An extremely ill-planned development proposal is severely threatening one of Florida’s iconic springs. It is short notice, but you can help as explained in the article below from the Florida Springs Council.
This is a classic example of greedy developers who totally ignore nature and Florida’s treasures when they are going after the dollar.
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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
On Monday, August 7, the Wakulla County Commission has a choice between the health of their entire community or the wealth of a single corporation. If you love Wakulla Springs, or your fellow springs advocates around Florida, we need your help.
Speak Up for Wakulla text on an image of Wakulla Springs
Southwest Georgia Oil Company applied for a comprehensive plan amendment and zoning change that would allow the construction of a mega-gas station above the Chip’s Hole cave system that leads directly to Wakulla Springs. A major leak or catastrophic failure would destroy Wakulla Springs & River, decimate the local economy, and contaminate the drinking water. Even routine leaks and spills could damage the delicate system. Despite these facts, the Wakulla County Commission is poised to move ahead with this short-sighted and reckless plan.
Send an email to the Wakulla County Commissioners
The wrong location – The proposed site sits directly on top of one the most well mapped-underwater cave systems on earth.
Earlier this year, a team of divers discovered a direct connection between Chip’s Hole and Wakulla Springs after twenty-five years of exploration. The cave system increases the potential for a catastrophic collapse and the impact of any leaks or spills on the springs.
The wrong company – Southwest Georgia Oil has a long history of polluting Florida’s waters.
They are listed as the responsible party for multiple contaminated sites across Florida and were found liable for gross negligence in Wakulla Station, where 27,000 cubic feet of soil had to be removed.
This is Southwest Georgia Oil’s second attempt to get a comprehensive plan amendment on the property.
The first attempt was stopped by County Commissioner Chuck Hess and local advocates who demanded the County ensure that strong safeguards were in place to protect Wakulla Springs and drinking water.
When the County failed to pass the promised protections, local advocates took it upon themselves to draft a Citizens’ Springs Protection Ordinance and present it to the County Commission. The Commissioners callously refused to even allow debate on the Citizen’s Ordinance, enraging those in attendance.
Less than one month later, with no new protections in place, Southwest Georgia Oil is back with a new comprehensive plan amendment. It is up to the Wakulla County Commission to reject this bad plan until a strong springs protection ordinance is adopted and implemented.
Southwest Georgia Oil made a speculative investment on property that was not approved for their desired use. They failed to do their due diligence to discover that the property sits on top of a major conduit to Wakulla Springs. The people of Wakulla County and our precious springs should not be jeopardized to bail out one corporation’s bad investment.
We need your help. Please fill out our pre-written, easy-to-use form to send an email to the Wakulla County Commissioners here: https://floridaspringscouncil.good.do/defendwakullaswater/
If you are in the area, please attend the meeting on August 7th in the County Commission Chambers at 29 Arran Road, Suite 101, Crawfordville, FL 32327. The meeting starts at 5 p.m., but come when you can to show your support for Wakulla Springs and local advocates.
Send an email to the Wakulla County Commissioners
Which wells dry up first in case of megadrought or excessive aquifer drawdown – those in recharge areas or- all other areas, generally? Taking into account of elevation variability of water tables.