Successes and Challenges in 2008-2009

Springs Protection Comprehensive Plan – New Land Use Regulations
On June 2nd, 2009, the Marion County Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) approved 2 new sets of LDRs to implement the Springs Protection Language in the County’s Comprehensive Plan. One dealt with Springs Overlay Zones and provides for an increase in the reliance on Waste Water treatment plants together with tougher language associated with septic tanks for new developments. Earlier in the year the BoCC passed a Fertilizer Ordinance to restrict fertilizer use on developed lots in the unincorporated sections of the county. There was an appeal made to have the incorporated areas pass a similar ordinance. Dunnellon did so within weeks. Ocala is still considering a fertilizer ordinance.

History – During the summer of 2007, Marion County’s Planning Department held a series of meetings and workshops to create land development regulations (LDRs) to implement the new comprehensive plan language. Public hearings regarding proposed LDRs were held in the fall of 2007. At the second public hearing in late November, there was substantial negative public comment and the Commission voted to table the decision to adopt the proposed LDRs. The Commission subsequently appointed the Marion County Aquifer and Springs Protection Task Force, a group of citizens representing various interests whose charge was to revise the proposed LDRs and bring a new version for consideration to the County Commission. Once their work was complete, Marion County staff reworked the new LDRs and passed them off for review to the Land Development Review Committee, a standing committee appointed by the BoCC. The versions approved by the LDRC were the ones passed by the Commission on June 2.

Expansion of State Road 35 adjacent to Silver Springs
At the May 14, 2009, meeting of the Working Group it was agreed to send a letter to the Secretary of the Department of Transportation to request a review of the plans that have been approved for this project. The original concern of the working group that some of the planned retention ponds are too deep and might cause sink holes is still there despite modifications that were made to the plans. To date (June 2009) no reply has been received.

Determining Minimum Flow and Level for the Silver River
Work on the MFL for the Silver River was delayed and the new rules are not expected before December 2011. The new schedule includes incorporating the MFL for Silver River with that of the Ocklawaha River.

Two Springs Champions Received Local Awards
Chris Specht and Andy Kesselring were presented with Springs Protection Community Champion Awards jointly by the Silver and Rainbow working groups. They each received a copy of the book Glass Bottom Boats and Mermaid’s Tales, which was stamped and signed by both group coordinators. Their contributions to springs protection were featured in an article in the Ocala Star Banner the following day.

Transition to New Working Group Coordinator
Fay Baird resigned as group coordinator in April 2009. She accepted a position with the St. Johns River Water Management District, which she started in May. Peter Colverson assumed the role of Coordinator. Peter has been facilitating the Rainbow Springs Working Group since 2008.

Troy Kuphal Resigned as Water Quality Coordinator for Marion County
Troy Kuphal was widely recognized as the architect of the county’s efforts to revise their Comprehensive Plan and Land Development regulations. His last day was May 29, 2009. The working group wishes Troy well.

First Joint Meeting of the Silver and Rainbow Working Groups
This joint meeting focused on countywide issues in Marion County that affect both springs and provided a good summary of the status of springs protection efforts. The efficiency of dealing with these issues in one meeting was recognized and accepted by all concerned.

Springshed Signs
The Marion County Stormwater Program (formerly the Clean Water Program) began posting small road signs on county-maintained roads, identifying the Silver and Rainbow Springs protection areas within both of these springsheds in late 2007.

Ocala’s Stormwater Drainage Wells
A heavy emphasis was placed on this topic at one of the group’s quarterly meetings to explore the claim made by one regular attendee at WG meetings that this was the primary cause of nitrate pollution at Silver Springs. The consensus at the meeting was that there was little scientifically credible evidence to support the claim and that land uses in the basin that produce nitrate (fertilization, septic tanks, etc.) remain the major nitrate sources to groundwater that supplies Silver Springs.

Legislation
The Working Group followed the progress of pending legislation affecting springs in the 2009 legislature. Senate Bill 270 which would have provided substantial additional protection to Silver Springs, as well as others, was the primary target of the group’s attention and it failed to pass.