Friends of the Santa Fe River have sent the following information regarding a proposal to build a 400-site RV park on 75t acres adjacent to wetlands immediately feeding the Santa Fe River. The Santa Fe is, of course, already impaired, and more polluted run-off from this concentrated development will harm it even more.
This type of campground has no place on environmentally sensitive lands. Let them go away from wetlands on high ground for this, ideally near an interstate highway for easy access.
Comments by OSFR historian Jim Tatum.
-A river is like a life: once taken, it cannot be brought back-
Protect our Swamp and Lakes and Wetlands
Stop the 400 Site RV Park
- Tom’s High on the Hog Real Pit BBQ, Inc. has filed an appeal
for a zoning exemption of approximately 75 acres needed to
build a 400 site RV Park near the corner of SR 100 and CR 21B,
next to Tom’s BBQ.
- With 400 units (let’s say two people per RV minimum) 800
people will be added to an area with an already stressed
swamp, lakes and infrastructure.
- Run off from the RV park will most likely end up in the Swamp
and raw sewage will be pumped for almost 3 miles into Clay
County, past Silver and Paradise Lakes and the neighborhoods
there. This could be the real “Keystone Pipeline”!
- The entrance will be on CR 21B, this mean that many RVs and
additional Vehicles will be traveling on a small 2 lane road on a
regular basis.
- The Tom’s people point to the Williston Crossings RV Resort as a
shining example of what this park will be like. Williston may be
a very nice park; however, the park in Williston has sites spread
over 135 acres and are not located near an environmentally
sensitive area. A big difference!
- Please help protect our Swamp and Lakes!
Date: July 20 Thursday
Time: 6:30 (come early! it will be crowded)
Location: Governor Charley E Johns Center, 1610 N Temple Ave. (just north of Courthouse on east side of 301 Starke)
I can’t follow the issue with run-off from a campground. Across the street from Tom’s BBQ is a landfill that has been a garbage dump since the 1960s if not the 1940s long before landfills had to be lined on the bottom to minimize leeching. Between Tom’s BBQ area and Little Lake Santa Fe are cattle, pecan groves, and a commercial alligator farm. If people don’t want a camp ground and more boaters using the Little Santa Fe Lake boat ramp then say so. But saying the camp ground will ruin the Santa Fe swamp and river headwaters is hysteria.
I suggest you research the Indian River Lagoon. THIS RIVER IS ALREADY IMPARED. DO YIU WANT TO LOOSE IT?
I read through the article and found nothing indicating which Santa Fe river you are talking about. I live in New Mexico. The photo that you posted with this story looks nothing like the Santa Fe river that I know of.
MHendrickson… the river the article refers to is located in North Central Florida.
Right on, Mike! Sustainability is the heart and soul of symbiotic environments, economic AND natural resource-wise. CONSERVATION is the first law of sustainability–for us to survive in our relationship with nature and needs, we must maintain a balanced habitat. But, as the old adage has it, “you don’t miss the water ’til the well runs dry!”
Location location location, Permitting agencies must remain keenly aware of the sensitivity of certain areas with respect to our water resources. Much as we don’t burn the furniture for heat, we mustn’t impede our irreplaceable resources for someone’s economic benefit. Business is essential for a sustainable economy, but economic benefits must always be weighed against natural sustainability. We can and must have both in harmony.