U.S. Senator Bob Graham (ret.) and Seminole County Commissioner Lee Constantine, along with the Florida Conservation Coalition, Friends of the Wekiva River, League of Women Voters of Florida, and St. Johns Riverkeeper will hold a rally at Wekiwa Springs State Park from 10 to 4 on February 16, 2013 to raise awareness about the need to restore the impaired Wekiva River, the troubled springs that feed it, and all of Florida’s treasured waterways. Through the event — Speak Up Wekiva — the Coalition aims to educate the public and galvanize support for protecting and restoring Florida’s imperiled aquatic resources.
What: Speak Up Wekiva Rally
When: Saturday, February 16, 2013 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Where: Wekiwa Springs State Park
1800 Wekiwa Circle, Apopka, FL 32712
www.floridastateparks.org/wekiwasprings
Speak Up Wekiva will feature remarks by Senator Bob Graham, Seminole County Commissioner Lee Constantine and other notable speakers, along with informative programs, outdoor activities, live music, artists, guided hikes, and tram rides.
Speak Up Wekiva follows on the success of the Speak Up Silver Springs rally held in June of 2012 at Silver River State Park to voice concerns about the declining health of Silver Springs and Silver River. That event was attended by more than 1,700 concerned citizens and resulted in over 17,000 signed petitions calling on Governor Scott to protect Silver Springs.
“Water is the lifeblood of Florida,” said Senator Bob Graham, a longtime environmental advocate who founded the nonpartisan FCC with other conservationists in 2011. “It ties our state together, provides untold recreational opportunities and draws millions of visitors each year to our state, supporting jobs and economic growth. The pollution and usage issues affecting every facet of our water supply are serious and immediate, and we must address them in order to protect our heritage and preserve our quality of life.”
Why Wekiva River?
The Wekiva ecosystem is one of Florida’s most environmentally and economically valuable natural areas. Formed by over 36 known springs, the 42 mile long Wekiva River system includes the Wekiva, Rock Springs Run, the Blackwater Creek, and the Little Wekiva River. It is a major tributary of the St. Johns River.
The 300,000 acre Wekiva River Basin is one of the most diverse animal and plant communities in Florida. Several state and federally listed species live within the Wekiva River Basin including Florida Black Bears, Wood Storks, and Bald Eagles. The Basin also comprises the southern end of one of Florida’s major wildlife corridors connecting the Ocala National Forest to the Wekiva River.
Due to its ecological and economic significance, the Wekiva River has extensive legal protections. It is designated as an Outstanding Florida Waterway, both a state and federal Wild and Scenic River, and is protected by two major pieces of state legislation. Some 110 square miles in the basin are protected in public ownership as parks, preserves and state forests.
Tragically, the Wekiva River and the springs which feed it remain significantly impaired in terms of both water quality and quantity. According to the Center for Earth Jurisprudence, although Minimum Flows and Levels have been set for the Wekiva since 1994, three of the eight springs with specific minimum flow requirements have levels below this threshold, three are projected to fall below by 2030, and two are unmonitored. Reduced springs flows degrade the ecosystem for both natural and recreational uses.
In addition, Wekiva’s springs have experienced increased concentrations of nitrates and phosphorous leading to algal blooms that damage the ecosystem for wildlife and humans. The three major springs in the Wekiva River have reported an average nitrate concentration 480% higher than the 2008 Total Maximum Daily Load requirements. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection recently concluded that 67% of all nitrates entering the Wekiva River come from residential and agriculture fertilizer and septic tanks. As a result, both major headsprings—Rock Springs and Wekiwa—have been designated as “Impaired” by the Department of Environmental Protection.
The Wekiva ecosystem has become degraded and faces future peril from the consequences of a rapidly growing population, failing septic tanks, wasteful water and fertilizer use by residents and agriculture, and ineffective implementation of public policy. As threats to our water quality and supply increase, the environmental and economic consequences of inaction grow as well. On February 16th Speak UP Wekiva will educate and engage the public in protecting and restoring one of Florida’s most valuable ecosystems.
For more information: www.floridaconservationcoalition.org
