H. T. Odum Florida Springs Institute

Silver Springs Restoration Alliance Meeting 1/18/2012

ALERT: Florida Citizen Meeting- January 18 at the Marion County Public Library (2720 E. Silver Springs Blvd. [US 40] Ocala 352-671-8551) from 6 pm to 7:45 in Ocala. The purpose of this meeting is to provide citizens with an update on the condition and threats to Silver Springs, and to help organize a group of private citizens who wish to help influence all decisions, government and private, that may affect the health of the springs into the future.

Silver Springs and the Silver River are under mounting threats from agricultural and urban development pressures in their 1,100 square mile springshed. Two state actions intended to protect Silver Springs, development of a nitrate Total Maximum Daily Load and Minimum Flows and Levels, are currently underway. Unfortunately for the future of Silver Springs, both of these activities are expected to take a long time to accomplish positive results. Also, if not monitored and directed by an informed and active public interested in the ultimate restoration of Silver Springs, one or both of these governmental activities could allow current conditions in the aquifer and springs to get worse.

Because of these dangers to the health of Silver Springs and to the Marion County economy that depends on a healthy Silver Springs and groundwater aquifer, I would like to invite you to a meeting on January 18 at the Marion County Public Library from 6 pm to 7:45 (meeting room C). The purpose of this meeting is to provide you with an update on the condition and threats to Silver Springs, and to help organize a group of private citizens who wish to help influence all decisions, government and private, that may affect the health of the springs into the future. It is intended that this group will eventually become a non-profit corporation, free of any public or political influence, with officers, a board of directors, a charter, and an active membership allied for the ultimate restoration and protection of Silver Springs. As a preliminary suggestion of its mission, the group might be called the "Silver Springs Restoration and Protection Alliance". Initially, this group needs to organize to actively track and comment on permitting and regulatory activities underway by the St. Johns River Water Management District and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. Ultimately, this group will be able to work with other springs watch-dog organizations throughout the state (e.g., the Rainbow River Conservation, Wakulla Springs Alliance, Friends of the Wekiva River, Our Santa Fe, Save Our Suwannee, etc.) to collectively accomplish springs restoration and protection goals statewide.

Please pass this invitation on to anyone you feel might be interested in participating in this proposed organization. Also, please seriously consider if you will be able to volunteer on behalf of the future of Silver Springs.