BMAPS or Basin Management Action Plan is the Florida DEP’s response to the 2017 legislative requirement to reduce nitrates in our waters. High nitrate levels are harmful to our health, wildlife, fish, and livestock. High nitrate levels also turn our springs green with algae. All of the Santa Fe River’s springs are impaired with high levels of nitrates except for Poe Springs, and it is on the verge of impairment at .3mg/l. Impairment is measured at .35mg/l and many of our springs are at much higher levels, with Devils Ear system where water is being pumped for water bottling is running about 2.5mg/l.
The BMAPS plan looks at sources of nitrates and has produced target levels and dates for reductions. Take a look at the nitrate levels in the Devil’s Ear system, home of the Ginnie Springs complex. This springshed needs to see a reduction of 73% by 2038, assuming the current levels don’t continue to rise. A significant portion of the nutrient loading comes from surrounding farms. This is a challenge that affects us all since these high nitrates are getting into the water that we drink.
This week the FL-DEP presented updated BMAPS with a few changes. The entire Santa Fe River Basin Management Action Plan (BMAP) document is linked here and the slideshow used in the presentation is below. Can we rely on there being enough political will for these efforts to work? What will it take and what can we each do to dial back the green? We have until May 2nd to comment. Please send your questions, comments and feedback to Moira.Homann@FloridaDEP.gov.
OSFR President Joanne Tremblay
joanne.tremblay@oursantaferiver.org
“Giving Our River A Voice”
