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Learn More About the Florida Springs Council*
If you are interested in learning more about the Florida Springs Council (FSC), visit SpringsForever.com. The website not only features information on the issues facing springs and the solutions needed to help restore them to full health, but also serves as the central hub for information about the newly-formed Florida Springs Council and will be an important tool for those who wish to get involved in springs issues as individuals or through an FSC partner organization.
Stay tuned for more information about the FSC and its projects in the coming months. Please consider making a financial contribution to help fund the FSC's efforts by clicking the box below:
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*The Florida Springs Council is a project of the Florida Springs Institute. Your donation is tax deductible.
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Dr. Knight Welcomed by the IHMC as Featured Speaker in Ocala
On Tuesday, December 16th, FSI's Executive Director, Dr. Bob Knight, spoke at the Institute for Human & Machine Cognition (IHMC) about the problems facing our springs and possible solutions for springs restoration. The evening's lecture, entitled "Florida's Springs, Aquifer, and Water Economy", focused on a case study of Silver Springs located just a few miles from downtown Ocala, where the sold out crowd gathered to hear Dr. Knight speak.
During the lecture, Dr. Knight discussed the biological functions of springs and pointed out several problems preventing Silver Springs from being restored to its former glory, including heavy nitrate-nitrogen levels in groundwater, decreased spring flows due to overpumping of the Floridan Aquifer, and loss of biodiversity as a result of construction of the Rodman Dam. Dr. Knight also discussed solutions to these issues. The full video recording of Dr. Knight's IHMC lecture can be viewed here.
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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.
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Photo by Jill Lingard
FSI's SpringsWatch Program Teaches You the Science Behind Springs
Are you looking for firsthand experience in the fields of biology and environmental science, or perhaps just hoping to spend a day in nature learning about springs? The Florida Springs Institute SpringsWatch program is a great opportunity to gain insight about the current health of our springs while giving back to your community.
FSI is currently looking for volunteers to assist with water quality data monitoring in springs along the Silver, Ichetucknee, and Homosassa rivers. Volunteers are trained in the proper use of sampling equipment, data collection, and reporting. All outings are supervised by an FSI staff member or trained intern.
To learn more about the FSI SpringsWatch program, how you can become a volunteer, and upcoming sampling dates, please visit our website.
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Upcoming Community Events
January 1st - Happy New Year from the Florida Springs Institute!
January 3rd - Iche Nippy Dip Day, head spring at Ichetucknee Springs State Park, Fort White, FL, 9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m., event is free with $6 park admission. Click here for more info.
January 13th - Silver River SpringsWatch, volunteers always welcome, contact Ron Clarke for more info.
January 24th - Ichetucknee SpringsWatch, volunteers always welcome, contact Jasmine Hagan for more info.
January 24th-25th - Blue Spring Manatee Festival, Valentine Park, Orange City, FL, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., event website.
January 27th - Silver River SpringsWatch, volunteers always welcome, contact Ron Clarke for more info.
January 27th - 3rd Springs Roundtable, Gainesville, FL, 10 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., invitation only. If you did not receive a Save the Date by email and you would like for your springs-focused organization to attend, please contact us.
January 28th - The Myth and Magic of Florida Springs featuring Rick Kilby and Margaret Ross Tolbert, Trinity United Methodist Church, Gainesville, FL, 6 p.m. - 8 p.m., contact the Center for Earth Jurisprudence for more info.
For further event details, please visit our website or click on the links listed above!
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