take. A park ranger once threatened to eject me from is Ichetucknee Springs State Park for picking up a rock out of the woods and examining it. Meanwhile every government entity all around allowed to pollute all they want. There has to be a better way.
It still will be, with many of the same protections the State can afford to valuable cultural and natural wonders. AND, with the Florida state park annual pass, people will find it more cost effective to visit this park 🙂
We must do this “honey-on-a-razor” deal. Perfect? No, but it’s a critically important starting point!!!
Its a favorite of locals, as Ichetucknee used to be.
And a long time destination
It is already a tourist spot
Another local spot turned into a tourist destination, is that really the best answer?
James, I don’t like too much govenrment either, but the state will keep 400 acres of river property out of developers’ hands, and protect the wildlife–we will have to work on them protecting the spring, I know, I know….
I don’t know the details of why, but I don’t relish the thought of that private park being taken over by the government.
James, upkeep on a property like that is really expensive for a private landowner. Keeping it open as a park is often more of a burden than just allowing it to be divided and sold. Making it a state park will protect it for generations to come.
I suppose that’s true. Life is about changes, for better or worse. Too bad it can’t be frozen in time.