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Capital wastes fouling Wakulla Springs |
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Written by Administrator
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Monday, 20 March 2006 |
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TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) -- Attorney General Charlie Crist wants state regulators to crack down on those responsible for polluting one of the Florida's most famous springs, or he might take legal action. Wakulla Springs, the state's third largest spring, has become more polluted has become increasingly dirtied by nutrients. They have damaged water quality and caused an explosion in the growth of hydrilla and algae that have altered the natural ecosystem. "Unfortunately, the once-pristine spring is now adversely affected by increased levels of nutrients," said Crist, who described Wakulla Springs as "a unique jewel" in the state's park system. And the problems may be coming from the city of Tallahassee, which sprays up to 20 million gallons a day of nutrient-laden wastewater on a treatment field about 10 miles north of the springs. Crist said Sunday he was concerned with the pollution and "diminishing value" of the spring, and stressed its importance as a natural resource and tourist attraction. "It's a state treasure," Crist said by telephone, adding he'd sent a letter to Tallahassee's mayor with concerns about the city's water treatment possibly fouling the springs. Crist, who is also seeking the Republican nomination for governor, said "avoiding litigation would be great," but he would keep that option open if a solution isn't found. City officials say they are working on improvements at the wastewater plant that will reduce the amount of nitrogen that may be seeping into the groundwater and, eventually, into the spring. However, state lawmakers have yet to take steps to protect more than 700 springs across Florida's landscape. Many suffer from the same problems as Wakulla. Developers, farmers, businesses and other interest groups who fear stronger regulation of the land around the springs may harm their interests, have opposed such legislation. This year, state Sen. Nancy Argenziano, R-Dunnellon, and state Rep. Dwight Stansel, D-Wellborn, have filed bills (HB 693 and SB 2358) to create a task force to raise the visibility of the issue designed to win more protections for the springs. David Gluckman, a lobbyist for the Florida Wildlife Federation, said the state must get a handle on development, septic tanks, sewage treatment discharges and stormwater runoff from urban areas if it hopes to save the springs across the state. But Gluckman said stronger state regulation of the activity around the springs is unlikely to happen in a Republican Legislature. Argenziano is concerned the bureaucracy will bog down. "You know how government is," she said. "We work in baby steps. If we keep taking baby steps, we may find that we don't have those springs anymore." --- http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/F/FL_FOULED_SPRINGS_FLOL-?SITE=FLTAL&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT Information from: The Gainesville Sun, http://www.gainesvillesun.com
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