The first of $50 million in funds set aside in the 2020 Florida budget for springs-related protection was handed over by Gov. Ron DeSantis in a ceremony at Weeki Wachee Springs State Park on Friday.
A news conference from the attraction famous for its mermaid shows in its crystal-clear springs water highlighted $3.7 million in funding for a nearby wastewater treatment plant that aims to reduce nutrients in its water that could affect the quality of the springs.
“The springs of Florida are a huge part of what makes Florida Florida,” DeSantis said. “It’s an iconic part of our natural resources.”
DeSantis said one of his administration’s top priorities has been the improve the water quality in Florida.
“There’s no way you can do that effectively, without devoting resources to springs restoration,” he said.
Environmental Protection Secretary Noah Valenstein said the funding will help bring total nitrogen in the treated water from the Hernando County plant from 14 mg per liter down to 3 mg per liter.
It’s the first of several projects across the state that aim to build on $100 million set aside in 2019 for springs restoration, including 3,700 acres of land acquisition in North Florida to protect the Ichetucknee, Ginnie Springs and Sawdust and Devil’s Ear spring heads.
DeSantis said the rest of the $46.3 million in the 2020 budget is for 20 more springs projects that also include septic-to-sewer conversion and enhanced water quality monitoring and more restoration efforts.
They includes:
— $1.1 million for the Apopka West Reuse Storage Facility and Reclaimed Water Extension project that will provide nearly 3.5 million gallons daily of reclaimed water, and benefit both Wekiwa and Rock springs.
— $1.1 million to extend central sewer service in a neighborhood located near Marianna, including abandoning septic tanks near the Chipola River.
— More than $8.3 million for Marion County projects in to help protect Rainbow Springs.
“We had a tough budget year just given the changes and the circumstances that we were facing, but I really felt it was important to preserve the environmental funding in a prudent investment,” DeSantis said.
He also highlighted another project, HB 1061, which created the Nature Coast Aquatic Preserve, a designation that protects water and submerged lands from dredging and filling and other protections, targeting 400,000 acres of seagrass that connects with three existing preserves “to form the largest contiguous stretch of protected seagrass in the entire Gulf of Mexico region.”
He said it was the first preserve to be added to the state’s system in more than 30 years.
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