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Springs Vent

October 2014

President's Update

Your Water, Your Money: Silver Springs and the Public Trust By Dr. Robert L. Knight

Your state government is hard at work – spending hundreds of thousands of your tax dollars to fight environmental advocates trying to protect Silver Springs, the Silver River, and the Ocklawaha River from further degradation.

During five days last [month], the petitioners: Karen Ahlers and Jeri Baldwin, the Sierra Club, the St. Johns Riverkeeper, and the Florida Defenders of the Environment, joined forces in a David and Goliath struggle against Canadian billionaire Frank Stronach’s Sleepy Creek Lands (a.k.a. Adena Springs Ranch) cattle operation near Ft. McCoy. Against all logic, the St. Johns River Water Management District was on the wrong side of this legal contest. [read more...]

Thank you for helping us raise $6,220 for springs!

The Florida Springs Institute's summer membership drive was a big success! Between June 2nd and September 30th, FSI received $6,220 in new member donations! We could not have reached this accomplishment without the help and support of our members and followers. Welcome new members and thank you for supporting the mission and goals of FSI!

Although our summer membership drive has officially ended, you can still become a member of FSI or make a general donation. We have several membership levels to chose from as well as one-time giving and recurring donation options.

In addition, we have extended our new Lifetime Membership offer. All new or upgrading Lifetime Members from October 1st through November 3rd will receive free entry to our Fall Fundraiser!

Visit our website to join or learn about the benefits of membership today.

Tickets for FSI's Fall Fundraiser are on sale NOW!

On Monday, November 3, 2014, FSI will host a fall fundraising event for our members and Springs Institute supporters at the Hippodrome Theatre in downtown Gainesville to raise funds for upcoming springs projects.

The fun begins at 6 p.m. and includes a silent auction featuring local artists and businesses, a film screening of "Water's Journey" with special introduction by Jill Heinerth and Tom Morris, food and wine, as well as local beers from Swamp Head Brewery. A list of silent auction donations will be released this month!

Tickets for this fundraising event are on sale NOW and can be purchased on our website. We hope to see you there!

FSI Partners with Kings Bay Springs Alliance to complete Kings Bay Restoration Experiment

For the past three years, the Florida Springs institute has been conducting a scientific experiment at Kings Bay in Crystal River to test whether water hyacinth and water lettuce can be used to improve water quality in imperiled springs. The Kings Bay Springs Alliance has now adopted this experiment as an official project.

In early June, FSI constructed new mesh cages designed to prevent manatees from munching away at the test subjects. The project has received partial funding from private sources as well as a materials grant awarded by Sachel's Pizza as part of their community giving program. Additional funding is needed to support our continued research.

If you are interested in learning more about this experiment, please click on the button below. You can also visit the Kings Bay Springs restoration page of our website for updates and news articles on the project.

Let's clean up Kings Bay Springs!

Upcoming Community Events

October - FSI Fall Fundraiser tickets on sale all month!

October 3rd, 10th, and 17th - Springshed Academy hosted by the Volusia Blue Spring Alliance

October 4th - Hidden Springs Paddle with Bill Belleville along the Wekiwa River hosted by the Center for Earth Jurisprudence, RSVP required - contact jmarsden@barry.edu for details

October 4th - Blue Spring Water Festival hosted by the Volusia Blue Spring Alliance, Volusia Blue Spring State Park, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

October 10th - Illusions Exhibit Opening Celebration featuring springs photographer Jenny Adler, Santa Fe College, 6 p.m. - 8 p.m.

October 11th - Florida Fly Fishing Expo Springs Presentation hosted by the International Federation of Fly Fishers, Plantation on Crystal River, 10 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

For event details, visit our website!

Don't forget, you can now donate .5% of your
purchase to the Florida Springs Institute by shopping through Amazon Smile!

The Howard T. Odum Florida Springs Institute is a 501c3 non-profit funded entirely by grants and private donations.

Please consider making a contribution to help further our efforts to protect and restore our majestic springs for current and future generations.

Click here to donate today!

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The Howard T. Odum Florida Springs Institute is a 501c3 non-profit.
EIN 46-1663401

5302 NW 156th Avenue, Gainesville, FL 32653
Main Tel: (386) 462-1003
Main Fax: (386) 462-3196

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