VOLUME III, ISSUE I WWW.FLORIDASPRINGSINSTITUTE.ORG WINTER 2016 VOLUME III, ISSUE I WWW.FLORIDASPRINGSINSTITUTE.ORG WINTER 2016

THE SPRING SENTINEL

THE HOWARD T. ODUM FLORIDA SPRINGS INSTITUTE

In this Issue

Science at Work: Kings Bay Clean-Up 1 SPRINGSWATCH Volunteers 2-3 Upcoming Events: Give Springs a Break 4

The Gopher Tortoise is an

ancient species that can be found in spring recharge

areas. It uses its shovel-like arms to dig burrows in

deep, sandy soils. It shares its burrow with more than

350 other species, including snakes, owls,

rabbits, and frogs.

CC image, Craig O’Neal on Flickr

VOLUME III, ISSUE I WINTER 2016

SPECIES SPOTLIGHT

WRAPPING UP RESEARCH IN KINGS BAY

The Kings Bay Phytoremediation Project is drawing to a close after nearly 4 years of a unique effort to clean up Kings Bay the natural way – that is, using aquatic plants to improve water quality. Dr. Robert Knight and staff at the Florida Springs Institute, working in concert with Kings Bay Springs Alliance, Save the Manatee Club, and Stetson University, came up with this scientific solution to dampen the effects of nutrient pollution in Kings Bay.

Kings Bay is plagued with an invasive species of algae, called lyngbya algae, that has turned the once crystal-clear waters to a soupy green. Scientists believe that lyngbya algae began to prosper as a result of increased levels of nitrogen leaking into the Floridan Aquifer. As water quality decreased, so did the amount of eelgrass along the bottom of the bay, making more light available to the algae.

Lyngbya is filamentous and stringy, growing in tangled mats at the bottom of the bay. It then produces gases that make it float to the surface. Previous clean-up efforts have removed tens of thousands of pounds of algae using only kayakers armed with rakes. Unfortunately, lyngbya algae just keeps growing back.

That’s why Dr. Knight devised a plan to use water lettuce and water hyacinth to shade the bottom of the bay, preventing sunlight from reaching the algae. These floating plants are also natural filters, eating up the excess nutrients that the algae need to grow.

Water lettuce and water hyacinth were installed in 28 floating PVC pipe cages that covered about one acre of the bay’s surface. With the help of volunteers, FSI conducted regular sampling in the experimental area to detect improvements in water quality and clarity. As part of the final stage of the project, the collected data will be analyzed, and full findings will be included in the Kings Bay Adaptive Management report to be released next month.

The Florida Springs Institute, working with Stetson University, may soon implement a second phase of phytoremediation in Crystal River/Kings Bay to continue testing this method of springs restoration.

THE HOWARD T. ODUM FLORIDA SPRINGS INSTITUTE

About Us

The Florida Springs Institute is working toward

the vision of having a permanent research center

focused on springs and aquatic ecology and education at a major Florida spring. In the

meantime, we are devoting our time and energy to

developing restoration and management goals for as many springs as possible and advocating for their

full implementation.

Howard T. Odum Florida Springs Institute

23695 W US HWY 27

High Springs, FL 32643

(386)-454-2427

For more info, email: hculp@floridasprings

institute.org

Follow us on social media!

The Florida Springs Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit

organization. Your donation may be tax deductible.

FEIN 46-1663401

The work of the Howard T. Odum Florida Springs Institute is funded entirely through grants and private donations. Please consider supporting springs conservation and restoration by making a donation online or via mail, becoming a member, or including the Florida Springs Institute in your will. Please visit www.FloridaSpringsInstitute.org/ Join-Us.

PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPRINGS

JOIN US FOR AN OPEN HOUSE

Springs event for students! April 1-3, 2016

This spring, college students will have the opportunity to spend a weekend immersed in springs education and recreation. The Florida Springs Institute, in partnership with the UNF Environmental Center, has gathered top experts and advocates to speak on the subjects of cave diving,

hydrology, biology, advocacy through art, springs restoration, and more!

Registration includes entrance into Ginnie Springs, weekend camping, lunch on Saturday, and an event t-shirt. Bring your camping gear and enjoy this chance to meet students from other schools with an interest in conservation. For more information, please visit www.FloridaSpringsInstitute.org/events. Students who have taken this course in the past are not eligible to participate.

The Suwannee River

Water lettuce and water hyacinth corrals covered about one acre of Kings Bay.

PVC pipe cages were designed by FSI.

We have moved into our new offices and Environmental Center in High Springs! Please join us for an open house event:

March 5, 2016 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Springs Environmental Center

23695 W US HWY 27 High Springs, FL 32643

Des

ign

by R

ick

Kilb

y

VOLUME III, ISSUE I WWW.FLORIDASPRINGSINSTITUTE.ORG WINTER 2016 VOLUME III, ISSUE I WWW.FLORIDASPRINGSINSTITUTE.ORG WINTER 2016

THE

HO

WAR

D T

. OD

UM

FLO

RID

A SP

RIN

GS

INST

ITUT

E

THE

HO

WAR

D T

. OD

UM

FLO

RID

A SP

RIN

GS

INST

ITUT

E

CITIZENS ARE SCIENTISTS WITH SPRINGSWATCH

For the past six years, the Florida Springs Institute, with assistance from the Protect Florida Springs Grant Program, has coordinated a springs monitoring program called SPRINGSWATCH. Collecting ecological data on a regular basis to detect trends in the health of Florida’s springs is an essential piece of the restoration puzzle. A quantitative record of environmental conditions acts as a map, showing scientists where springs are headed if current policies persist.

Over the past 50 years, the health of our springs has been declining rapidly. An overage of groundwater withdrawals has led to a decrease in spring flows, and a combination of human activities, such as using nitrogen fertilizers on farmland, has increased concentrations of nitrate nitrogen in springs. The majority of these human-induced changes affecting springs

LINDSEY KELLY (WELSH) Production Supervisor for ELISA Technologies Lives in Gainesville, FL

Q: When did you start volunteering with SPRINGSWATCH, and how many times have you participated since?

I started volunteering in late 2012 and helped start the Homosassa SPRINGSWATCH program. I volunteer about once a month at Homosassa.

Q: What made you decide to get involved with SPRINGSWATCH?

I moved to Florida to pursue manatee conservation and research. I soon found the Florida Springs Institute and knew it would be a good fit because protecting the springs would also protect the manatees!

Q: Why are springs conservation and restoration important to you, and how have springs mattered in your life?

The springs are so unique, and the health of the springs is so important to protect the fascinating ecosystem they provide. I have loved manatees since I was five years old, and I know how important springs are for the manatees to survive.

Q: Do you feel gratified by the work you do with SPRINGSWATCH?

Yes, I love my work and also getting to interact with the public when I go out and help get others engaged in springs restoration. I have gained so many valuable skills, and I have really enjoyed how hands-on the Institute has allowed me to be. I feel like I really do make a difference.

SPRINGSWATCH volunteers collecting data on the Ichetucknee River

Q: Do you have any advice for people looking for ways to get involved in springs conservation and restoration?

There are so many organizations and ways to volunteer with citizen science or outreach. There is also so much you can do at home to help springs. Research and talk to others in the springs conservation field!

Q: What made you decide to get involved with SPRINGSWATCH?

I joke that this has to be the most selfish volunteer work I do. Put me on the beautiful Ichetucknee to paddle with other great folks who love the river and read a few meters along the way? Pure torture. Q: Why are springs conservation and restoration important to you, and how have springs mattered in your life?

The health of our springs directly connects to the quality of our drinking water. This should matter to everyone. Florida’s springs are where we go to dive, paddle, swim, and renew ourselves. Their beauty hits me at a visceral level. Q: Do you have any advice for people looking to get involved in springs conservation and restoration?

First, visit a spring! And bring a friend. People won’t fight to save what they don’t know about.

Second, stay informed. Follow the news. For folks in North Central Florida, Ichetucknee Alliance offers some excellent ways to educate yourself. A couple good examples include their Water Voices speaker series and the Water 101 web page that explains how water decisions are made in Florida, along with the alphabet soup of acronyms that get tossed around.

Third, participate. Support your local springs advocacy group by becoming a member and participating in their activities. Recruit your friends and family members to do the same. Vote for political leaders who take springs restoration and water issues seriously.

ecosystems are not recorded on a regular basis. This grievous gap in knowledge prompted concerned citizens to step into the role of scientist for the sake of our springs.

Trained in the use of sampling equipment, data collection, and reporting, SPRINGSWATCH volunteers provide monthly updates on springs ecological health by collecting water quality measurements, biota observations, and more. The program is now active at springs systems along the Silver, Ichetucknee, and Homosassa rivers.

Who are these citizen scientists, and how did they get involved in SPRINGSWATCH? Two of our volunteers have shared their stories with us in the following interviews.

Lindsey Kelly preparing her snorkel mask

Jill Lingard paddling the Ichetucknee River

JILL LINGARD Paddler with Paddle Florida and the Florida Paddling Trails Association Lives in Gainesville, FL Q: When did you start volunteering with SPRINGSWATCH, and how many times have you participated since? I started volunteering about a year and a half ago, shortly after I joined the Ichetucknee Alliance’s board and learned about it. I’ve participated in about a dozen monitoring sessions. We meet monthly. Citizen scientists at Silver Springs