Post by Kelly Jessop on Aug 27, 2007 18:30:36 GMT -5
Cloudy water, algae cause concern at Blue Spring
BEACON PHOTO/PAT HATFIELD
Mysterious clouding — Swimmers and divers at Blue Spring State Park have found cloudy water and more algae in the water lately. These swimmers paddle near the boil, the source of water flowing up from the aquifer at Blue Spring.
Worried about pollution — Blue Spring State Park Manager Bob Rundle is worried about contamination of the spring's water from development in Orange City and Deltona and parts of DeLand and DeBary. Water from these areas washes into the river or seeps into the aquifer feeding the spring.
ST. JOHNS RIVER WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT GRAPHIC COURTESY BOB RUNDLE
Blue Spring Basin — This map shows the extent of the basin from which water flows into Blue Spring and into the aquifer that feeds the spring.
Published 8-23-2007
By Pat Hatfield
BEACON STAFF WRITER
The collapse of an underground limestone cavern is the likely source of cloudy water at Blue Spring State Park over the past few weeks.
The cloudy water will clear up, but another sign of trouble in the spring is more worrisome.
In addition to the clouds of limestone dust that hamper their vision, divers at the spring in Orange City have been complaining about a proliferation of black algae in the normally pristine spring run.
The algae's likely source is septic tanks and fertilizer spread on an increasing number of green lawns planted in the basin that drains into the spring and its underground source.
www.beacononlinenews.com/dailyitem.php?itemnum=200
BEACON PHOTO/PAT HATFIELD
Mysterious clouding — Swimmers and divers at Blue Spring State Park have found cloudy water and more algae in the water lately. These swimmers paddle near the boil, the source of water flowing up from the aquifer at Blue Spring.
Worried about pollution — Blue Spring State Park Manager Bob Rundle is worried about contamination of the spring's water from development in Orange City and Deltona and parts of DeLand and DeBary. Water from these areas washes into the river or seeps into the aquifer feeding the spring.
ST. JOHNS RIVER WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICT GRAPHIC COURTESY BOB RUNDLE
Blue Spring Basin — This map shows the extent of the basin from which water flows into Blue Spring and into the aquifer that feeds the spring.
Published 8-23-2007
By Pat Hatfield
BEACON STAFF WRITER
The collapse of an underground limestone cavern is the likely source of cloudy water at Blue Spring State Park over the past few weeks.
The cloudy water will clear up, but another sign of trouble in the spring is more worrisome.
In addition to the clouds of limestone dust that hamper their vision, divers at the spring in Orange City have been complaining about a proliferation of black algae in the normally pristine spring run.
The algae's likely source is septic tanks and fertilizer spread on an increasing number of green lawns planted in the basin that drains into the spring and its underground source.
www.beacononlinenews.com/dailyitem.php?itemnum=200