Following the Ichetucknee

[tflaris]

http://vimeo.com/m/92100569

The short video takes you on a trip from the Upper Ichetucknee Basin to the confluence of the Ichectucknee and Santa Fe Rivers in North Central Florida. It is easy to forget about what happens upstream from a beautiful and pristine river like the Ichetucknee. The Ichetucknee is under threat from chemical and nutrient runoff as well as from lowered water levels which affect the ecology of the Ichetucknee's multiple ecosystems and the quality of the water that people from all over the world have enjoyed for so long.

After the video, you will see a map that highlights the locations of the areas above the river that were featured in this video.

The Ichetucknee River and its springs are not the only waterways in Florida at risk. This video serves as an example of how what we do upriver and aboveground can affect our aquifer and springs.

For more information about Florida's springs and what you can do to help protect them, visit:
floridaspringsinstitute.org/

Listen to the NPR Story about the Ichetucknee River from April 15, 2014 here:
npr.org/2014/04/15/303172361/florida-s-freshwater-springs-attract-spring-break-vacationers

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[WEPIV]

Thanks Tony for putting this video link here. I had not seen it before.
My family and I just snorkeled down the Ichetucknee today and noticed that there was more silt, etc., underwater than normal giving it, at times, about 30 feet of visibility. This was not the case up near Jug, but further down river.
Anyone that says it looks the same as it did years ago simply does not know what they are talking about.

Gene

[Jack Hammer]

Sorry, tells me video not available

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[JE]

The first time I free dove the Jug hole was in 1981 which at that time was as pristene and blue as the sky. It was always my favorite both above & below the surface. Thru the years I've seen it in varying degrees of visability, and even swam the entire run a few times. Sometimes i noticed a lot of particulate both in the water & on the bottom, but it never looked as sad as the Blue Springs in Orange City. You can visiably see the degradation of the rivers following a long draught and the result of land owners & government both spraying & filtering chemicals & sewage into the runoffs !
I became sickened at times when these springs are so bad, that I will not even go in them. It is up to us to restore these resources that once were clean enough to drink drink directly from the springs. No more ! Thanks for the reminder.
je