FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Aug. 7, 2017
Projects to Restore Silver, Wekiva, Volusia Blue and De Leon Springs Receive Funding From the Fighting for Florida’s Future Budget
~ Collaboration
enables continued momentum for springs restoration~
TALLAHASSEE,
Fla. - Under the
leadership of Governor Rick Scott, the Florida Department of Environmental
Protection announced a suite of 40 projects that will receive $50
million from the Fighting for Florida’s Future budget to improve water
quality, reduce nutrient loading, recharge water supply and protect habitat in
Florida’s iconic spring systems. This includes a state investment of more than $10.2 million to protect springs in Central and Northeast Florida, including the Silver, Wekiva, Volusia Blue and De Leon springsheds. Combined with match
funding from Florida’s water management districts and local partners, the investment in springs projects statewide will total more than $94 million during the
2017-18 fiscal year.
“Thanks to the continued commitment of
Governor Scott and the Florida Legislature in securing a dedicated funding
source for springs restoration and protection, we can continue to focus on
completing strategic acquisitions and projects that will produce real benefits
for our spring systems,” said DEP Secretary Noah Valenstein. “I look forward to
continuing to work with the Governor and Legislature, the water management
districts and partners in the environmental, agricultural and local communities
to conserve and protect Florida’s iconic springs.”
“Florida’s springs will directly benefit from continued
funding available thanks to the leadership of Gov. Scott, the Florida
Legislature and the Department of Environmental Protection,” said Executive
Director of the St. Johns River Water Management District Dr. Ann Shortelle.
“Projects within the St. Johns River Water Management District will help
improve both water quality and water quantity in the region, leading to
healthier springs that will better serve the public, visitors and generations
to come.”
The project
development process is a collaborative effort among the department, water
management districts, community leaders and local stakeholders. Projects are
selected based on pollutant reduction, water conservation, cost effectiveness
and available matching dollars.
The following highlighted projects are three of the 17 selected projects for the Central and Northeast Florida regions, benefiting De Leon, Silver and Wekiva springs.
De Leon
Springs
Fieser Dairy: A total of $2.5 million in collaborative
funding will be used to purchase a conservation easement to transition from a
highly intensive dairy operation to a less intensive ranching operation, which
will ensure land protection and nutrient reduction benefits for De Leon
Springs. It is estimated that this project will result in a nutrient reduction of more than 200 pounds of total nitrogen per day and more than 80 pounds
of total phosphorus per day.
Silver Springs
Ocala Wetland Groundwater Recharge Park:
A total of $8.3 million in collaborative funding will
be used for the construction of a wetland treatment and groundwater recharge
project located within six miles of Silver Springs. The approximate 33-acre
project will receive excess treated reclaimed water from the city of Ocala
Water Reclamation Facilities and stormwater from the Old City Yard Drainage
Retention Area. The project will provide 3-5 million gallons per day of
recharge and is projected to increase flow of Silver Springs up to 3.6
cubic feet per second. The project will also provide water quality benefits by
reducing the amount of nutrients entering the springs and river, as well as
reduce nutrient loading to the Upper Floridan Aquifer.
Wekiva Springs
Longwood Transmission Main for Septic
Tank Abatement Program and Springs Recharge: A total of $4.6 million in collaborative
funding will be used to install a transmission main to connect to the city of
Altamonte Springs plant, providing the needed treatment capacity for Longwood's
existing and future septic tank connection projects. This project is part of
the Central Florida Water Initiative (CFWI), and is a continuation of Longwood's
septic tank abatement program. The long-term flow to the system from this
project is estimated at 1.1 million gallons per day. This project will provide
additional water for recharge for the Wekiva system through the city of Apopka
storage area, and will add a reuse source to the regional system between
Apopka, the city of Altamonte Springs and the A-FIRST system, Orange County
Utilities, and others within the CFWI.
A complete list
of the springs protection projects funded by the Fighting for Florida’s
Future budget can be found here. These projects will be considered by the
water management district Governing Boards as part of their upcoming budget
hearings. More information is also available on springs projects funded
during the FY 16-17 year and FY 15-16 year.
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