An Unwanted Fate for Poe Springs

By Robert Knight The shocking term “explosive diarrhea” is in the current news stream. Referring to an outbreak of fecal-borne disease (cyclosporiasis) propagated by consuming contaminated vegetables (e.g., Taco Bell lettuce?) and currently infecting thousands of people in at least nine different states, this is big news because it is evidence of the government’s inability to protect the public’s essential food supply (or at least tacos). Explosive diarrhea was my first thought on July 16. A few…

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Corridor Connections

By Haley Moody, July 1, 2025 Last month, staff from the Florida Springs Institute attended the Corridor Connect Conference at Disney's Coronado Springs Resort. Corridor Connect is a three-day event hosted by the Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation in order to facilitate and strengthen vital connections for land conservation in Florida. Driven by the need to protect Florida's 131 imperiled animal species from rapid development, the Florida Wildlife Corridor is an 18-million acre continuous patchwork of both wild…

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Springs are Sacred

Last night, the Florida Springs Welcome Center in High Springs was filled to the brim with guests for our Sacred Springs Stories event, co-hosted with the Rights of Water and organized by Lucinda Merritt. The evening began as beautiful music filled the air from flutist Jim Durocher, setting a reverent tone for the divine storytelling that was to come. Special thanks to Michael Monroe for filming the event. Internationally acclaimed artist Margaret Ross Tolbert spoke about her…

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The People’s Plan

FSI is currently restudying Silver Springs System. In light of the changes we are seeing, we are re-publishing the following op-ed written by Dr. Knight, originally printed in the Gainesville Sun in August 2015. Staff at the Florida Springs Institute (FSI) have been active in the scientific study of Silver Springs since the 1970s. FSI’s efforts, as well as research conducted by the State of Florida have demonstrated severe biological impairments at Silver Springs as a result of reduced…

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North Florida, South Florida vie to be most-polluted region

By Dr. Robert Knight. Published in the Florida Specifier April/May 2023. Given the Environmental disaster that has continued to engulf the estuaries and beaches on both sides of the state, South Florida's guacamole-filled coastal waters are receiving the state and national press they deserve. But thanks to on-going releases of nutrient-laden water from sugar plantations, ranches, and other intensive agricultural operations; toxic floating algae, starving manatees, and rafts of dead fish continue to slime the once-blue waters,…

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