Post by Sharon Faulkner on Sept 21, 2006 7:52:35 GMT -5
Summit discusses sullied springs
By Dominick Tao
September 21, 2006
Fresh water across the state is threatened because people are polluting Florida's natural springs, state officials said Wednesday.
Leaders from local governments in central Florida came to High Springs to learn more about protecting the trillions of gallons of fresh water coursing underneath the state.
More than 50 people from the community attended the Springs Protection Summit, hosted by the Santa Fe Springs Working Group in Alachua County.
Fay Baird, the group's coordinator, said the summit couldn't have come at a better time. "We're going to have to take some action soon," she said. "The springs are changing fast, and they're changing in the wrong direction."
The Floridan aquifer, the underground system of caves and porous rocks that feeds springs across the state, is being threatened by new land development across the state, Baird said. "Alachua County uses more fertilizer on their lawns than on agriculture. It drains right into the aquifer," said Mark Sexton, Alachua County spokesman.
Sexton said more pollution seeps into the ground as more people crowd into a particular area.
The summit focused on ways to keep springs underground clean by making changes such as installing homes with better-sealed septic tanks. Still, Baird said trash on the surface of spring-fed rivers and lakes is an issue. "We've got a little bit of a trash problem on the Santa Fe River," Baird said. "It's a world-class river - people shouldn't throw their trash out when they go out in their canoe."
John LaManna, the webmaster of FloridaCaveDiver.com, said he has seen some recent effects of pollution, such as dead fish in caves.
LaManna said some Floridians have heard and understood the summit's message. "Don't leave anything, take care of the caves. After all, it's your drinking water," he said.
www.alligator.org/pt2/060921springs.php
By Dominick Tao
September 21, 2006
Fresh water across the state is threatened because people are polluting Florida's natural springs, state officials said Wednesday.
Leaders from local governments in central Florida came to High Springs to learn more about protecting the trillions of gallons of fresh water coursing underneath the state.
More than 50 people from the community attended the Springs Protection Summit, hosted by the Santa Fe Springs Working Group in Alachua County.
Fay Baird, the group's coordinator, said the summit couldn't have come at a better time. "We're going to have to take some action soon," she said. "The springs are changing fast, and they're changing in the wrong direction."
The Floridan aquifer, the underground system of caves and porous rocks that feeds springs across the state, is being threatened by new land development across the state, Baird said. "Alachua County uses more fertilizer on their lawns than on agriculture. It drains right into the aquifer," said Mark Sexton, Alachua County spokesman.
Sexton said more pollution seeps into the ground as more people crowd into a particular area.
The summit focused on ways to keep springs underground clean by making changes such as installing homes with better-sealed septic tanks. Still, Baird said trash on the surface of spring-fed rivers and lakes is an issue. "We've got a little bit of a trash problem on the Santa Fe River," Baird said. "It's a world-class river - people shouldn't throw their trash out when they go out in their canoe."
John LaManna, the webmaster of FloridaCaveDiver.com, said he has seen some recent effects of pollution, such as dead fish in caves.
LaManna said some Floridians have heard and understood the summit's message. "Don't leave anything, take care of the caves. After all, it's your drinking water," he said.
www.alligator.org/pt2/060921springs.php