Gov. Scott announces $2.2 million investment for springs protection

[Gibby]

Nice

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 19, 2013

CONTACT: DEP Press Office, 850.245.2112, DEPNews@dep.state.fl.us

GOV. SCOTT ANNOUNCES $2.2 MILLION INVESTMENT FOR SPRINGS PROTECTION
TALLAHASSEE – Today, Governor Rick Scott and members of the Florida Cabinet approved a plan for the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to purchase a tract of land in Madison County that will fill a critical gap for springs protection, flood control assistance and groundwater recharge. The Cabinet approved the Department’s $2.2 million purchase of a 599-acre property owned by the Damascus Peanut Company on the Suwannee River, located near Anderson Spring. The property will complete sections of the Ellaville Twin Rivers State Forest and will be managed by the Florida Forest Service. It is part of Florida’s First Magnitude Springs Florida Forever Project.

Gov. Scott said, “This investment signifies our commitment to acquiring critical lands for water quality improvements. A healthy environment is part of Florida’s economic engine and we depend on its health. This investment builds on our Florida Families First Budget which invests $269.5 million to improve water quality throughout the Sunshine State.”

The property marks another land purchase that aids in the Department’s goal of protecting springs throughout the state. On March 7, Governor Scott and the Florida Cabinet approved a $1.5 million purchase of land outside Wakulla Springs and within the Wakulla Springs Protection Zone with Florida Forever money. Purchasing land near springs protects the springs, karst windows and the Floridian Aquifer from the effects of commercial, agricultural and residential runoff.

“The Department saw the springs protection, water quality and water quantity that this property offered, so we worked hard to acquire it,” said DEP Secretary Herschel T. Vinyard, Jr. “This purchase keeps a key piece of land in state ownership and furthers the Department’s mission of land purchases that benefit springs.”

The property provides springs protection, a 100-year floodplain and surface water protection. The property lies partially within the springshed for Anderson Spring, which is located on state land directly across the Suwannee River from this property. Cave divers have mapped a connecting cave system that moves toward this property, meaning it has high spring recharge protection potential.

A large number of springs are located along the Suwannee River and this property has 1.6 miles of river frontage on the western bank of the river. Those springs are Hardee Springs, Madison Blue Springs, Falmouth Spring and Lafayette Blue Spring.


http://content.govdelivery.com/bulle...d/FLDEP-71f5ef

[Jay]

Cave divers have mapped a connecting cave system that moves toward this property, meaning it has high spring recharge protection potential.

The first nice word in print from the government about cave divers.

Cool, would have been nice to have a map though.....

[FW]

The first nice word in print from the government about cave divers.

Cool, would have been nice to have a map though.....

Just a guess, but it is directly across the river from Anderson, and the green is Twin Rivers State Forest.
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=30.356...num=1&t=m&z=15

According to the Madison Co property appraisor's website, it is owned by Damascus Peanut Company.

[Jay]

Just a guess, but it is directly across the river from Anderson, and the green is Twin Rivers State Forest.
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=30.356...num=1&t=m&z=15

According to the Madison Co property appraisor's website, it is owned by Damascus Peanut Company.

I thought the Anderson property seemed very small, but if it is the green that is bigget then I thought. Are there any holes in the ground on the Damascus property?

[FW]

I thought the Anderson property seemed very small, but if it is the green that is bigget then I thought. Are there any holes in the ground on the Damascus property?

The green is more than just Anderson, it even continues north of I-10.

When the state actually buys it, we can go look for "holes"

[TracyN]

Yay for governor Scott! He did something good for a change

[Jont]

Gov Scott is a good guy you are lucky to have him, you will see more of this kind of thing from him.

[OFG-1]

Gov Scott is a good guy you are lucky to have him, you will see more of this kind of thing from him.

Well, as a Floridian I doubt this but, on the positive side, if he would wear a turtleneck, he would look like a big penis....either that or Skeletor.

[GLM]

Yeah... I feel sooo lucky. Guess he has actually done something I agree with for the first time.

[Jont]

LOL.......the two that wrote the last posts are entertaining.