H. T. Odum Florida Springs Institute

Letters from the working group leaders in response to the cessation of FDEP funding:

Silver:

Dear Friends of Silver Springs

The attached letter is an announcement by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection that they have had to cancel funding for the working group and the further development of the Restoration Plan due to a lack of funds. As you can imagine, we at Normandeau are very disappointed that we will not be able to continue to work with you to develop and implement a plan to restore Silver Springs.

We are examining some options for additional funds to continue this work and we will keep you up to date on that effort if any likely possibilities appear. Please let us know if you have any ideas that would assist in our search. Silver Springs and River are very precious resources and they deserve some attention to not only prevent further degradation but also to restore the biological health of the system so that all can benefit.

The Vision that you all crafted for the restored springs is:

Silver Springs is once again silver. The main spring basin glows like a jewel in the warm Florida sun. A globally significant artesian spring, Silver Springs is a “must see” destination for any visitor interested in experiencing “Natural Florida”. Silver Springs and the Silver River form a healthy, sustainable and diversified ecosystem. Recreational access is excellent and sustainable, low impact tourism opportunities allow large numbers of visitors to enjoy the resources. The springs and river play an important role in the area’s healthy and diverse economy. There is a deep connection and sense of ownership expressed by the community, allowing Silver Springs to be managed in a way that includes a diverse group of stakeholders interested in maintaining its integrity.  Plans, policies, regulatory decisions and land acquisition projects now protect important recharge areas and limit point and non-point source pollution. Educational initiatives are responsible for basin-wide reductions of impairments including decreased nutrients and increased water conservation. 

By 2020, the following have been achieved:

·         Nitrate concentrations low enough to support a viable, self-sustaining community of historically native fish, wildlife and vegetation

·         Water flows at a minimum of 90% of the historic levels based on officially recorded information

·         Reconnection of Silver Springs to the St. Johns River so that fish populations can move freely and contribute to a healthy ecosystem.

Please keep this vision firmly in mind and in the minds of all who live and work within the spring basin. It represents a desired future that we should all continue to work for.

We are committed to finishing a draft restoration plan and submitting it to FDEP later this month. I know that I have several requests for information still outstanding with some of you.  I do hope that you will be able to honor those requests. We have been assured by FDEP that the information that we provide to them in the draft Restoration Plan will be used in their upcoming Total Maximum Daily Load process.

Working with you these last 2 years has been a distinct pleasure in my life. Your enthusiasm and willingness to give of your talents and time for the good of the springs has been impressive. I look forward to staying in contact with many of you and to the possibility that we will be in a position to pick up where we left off in the near future and continue our work.

Best wishes

Pete

Peter Colverson

Coordinator, Rainbow and Silver Springs Basin Working Groups

Normandeau Associates (formerly Pandion)

102 NE 10^th Ave, Gainesville, FL 32601

352-372-4747 ext 7017

Wakulla:

Members of the Wakulla Spring Working Group -

I am disappointed to inform you that FDEP has decided to end their support for the Wakulla Spring Working Group and Restoration Plan development. This news was first presented to the Wetland Solutions, Inc. (WSI) team after our productive working group meeting last Thursday, May 26th. Up until that time we had been told that FDEP would continue to fund the Wakulla Springs project.  When FDEP staff informed us last Thursday after the Wakulla meeting  that they would no longer fund this project, they asked that we wait to make this announcement to you until they could compose the attached letter. As the attached FDEP letter indicates, WSI will still deliver the draft Wakulla Spring Restoration Plan to FDEP before the contract is officially closed.  We will share the draft Restoration Plan with you as soon as FDEP allows.  The draft Restoration Plan represents the first year draft and includes background data at the spring, environmental and land use characteristics within the springshed, changes that have occurred at both the spring and springshed, a description of the existing impairments and causes, and the visions and goals for restoration.  Years 2 and 3 were to be the actual development of the Restoration Plan. 

Like you, we are saddened to learn that FDEP cannot continue to fund the Wakulla Springs project, especially in light of the progress that has been made towards development of the Restoration Plan - since restoration of Wakulla Spring represents our collective goal.  If you are asking if there is anything you can do to help Wakulla Spring, well perhaps there is. First, you can contact Mr. Herschel Vineyard, the new FDEP secretary, as well as your local City and County Commissioners, and express your concern. Second, you can inquire within your group to determine if even a small amount of funding is available to continue development of the Wakulla Springs Restoration Plan.  Without FDEP's funding, restoration of Wakulla Spring will be reliant  on grassroots efforts by stakeholder groups within and surrounding the Wakulla Springs springshed. 

Please feel free to contact me if you have any ideas or suggestions on how we can continue to work towards the restoration of Wakulla Spring.  On behalf of Debra Segal, Lynn Cherry, and myself, thank you for your hard work, dedication, and concern for Wakulla Spring.   

Robert L. Knight, Ph.D.
President
Wetland Solutions, Inc.
5302 NW 156 Avenue
Gainesville, Florida 32653
352-538-6620 cell
386-462-1003 office
bknight@wetlandsolutionsinc.com

Ichetucknee:

Dear Friends of Ichetucknee Springs,

The attached letter is an announcement by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection that funding has been cancelled for the Ichetucknee Springs Basin Working Group and the further development of the Restoration Plan due to a lack of funds.

As you can imagine, we at Normandeau are very disappointed.  We are examining options for additional funds and we will keep you up to date on that effort. Please let us know if you have any ideas that would assist in our search.

The Ichetucknee Springs and River are very precious resources that deserve continued focus and effort.  We are committed to finishing a draft Restoration Plan and submitting it to FDEP later this month.  We have been assured by FDEP that the information that we provide to them in the draft Restoration Plan will be used in their upcoming Total Maximum Daily Load process. Please let me know if you would like for me to send you a copy of the draft Restoration Plan when it becomes available.

The spirit of this Restoration Plan is best summarized in the vision that you created:

The Ichetucknee Springs and Ichetucknee River comprise an abundantly flowing, high quality water system that supports a healthy biodiversity with thriving populations of native species. It is a unique, peaceful, and pristine oasis renowned for its beauty and wild, untouched nature. The community engages in behaviors that support the stewardship of the Ichetucknee.  A strong network of partnerships exists between businesses, schools, government, farmers, scientists, citizens, and non-profits to ensure that the Ichetucknee system is sustained as an important ecological, economic, cultural, recreational, and artistic resource.

This vision represents a desired future that we all continue to work for.

I am honored to have worked with you over the last year. I have been inspired by the passion and dedication that you have shown…not only this year, but for many years. I hope that we will have opportunities in the future to continue our joint efforts on protecting and restoring the Ichetucknee.

 Ondine

Ondine Wells

Ichetucknee Springs Working Group Coordinator

Normandeau Associates, inc. (Formerly Pandion systems, inc.)

102 ne 10^th avenue; gainesville, fl 32601

352-372-4747  x7009  |  owells@normandeau.com   

www.normandeau.com