The planned failures of the MFLs are proof that our state does not plan to restore any of its natural waters, rather they continue to follow the path of allowing the destruction of springs, rivers and aquifers in favor of money-making businesses and industry.
This is egregious and inexcusable and it robs the citizens of Florida of the unique and priceless water treasures in the state. Irony is intensified when those who work for the “protective” agencies pretend to protect but do the opposite.
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
Are you interested in learning more about efforts to protect Ichetucknee springs and river? Tune in to our live discussion with John Jopling, the President of the Florida Springs Council and President of Ichetucknee Alliance, as well as Sam Cole, the Park Biologist at Ichetucknee Springs State Park on December 10 at 6:30 p.m. – We’ll be discussing how the park, organizations and local advocates have worked together to balance human use and springs protection at Ichetucknee.
John and Sam will share their experiences visiting, researching and speaking up for Ichetucknee, and they’ll discuss how the park has worked hard to protect aquatic vegetation and local advocates’ effort to establish a springs protection zone on the river.
Both the Santa Fe River and the Ichetucknee River fell below their required minimum flows (MFLs) in 2015 – This is the limit, set by the State, “at which further withdrawals would be significantly harmful to the water resources or ecology of the area.” Water Management Districts are giving out more consumptive use permits than what the aquifer can sustain, which negatively impacts spring flow and increases the concentration of pollution in our springs. The Florida Springs Council is actively engaged in a lawsuit to protect springs across the Sate from over-pumping, and it will take all of us working together at the local and state level to protect and restore our springs and spring-fed rivers, including the Ichetucknee.
If you want to get more involved in this fight for the Ichetucknee, join us on Facebook or YouTube at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, December 10. We’ll be answering questions live from viewers.
Click here to join on Facebook and get notified when the event begins: https://www.facebook.com/share/18TwwqJv2w/
Click here to join on YouTube and get notified when the event begins: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YOlnbvk0Ey4
Each month we conduct an online discussion with our staff and topic experts, streamed live to the Florida Springs Council’s Facebook and YouTube channels to enable you to join in and add to the discussion. If you can’t join live, the full recording will be available to watch on Facebook and YouTube shortly after the livestream ends.
