PRESS
RELEASE: June 1, 2015
DEP HOSTS MEETING TO FURTHER RESTORATION PLAN FOR WEEKI WACHEE SPRINGS
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DEP continues to develop restoration plan in the Weeki Wachee springs
basin
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BROOKSVILLE, Fla. – On June 4, the
Florida Department of Environmental Protection will be hosting a meeting to
further the development of a long-term restoration plan for the Weeki Wachee
springs system. Stakeholders and interested members of the public are invited
to attend. DEP staff will outline the restoration plan development process, discuss
pollutant sources in the basin and identify potential water quality improvement
projects.
“Weeki Wachee is a historic landmark and a valuable
natural resource for our state,” said Tom Frick, director of the Division of
Environmental Assessment and Restoration. “We are working alongside stakeholders
and the public to develop the most effective and informed restoration plan
possible.”
Nutrient pollution, or an excess
of nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorous, is one of the primary challenges to
water quality restoration across the state. Nutrients are naturally present in
water and necessary for the healthy growth of plant and animal life; however, an excess
of nutrients, can lead to water quality problems like the rapid growth
of algal mats, habitat smothering and oxygen depletion in the water.
To combat water pollution, DEP
first develops a restoration goal known as a TMDL. The TMDL, or total maximum
daily load, identifies the maximum amount of a specific pollutant that may be
present in a given water body for the water body to remain healthy and
functional. The TMDL then functions as the primary target for a restoration
plan, called a BMAP or basin management action plan. The BMAP is a five-year
plan with set milestones that identifies projects and strategies to reduce
pollution or eliminate pollutant sources. This meeting will further the
development of the BMAP for the Weeki Wachee springs system.
Weeki Wachee is a historic and
world-renowned tourist attraction which has delighted visitors with an iconic
underwater mermaid show since 1947. Weeki Wachee State Park is built around the
spring and acts as an environmental and recreational resource for the state.
Weeki Wachee Springs and several smaller springs form the headwaters of the
Weeki Wachee River, a clear, swift water run that flows westward into the Gulf
of Mexico.
The meeting announcement,
location, agenda and other information can be viewed here.
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