Those of you who are long-term readers of our posts know that we have often complained that the go-to organization for environmental issues when newspapers want info on environmental issues has usually defaulted to the Audubon Society, a fine organization but one usually not close to springs protection.
Happily we now note that WMNF, a fundamental and important news outlet, has now established OSFR as the best possible source for opinion and information on North Florida’s springs and rivers. Over the years now they have invited our own Merrillee Malwitz-Jipson as spokesperson for the latest facts about what is happening to our springs and the failure of our state to protect them.
Merrillee is a self-taught grass roots advocate who has won many environmental awards for her tireless work in fighting for our springs and rivers. She has immersed herself in the complicated political processes of permits, statutes and the governing bodies which are involved and has become an expert in water policy. In addition to the many awards she has won is her credibility and the respect of all involved with Florida’s iconic springs and rivers, friend and foe alike.
Merrillee is not a rising star, she is a star long risen.
She is the Lionel Messi of North Florida Springs advocates.
Once again, our thanks to her for furthering the education of our springs.
Here is a link to the show with the original video.
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
Update on threats to Florida’s freshwater springs
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About two years ago, opponents of a plan to allow a giant corporation to draw more water from Florida’s pristine springs and aquifer suffered a setback.
The food giant Nestlé was working with a company called Seven Springs Water to apply for a permit renewal to take nearly a million gallons a day of water from springs connected to the Santa Fe River.
And an administrative law judge ruled in favor of the permit applicants, contradicting staff recommendations from the Suwannee River Water Management District.
Since then, Nestlé has sold its bottled water division, reportedly for more than $4 billion to BlueTriton.
And recently the Florida Springs Council won their appeal and will be granted a Department of Administrative Hearing on the issuance of the bottled water permit by the Suwannee River Water Management Board members to Seven Springs Water Company.
To talk about the latest developments and about how pollution, development and bottled water are impacting Florida’s freshwater springs, we spoke with Merrillee Malwitz-Jipson, a board member with the group Our Santa Fe River.
Watch the interview:
Spring Protection Zone
In November-December of 2022, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) established a Springs Protection Zone for Nichols Spring and its associated spring run in Sumter County.
“The Spring Protection Zone for Nichols Spring will be the first created in Florida. Anchoring, mooring, beaching and grounding of vessels was determined to have caused harm to bank vegetation, cypress trees and aquatic grasses in and around the spring. These activities will be prohibited within the Springs Protection Zone,” according to a press release from FWC.
