FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Aug. 28, 2015
DEP HOSTS RESTORATION UPDATE MEETING FOR WEKIVA BASIN
~Discussion to focus on progress and identifying actions
moving forward~
ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, Fla. - The
Florida Department of Environmental Protection will host a public meeting on Sept.
2 to discuss the water quality restoration plan for the Wekiva
River, Rock Springs Run and Little Wekiva Canal. DEP
representatives will review the draft restoration plan, or Basin Management Action Plan (BMAP), and
take public input prior to finalization and submittal.
“The
department is dedicated to achieving real water quality improvements by working
alongside stakeholders to craft an effective restoration plan,” said Tom Frick,
director of the Division of Environmental Assessment and Restoration. “DEP
looks forward to continuing this partnership to improve the water quality of
this important watershed.”
Nutrient
pollution, or an excess of nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorous, is one of
the greatest water quality challenges facing many of Florida’s spring
systems. These nutrients are naturally present in the water and necessary
for the healthy growth of plant and animal life; however, an excess of
nutrients in the water can lead to complications like rapid algal growth, habitat smothering
and oxygen depletion.
In advance of formal adoption of the BMAP, significant
restoration efforts have already been made in this basin by the Wekiva Basin
Working Group member organizations. Members have also made commitments for additional projects and programs over the first
phase of the BMAP. Through these efforts, members will achieve significant reductions
in annual nutrient pollution to the Wekiva River Basin, including more than 423,000 pounds
of Total Nitrogen (TN) and more than 90,000 pounds of Total Phosphorus (TP).
The
Wekiva River receives discharges from several major tributaries, including
Wekiwa Springs Run, Rock Springs Run, the Little Wekiva River and Blackwater
Creek. The Wekiva River and Rock Springs
Run and the associated headsprings provide recreational opportunities such as swimming, snorkeling, tubing, canoeing, boating and fishing. The Wekiva River and the lower
reaches of Rock Springs Run, Blackwater Creek and the Little Wekiva River are
designated by the state as an Aquatic Preserve. The Wekiva River system
is
also designated by the state as an Outstanding Florida Water, and the federal
government has designated the river as an Outstanding Natural Resource Water
and a Wild and Scenic River.
The
meeting announcement, location and other information can be viewed here.
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