WKPP: working toward a solution

true · August 7th, 2006, 04:57 PM

Todd Kincaid has been spearheading Hazlett-Kincaid's efforts to document the connection between groundwater run-off and the springs with a series of dye trace studies that the WKPP has helped to facilitate. Last year's dye trace studies at Fisher Creek, Black Creek, and finally at Ames Sink changed the debate over how Wakulla was impacted by groundwater interaction miles to the north of the spring. This year's dye trace study from the Tallahassee wastewater spray field was perhaps the most controversial finding yet; by proving that there was a direct link between Tallahassee's sewage treatment spray field and Wakulla Springs, the study has set in motion a series of political and legal confontations that pits state vs. city, county vs. county, and development vs. ecological preservation.

Given that the city of Tallahassee was "lawyering up" for a protracted battle to continue with the status quo, today's story from the Tallahassee Democrat is a welcome surprise. Obviously, the sprayfield is just one of many sources of contaminants that are degrading the water quality at Wakulla-- but today's news indicates that the city recognizes that long-term plans needed to be set in motion to protect the springs.

http://tinyurl.com/rsjor

Mayor pledges to reduce nitrogen at sewage plants;
Spray-field runoff hurts area springs
-----
The city will work to reduce nitrogen at its sewage-treatment plants in response to new science showing that wastewater is reaching Wakulla Springs, Mayor John Marks said Friday.

In a surprise move, city officials said they will revise their state permit application and seek to place a legal challenge on hold. A hearing on the challenge was scheduled to begin next month... Federal scientists now are saying more wastewater is flowing to the springs - and faster - than the city had thought, Marks said.

"If the science says we can do better, then we will do better," he said.

GLOC · August 7th, 2006, 05:41 PM

Excellent news Anthony. I hope the outcome is a good one where everyone gets what they want without any animosity being held.

Projects like this show that the earth does work in mysterious ways...

**neilh** · August 7th, 2006, 10:40 PM

Terrific stuff folks!

kamyk · August 8th, 2006, 12:04 PM

Awesome news !! Wow ... that is

kamyk

***ericfine50*** · August 8th, 2006, 12:07 PM

Awesome work guys!!

amascuba · August 8th, 2006, 07:10 PM

Excellent work guy's! It looks as if WKPP is making a real difference in preserving the water quality for everybody in florida. Something like this could also have a ripple effect for water quality studies around the world! Thanks for sharing!

Divingniknaks · August 8th, 2006, 11:23 PM

Yep good stuff indeed.

Nice to see how a bunch of enthustistic "amateurs" (meant in the kindest sense) can do something that the highly qualified scientific community either cant do or cant be bothered to do.

When I think of the hours and hours and (god knows how many) personal dollars that must have been spent to get to that point, my mind just boggles to be honest.

Must be a lot of people with a nice warm glow and well deserved it is too.

A lot of the unsung heros of the support crew for the dives etc must be feeling good too I guess.

Well done to all involved.

.

August 7th, 2006, 04:57 PM	#1 (permalink)
true(Offline) GUE Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Florida Posts: 141	WKPP: working toward a solution Todd Kincaid has been spearheading Hazlett-Kincaid's efforts to document the connection between groundwater run-off and the springs with a series of dye trace studies that the WKPP has helped to facilitate. Last year's dye trace studies at Fisher Creek, Black Creek, and finally at Ames Sink changed the debate over how Wakulla was impacted by groundwater interaction miles to the north of the spring. This year's dye trace study from the Tallahassee wastewater spray field was perhaps the most controversial finding yet; by proving that there was a direct link between Tallahassee's sewage treatment spray field and Wakulla Springs, the study has set in motion a series of political and legal confontations that pits state vs. city, county vs. county, and development vs. ecological preservation. Given that the city of Tallahassee was "lawyering up" for a protracted battle to continue with the status quo, today's story from the Tallahassee Democrat is a welcome surprise. Obviously, the sprayfield is just one of many sources of contaminants that are degrading the water quality at Wakulla-- but today's news indicates that the city recognizes that long-term plans needed to be set in motion to protect the springs. http://tinyurl.com/rsjor Mayor pledges to reduce nitrogen at sewage plants; Spray-field runoff hurts area springs ----- The city will work to reduce nitrogen at its sewage-treatment plants in response to new science showing that wastewater is reaching Wakulla Springs, Mayor John Marks said Friday. In a surprise move, city officials said they will revise their state permit application and seek to place a legal challenge on hold. A hearing on the challenge was scheduled to begin next month... Federal scientists now are saying more wastewater is flowing to the springs - and faster - than the city had thought, Marks said. "If the science says we can do better, then we will do better," he said.

August 7th, 2006, 05:41 PM	#2 (permalink)
GLOC(Offline) Moderator Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Fleet, Hants Posts: 1,963	Excellent news Anthony. I hope the outcome is a good one where everyone gets what they want without any animosity being held. Projects like this show that the earth does work in mysterious ways... __________________ Gareth Images of Life Photography DIR Team Foxturd Travels Underwater and Further Afar If you don't have the time to do something right, where are you going to find the time to fix it? - Stephen King

August 8th, 2006, 12:04 PM	#4 (permalink)
kamyk(Offline) New Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: New Zealand Posts: 128	Awesome news !! Wow ... that is kamyk __________________ www.cavedivers.com.au

August 8th, 2006, 11:23 PM	#7 (permalink)
Divingniknaks(Offline) Resident purveyor of shiney kit.... Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Midlands UK Posts: 1,038	Yep good stuff indeed. Nice to see how a bunch of enthustistic "amateurs" (meant in the kindest sense) can do something that the highly qualified scientific community either cant do or cant be bothered to do. When I think of the hours and hours and (god knows how many) personal dollars that must have been spent to get to that point, my mind just boggles to be honest. Must be a lot of people with a nice warm glow and well deserved it is too. A lot of the unsung heros of the support crew for the dives etc must be feeling good too I guess. Well done to all involved. . __________________ Phill ----------------------------- Salvo Lights, DirZone Gear , Frog Wings Dive ? http://www.divingniknaks.com

August 7th, 2006, 10:40 PM	#3 (permalink)
neilh(Offline) Haemoglobin on the bus... Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Barnsley, UK Posts: 1,900	Terrific stuff folks!

August 8th, 2006, 12:07 PM	#5 (permalink)
*ericfine50*(Offline) Moderator Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: MA Posts: 622	Awesome work guys!!

August 8th, 2006, 07:10 PM	#6 (permalink)
amascuba (Online) New Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: West Texas Posts: 128	Excellent work guy's! It looks as if WKPP is making a real difference in preserving the water quality for everybody in florida. Something like this could also have a ripple effect for water quality studies around the world! Thanks for sharing!