Silver Springs Basin Working Group

Next meeting of the Silver Springs Basin Working Group

2008-10-01T13:19:00.004-04:00

The next meeting of the Silver Springs Basin Working Group will be held on May 14, 2009. Please contact the Coordinator for more details (see panel to right).

Projects 2008-2009

2007-12-17T11:00:00.003-05:00

Here are some of the ongoing topics and projects that the Group is at work on.

Avatar Property Purchase Now Complete
The property is now known as Indian Lake State Forest and is managed by the Florida Division of Forestry. The approval of the purchase of the 4,471 acre Avatar tract near Silver Springs by Governor Jeb Bush and the Florida Cabinet in November 2006 owes much to many members of the Silver Springs Basin Working Group, who collaborated on the first step in the State acquisition process and kept hope alive when it appeared that negotiations had fallen through. The purchase preserves a large tract of sandhill recharge area directly to the north of Silver Springs and mostly located in the Springs’ 2-year capture zone.
Read the Press Release (PDF)

Taming the Monster Pipe: Retrofit of State Rd 40 Drainage System
The Monster Pipe collects stormwater runoff from as much as 3 miles away from its discharge point into Half Mile Creek, a tributary of the Silver River. The goal of the retrofit is to meet Florida’s water quality management standards prior to discharge, since the system was built before these standards were established. A number of Working Group agencies are collaborating to design and construct a major stormwater retrofit to correct this problem.

The retrofit is complex and is still in the planning stage, and funding is not complete. There are five separate surfacewater drainage basins that contribute runoff to the Monster Pipe. The upper four basins are located in the City of Ocala, which has purchased some land with some funding from a legislative appropriation and SJRWMD. Marion County will be using water quality restoration funds from the Florida DEP for Basin 5, the lowest in the chain, which includes the final discharge point into Half Mile Creek. The Basin 5 treatment area will be located on Florida Greenways and Trails land. View the SR 40 Stormwater Retrofit Map (PDf).

Marion County Completes Water Resources Assessment and Management Study
The county that is home to 3 first-magnitude springs initiated this work in 2004 at the direction of the County Commission and in light of questions over how future population growth will affect public water supplies. The health of springs, wetlands and lakes is one of the many pressures that must be balanced as Marion County looks 50 years into the future. The final report was presented on May 8, 2007 and can be viewed at the WRAMS website.

50-Year Retrospective Study of Silver Springs
This study was a collaborative effort between the St. Johns River Water Management District and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. The final report is available on the St. Johns River Water Management District website; check the menu item labelled Publications.

Some major findings:

The overall structure and function of Silver Springs appears similar to qualitative observations from the 1950’s and 1970’s.
Spring flow and rate of community metabolism are still high compared to other systems, and the species richness for birds, fish and reptiles is similar to historic records.
Despite these positive observations, some significant changes since the 1950’s include spring flow decrease of about 20%, with a 176% increase in nitrogen (No3-N), 21% decline in the dominant aquatic plant biomass, 72% decline in insect productivity, absence of formerly common musk turtles, 96% decline in fish biomass, and declines in gross primary productivity (27%), community respiration (26%), and net primary productivity (59%).

View a more detailed summary of major study findings (PDF).

Striving for improvements to the plan for State Road 35 Expansion (Baseline Road)
A summary of the Stormwater Ponds Alternatives Analysis for the proposed expansion of SR 35 was presented to the Working Group in August of 2006. An Environmental Resource Permit was granted by SJRWMD in November 2007. The Working Group has been concerned about the design of this roadway expansion because of the possibility of sinkhole formation, proximity to the head springs area, and how the design will affect the “Monster Pipe”. Although funding for the full expansion has not been approved, the stormwater management system will be built during the first part of the expansion to four lanes which is planned for 2008.

The SJRWMD Technical Staff report for the permit stated that all Working Group concerns are addressed by the design. However, the Working Group is still concerned that expansion of the road threatens the water quality of Silver Springs.

Exotic Species: Channeled Apple Snails and Armored Catfish
This exotic snail is introduced into spring systems when people dump aquariums into water bodies. The channeled apple snail is the size of a baseball, so if you see a huge snail it is this one, not the native one with which it can be easily confused when it is smaller. These exotic snails compete with the native apple snails, eat aquatic plants voraciously, and carry a parasite that makes it unwise for people to eat them.

Armored catfish are very numerous at the headspring area as of early 2008. A South American native, the armored catfish was first documented in the Indian River Lagoon in 1995 but has since spread into the St. Johns River basin as well as other Florida rivers.

What’s Happening to Silver Springs?

2006-04-07T11:48:00.000-04:00

Water quality in the groundwater basin that contributes to springflow has declined in recent years. In particular, the increased concentration of nutrients, especially nitrates, and the decreased clarity of the water at the headsprings are trends that could eventually reduce the beauty of Silver Springs and the Silver River, and reduce the enjoyment of these resources by residents and visitors. There has also been a long-term reduction in the flow of the group of springs in the Silver Springs complex.

The increased nutrients create an overabundance of aquatic plants and algae. This is a threat to the remarkable clarity of water at Silver Springs, and disturbs the balance of the fisheries and aquatic ecosystems within the springs and the river. Community groups are currently contributing many hours of volunteer labor to rid the river of water lettuce in the Silver River and headsprings.

Selected Working Group Accomplishments

2006-04-07T11:42:00.000-04:00

Since 1999, the Silver Springs Working Group has:

Established a presence and focal point for many local entities that are concerned with the long-term welfare of Silver Springs and the Silver River.
Sponsored two land acquisition applications to Florida Forever (the state land acquisition program). The Avatar tract, still in progress as of December 2005. is a vested subdivision of 8,000 lots on approximately 4,500 acres located on important recharge lands north of Silver Springs. It includes Indian Lake, a sinkhole lake. The Seldin tract was purchased by the State in June 2005 and is being managed by the Marion County Parks and Recreation Department. It comprises 350 acres adjacent to Silver River State Park in close proximity to the headspring.
Developed a map and display concerning the location of important recharge areas within the groundwater basin.

Advocated funding for an update of an important ecological study of Silver Springs that was originally done in 1957 through funding by the Florida Springs Initiative.
Convened an action team that reviewed future stormwater management plans for State Roads 35 and 40 with the Florida Department of Transportation.

Coordinated public response to county hearings regarding land use actions near the springs.Advocated funding for a long-term USGS study of nitrate in groundwater in the Silver Springs Basin to clarify the sources of high nitrate concentrations in groundwater.

Started an “Old Timers Day” event that brings long-term residents to the spring to share stories about the past at Silver Springs, and relate valuable information about changes that have occurred.

Identified a major stormwater outfall that affects the Silver River. Local agencies and FDOT are cooperating to create a major stormwater retrofit project in conjunction with Marion County’s Phase II NPDES permit activities.

Established an information library for the spring and its basin within the Silver River Museum.
Created an action team to support numerous water lettuce removal events at the headspring and in the Silver River, in cooperation with the Friends of Silver River and other civic groups.

In conjunction with the St. Johns River Water Management District, obtained funding through the Florida Springs Initiative to produce exhibits and a short education video concerning Marion County’s springs and the challenges that confront them.

Held a business outreach event in the spring of 2001 entitled “Taking Care of Business”, emphasizing the link between the health of Silver Springs and tourism in the local economy.

Held an Earth Science Day event at Silver Springs Attraction in 1999 that included information for residents about what they can do to reduce pollution to groundwater.

Numerous boat trips on the Silver River sponsored by the Working Group have brought state legislators, their aides, and other elected officials out on the water to focus their attention on the Silver River and Silver Springs.

Clarified water quality compliance issues within the River and Springs in collaboration with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.

Contributed to the Marion Springs Festival and annual Earth Day events at the Silver River Museum and the Silver Springs attraction with exhibits about Silver Springs and its groundwater basin.

Developed and distributed a fact sheet for the public regarding basin groundwater quality issues, and assisted FDEP in developing a brochure for basin residents entitled “Let’s Protect Silver Springs”.

Obtained funding through the Florida Springs Initiative to support a Silver Springs Working Group coordinator.