A kayaktivism event is planned for Saturday May 29th, on the Santa Fe River from 11 am ’till 2 pm along the 1.5 miles of river in front of the Ginnie Springs Outdoors Campground (GSO).
Bring waterproof signs opposing the water grab for single use plastic bottling of our iconic springs by Seven Springs Water Company. The 2 wells are located on the land leased by GSO; land is owned by Barbara Wray.
This Water Use Permit (WUP) is far from over. At least three lawsuits are pending on this WUP business.
Please make arrangements for your own transportation of your kayaks or rent from one of the local outfitters in the area (Rum 138, Santa Fe Canoe Outpost or Anderson Outdoors Adventures).
Put in at US 27 Bridge boat ramp or Rum Island County Park boat ramp. Take out down river, three miles past Ginnie Springs Campground at the SR 47 Bridge.
Seven Springs Water Company is owned by a few people who are family-related to the owner(s) of the Ginnie Springs Campground.
The permit was approved by the Governing Board of the Suwannee River Water Management District upon the instructions and admonitions of the District’s and the Seven Springs’ lawyers. The roughly twenty thousand letters from the public opposing the permit were not for a moment considered and thus the issue of public interest required by law was not a factor.
The District also ignored the statute stating that Outstanding Florida Waters are protected from polluters and excessive water users. The fact remains that the Santa Fe River does not meet its minimum flows and levels as defined by the Department of Environmental Protection. It is deemed by the state to be in recovery and drawing more water from it just for a private company to make money will delay its restoration and is not in the public interest but only in the interest of the Wray family who wants to exploit the river and draw it down even more.
Our Santa Fe River, Inc is a Florida not-for-profit 501 (c)(3) organization composed of concerned citizens working to protect the waters and lands supporting the aquifer, springs and rivers within the watershed of the Santa Fe River. We do this by promoting public awareness pertaining to the ecology, quality, and quantity of the waters and lands immediately adjacent to and supporting the Santa Fe River, including its springs and underlying aquifer.
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