Document ID: EPA-HQ-OW-2009-0596-2534
Agency: epa
Document Type: Supporting & Related Material
Title: 
Posted Date: 2010-12-06T05:00Z

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      <td colspan="7"><h2 align="left">Workshop Introduction</h2></td></tr>
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            <h3>Problem
            Statement</h3>
           <p class="body">Wakulla Spring is the third largest spring in
            Florida and one of the best known. The spring is the centerpiece of
            Wakulla Springs State Park, considered the crown jewel of the
            Florida parks. It discharges an average of 250 million gallons of
            water per day from the Floridan aquifer to form the Wakulla River.
            It has the largest range of discharge of any spring in Florida, ~80
            million gallons per day at low stage and > 1 billion gallons per
            day at high stage. The sheer size of the spring basin is uniquely
            impressive being several hundred feet across and more than 100 feet
            deep. The spring pool contains the entrance to one of the longest
            and deepest underwater caves in the world having more than 10 miles
            of mapped passages that extend both north and south from the spring.</p>
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            <p class="captions"><img border="1" border-color="black" src="./FGS 2010_files/basin_splash.jpg" width="302" height="227" alt="glass-bottom boat over Wakulla Springs"><br>
            <strong>Glass-bottom boat over
            Wakulla Spring</strong></p></td>
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            <p class="body">
            The park features glass bottom boat tours that enthrall visitors
            when the water is clear with views of the spring and cave entrance.
            Wakulla Spring is also a national cultural treasure being the site
            of Indian artifacts, and the setting for classic movies such as the
            original Tarzan series and the Creature from the Black Lagoon.<br>
               Unfortunately, water quality in Wakulla Spring has been
            in decline for more than a decade due to rising nitrate levels,
            algae blooms and a growth explosion of Hydrilla that chokes the
            spring and causes the loss of native species, including the apple snail
            and limpkin. The decline in water clarity has kept the glass bottom
            boats at the docks and tourists and cave explorers waiting for clear
            water that seldom comes. Park attendance has dropped in recent years
            by approximately 20,000 visitors per year.</p></td>
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          <td width="60%" valign="top"><h3>Purpose</h3>
            <p class="body">The purpose of this workshop was to present an overview of the broad
            and growing scientific evidence linking water quality decline at
            Wakulla Spring with land use practices in the region. The workshop
            convened scientific and engineering experts to present the current
            understanding of groundwater and surface water flow patterns through
            the Woodville Karst Plain, the sources of pollution to Wakulla
            Springs, and explore the applicability and effectiveness of advanced
            technologies as solutions to the problem of degrading spring water
            quality and clarity. The primary goal of this workshop was to
            disseminate this knowledge to local decision makers and encourage
            cooperative proactive governmental investment in water resource
            protection programs in the Woodville Karst Plain basin.</p>
            <br>

            <h3>General Workshop Format</h3>
            <p class="body">The workshop convened as a plenary session on Thursday morning,
            May 12. Scientists currently engaged in research projects within the
            Woodville Karst Plain gave presentations on groundwater and surface
            water flow patterns and sources of pollution in the Woodville Karst
            Plain. Afterward, the group broke out into three discussion sessions
            focused on the science and technologies specific to abating three
            important sources of nutrient loading in the basin: stormwater,
            septic systems, and wastewater treatment facilities. The discussion
            sessions each contained four or five panelists who gave short
            presentations on the problems from their perspective and a moderator
            who guided subsequent discussions. The goal for each session was to
            build a consensus of opinion and recommendations for the best course
            of action to solve the problems. On Friday morning, May 13, the
            plenary session reconvened and the moderators presented the
            conclusions and recommendations derived in each session. The
            workshop then concluded with lunch and a summary by the emcee.
            Members of the Woodville Karst Plain Project presented a video
            luncheon presentation, Exploring Wakulla Cave, on Thursday, May 12.
            A half-day field trip was offered on Wednesday, May 11, to provide
            an overview of the hydrogeologic setting and sources of pollutions. </p><br>

            <h3>Useful Links</h3>

            <ul>
              <li><a href="http://www.1000friendsofflorida.org/" target="_blank">1000
                Friends of Florida</a></li>

<li><a href="http://www.talgov.com/pubworks/index.cfm" target="_blank">City
                of Tallahassee Public Works</a>                </li>

<li><a href="http://www.doh.state.fl.us/environment/index.html" target="_blank">Department of Health</a>
                </li>

<li><a href="http://www.hazlett-kincaid.com/FGS/" target="_blank">FGS/FSU
                Woodville Karst Plain Research</a></li>

<li><a href="http://www.dep.state.fl.us/geology/programs/hydrogeology/hydro_index.htm" target="_blank">FGS - Hydrogeology Research
                </a></li>

<li><a href="http://www.dca.state.fl.us/fdcp/dcp/springs/index.cfm" target="_blank">Florida Department of Community Affairs - Springs Protection
                </a></li>

<li><a href="http://www.floridasprings.org/" target="_blank">Florida Springs
                </a></li>

<li><a href="http://www.hydrogeologyconsortium.org/" target="_blank">Hydrogeology
                Consortium</a></li>

<li><a href="http://www.cafwn.org/" target="_blank">Leon
                County Capital Area Flood Warning Network</a></li>

<li><a href="http://www.nwfwmd.state.fl.us/" target="_blank">Northwest Florida Water Management District
               </a></li>

<li><a href="http://www.wakullacountytdc.com/" target="_blank">Wakulla County, Florida</a>
                </li>

 <li><a href="http://www.floridastateparks.org/wakullasprings/default.cfm" target="_blank">Wakulla
                Springs State Park</a></li>
            </ul>          </td>
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            <p class="captions"><img border="1" border-color="black" src="./FGS 2010_files/nitrate_plot.gif" width="302" height="185" alt="a graph showing nitrate levels measured in the Wakulla Spring Basin between 1971 and 2004"><br>
            Nitrate levels measured in
            the Wakulla Spring basin between 1971 and 2004</p>

            <p class="captions"><img border="2" border-color="black" src="./FGS 2010_files/algae_basin.jpg" width="302" height="202" alt="Algae and hydrilla covering the Wakulla Spring basin near the platform"><br>
            Algae and hydrilla covering the Wakulla Spring basin near the
            platform</p>
           
            <p class="captions"><img border="0" src="./FGS 2010_files/clarity_plot2.jpg" width="302" height="212" alt="Measured reduction of water clarity in the Wakulla Spring basin based on the number of days the glass bottom boats connot run"><br>
            Measured reduction of water clarity in the Wakulla Spring basin based
            on the number of days the glass bottom boats cannot run</p></td>
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      <p align="center"><img border="0" src="./FGS 2010_files/credits2.jpg" width="642" height="92" alt="logos of all the sponsors of the workshop"></p></td>
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