DATE: Saturday May 29
TIME: 11 am until 2 pm
Location: Santa Fe River, along the one and a half miles of Ginnie Springs’ river frontage (starting at the tube launch until the tube take-out signs).
Target: Seven Springs Water Company and the connection to Ginnie Springs Campground, Nestle/BlueTriton Brands (Nestle Water North America and One Rock with Metropoulos).
Pressure point: Demand Ginnie Springs’ family members to give up their Water Use Permit that contributes to an impending global crisis from throw-away single use plastic bottles and the serious depletion of our vulnerable springs discharge in the area.
Signage: we need slogans, chants and memes for social media. SSWC is Seven Springs Water Company. GSO is Ginnie Springs Outdoors.
Use both Nestle and BlueTriton together for making signs. Nestle/BlueTriton
Stop the Water Grab at Ginnie Springs
Save Our Springs …S.O.S.
SSWC and GSO are Connected
Nature Needs this More than Nestle/BlueTriton
If You Love the Springs, Stop Drinking Bottled Water
SSWC has no use for the water. Water Brokering is not allowed in Florida
Day of Kayaktivism event:
PARK:
Where do I park? Park your vehicle at US 27 Bridge, Gilchrist Blue Springs State Park, Rum Island Park and/or Rum 138 (call to ask about this option 386-454-4247) for passenger shuttling only back to Rum Island Park and downstream take out at SR 47 Bridge (Santa Fe River Park)
Try to carpool as much as possible and please only with vaccinated people or people who are protecting you and themselves.
PUT IN:
Where do I put my vessel into the river?
Public access at boat ramps, beginning with the closest in proximity to Ginnie Springs are at the following places: Rum Island Park, Gilchrist Blue Springs Park (no boat ramp, carry in and out), US 27 Bridge Park.
How far is it to Ginnie Springs?
From US 27 Bridge? 2 hours, paddling straight downstream, not stopping at many of the other amazing Santa Fe River Springs.
From Rum Island Park? 15 minutes paddling downstream.
From Gilchrist Blue Springs Park? 20 minutes paddling, not floating through the magic of Blue Springs.
Ginnie Springs Campground is one and a half miles long of river frontage. Beginning at the tube launching stairs (huge set of stairs into the river down to the tube take out signage on both sides of the river.
yellow dots: public boat ramps
red line: the mile and half of Ginnie Springs river frontage
TAKE OUT:
Take your vessel out at the Santa Fe River Park (SR 47 Bridge), Hollingsworth Bluff public boat ramp or Rum Island Park (this last option at Rum…a paddle upstream against the current is difficult and arduous).
How far past the “Tube Exit signs” at the Ginnie Springs Campground? 3 miles, 1 and ½ hours of paddling to the Bridge. Take out on the south side of the river, before the bridge at the public boat ramp, next to the floating dock.
Hollingsworth Bluff public boat ramp is 5 more minutes past the Bridge, on the North side of the river (an asphalt road into the water with a very small parking lot).
EMERGENCIES: ¼ acre park just past Ginnie Springs, on the South side of the river. A very nondescript piece of public land that has a small turn around for vehicles. Recognize who has first aid training with the participants. At least one of our leaders will have a first aid kit.
OUTFITTERS in the vicinity:
Rum 138 (386) 454-4247
Anderson’s Outdoor Adventures (352) 507-0059
Santa Fe River Canoes (386) 454-2050
(please call first or schedule in advance if you need rental equipment or shuttling your own equipment)
Facebook Event Page Description:
Paddles Up for the Santa Fe River Florida
The Santa Fe River’s highest concentration of freshwater springs is under threat of further large scale excessive water withdrawals by Seven Springs Water Company who intends to the sell our community’s spring water resource to an international water bottler
named Nestle/BlueTriton Brands.
This Memorial Day 2021 weekend join us for Kayaktivism on the Santa Fe River and protest one of the poorest uses of our spring water…to be put into single-use plastic bottles and shipped out of the basin for consumption and discard.
Our springs need this water more than Nestle/BlueTriton.
Make waterproof signs, decorate your vessels, have fun!
Meet up in the Santa Fe River, along the one mile and a half of Ginnie Springs’ river frontage (starting at the tube launch until the tube take-out signs).
Please use your own equipment, your own shuttling and vehicle logistics as much as possible.
There are three kayak/canoe rental facilities in this region available for some services. Call ahead early to make reservations: Rum 138, Santa Fe Canoe Outpost or Anderson Adventures.
Launch points, beginning with the closest access, are at the following places: Rum Island Park, Gilchrist Blue Springs Park, US 27 Bridge Park.
Take out places are at the Santa Fe River Park (SR 47 Bridge) or Hollingsworth Bluff boat ramp.
Paddles Up!
