“The river below ” was the simplistic way I was introduced to our aquifer. I imagined a mirror image of the Santa Fe in triplicate, coursing below the actual river. Instead, limestone caves, and channels, like ant farm tunnels, expand and contract through the soluble limestone. They alter direction and merge with other channels, break open into large rooms and collapse again through pressurized tunnels that divers squeeze through by pushing their tanks ahead.
Our diving community sees firsthand the pollution, when sinkholes are used for trash, filamentous algae coating their passage between earth and water, pipes piercing rock to irrigate homes and farms.
What does Rum Island Spring have to do with Devils Eye and Ear of the Ginnie Springs Complex? They are considered connected by the Fl-DEP for the purposes of the BMAPS or Basin Management Action Plan; intended to slash nitrate levels through VOLUNTARY participation, which, by the way, does not tender the desired results.
Though Rum Island Spring is closer and more directly connected to Gilchrist Blue, they are considered part of the ‘Devil’s Ear Priority Focus Area’ which goes from Jonathan (Mermaid) Spring to Sawdust Spring at the tail end of the Ginnie Springs Group.
Are they all connected? It would seem a good possibility judging from the mapped cave system though I haven’t seen the map the has the entire section. More importantly, these springs are all part of the Outstanding Florida Springs Priority Focus areas, impaired by high nitrates. The red dotted line is the natural level. Sandy soils don’t filter out fertilizer waste so it all ends up in our water. Are we the kind of stewards that would poop in our water? It appears so.
OSFR President Joanne Tremblay
joanne.tremblay@oursantaferiver.org
“Giving Our River A Voice”
