FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Jan. 26, 2015
DEP HOSTS MEETING TO DEVELOP RESTORATION PLAN FOR VOLUSIA BLUE SPRING
AND RUN
~Public opportunity to learn about identifying and quantifying pollution sources in Volusia Blue Basin~
DELTONA
– The Florida Department of Environmental Protection invites local
governments, scientists, environmentalists, agricultural producers and other
interested parties to a restoration plan development workshop for Volusia Blue
Spring and Run.
WHAT:
Meeting to Discuss
Restoration Plan for Volusia Blue Spring and Run
WHEN:
Thursday,
Jan. 29, 2015
10
a.m. – noon
WHERE:
Deltona Library and
Environmental Center – Scrub Jay Auditorium
2150
Eustace Ave.
Deltona,
FL 32725
“Florida’s springs are a valuable resource for the state and a
priority for restoration,” said Tom Frick, director of DEP's Division of
Environmental Assessment and Restoration.“ These meetings help ensure
productive communication between affected parties, citizens and the
department.”
At this meeting, representatives will discuss the hydrogeology
of the Volusia Blue Spring basin and introduce the process for identifying and
quantifying pollutant sources to the springshed. Volusia Blue, like many
springs in Florida, is suffering from an excess of nutrient pollution,
specifically nitrates. Nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorous are naturally
present in surface waters and support aquatic plant and animal life. When excessive
levels of nutrients are present however, rapid algal growth can occur and lead
to a number of water quality complications including habitat smothering and
oxygen depletion.
Volusia Blue is the largest spring on
the St. John’s River and is a designated manatee refuge. The vent to this
first-magnitude spring is also the entrance to an extensive underwater cave
system. The spring system serves as the foundation for Blue Spring State Park,
which hosts nearly 250,000 visitors each year and provides opportunities for
camping, swimming, diving and canoeing. These activities are restricted in the
winter to accommodate the large number of manatees taking refuge in the warmer spring
water.
For more information on the restoration
plan program, please click here.
| 
