Acknowledgments The Florida Departments of Community Affairs and Environmental Advisory Committee Direction for development of this manual was provided by the following Advisory Committee who dedicated Protection wish to express their appreciation to the following individuals: countless hours of their time to this effort. Richard Deadman, Florida Department of Community Affairs, Project Manager Jeff Bielling Jim Stevenson, Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Project Manager Florida Department of Community Affairs Maria Abadal Cahill, Florida Department of Community Affairs Richard Budell Walker Banning, Florida Department of Community Affairs Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Julia “Alex” Magee, 1000 Friends of Florida Bruce Day Withlacoochee Regional Planning Council Dan Pennington, 1000 Friends of Florida Steven Dwinell Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Charles Gauthier Florida Department of Community Affairs Joel D. Jackson Special thanks to Paulette Bond, Florida Geological Survey, for her graphic contribution. Florida Golf Course Superintendents Association The manual can be found on the Florida Department of Community Affairs’ website: www.dca.state.fl.us/fdcp/DCP/publications John Outland Florida Department of Environmental Protection For additional copies of the manual, please contact: Division of Community Planning, Publications, Florida Department of Community Affairs, 2555 Shumard Oak Boulevard, Joseph Quinn Tallahassee, Florida 32399-2100, (850) 487-4545. Southwest FloridaWater Management District A publication of the Florida Department of Community Affairs, Florida Department Pete Sleszynski of Environmental Protection and 1000 Friends of Florida. This publication was Florida Department of Environmental Protection prepared based on recommendations contained in the Florida Springs Task Force final report: Florida’s Springs: Strategies for Protection and Restoration and funded through a grant by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. Miles M. (Bud) Smart Audubon International © November, 2002 Printed on recycled paper. 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE Table of Contents 3 INTRODUCTION 59 Encourage Appropriate Water Conservation Measures 4 Florida’s Geology Creates Our Springs 60 Increase Public Awareness 6 There Are Many Unseen Connections to a Spring 63 Additional Resources 6 Springs Contribute to Florida’s Economy 64 Attachment 1: Specific Policy and Permitting Considerations for Karst 7 Land Use Can Have a Negative Impact on Springs Areas 9 Planning Strategies and Best Management Practices Are Effective 66 Attachment 2: Non-Structural and Structural Management Practices Tools for Springs Protection 68 GOLF COURSE SITING, DESIGN AND 9 Additional Resources MANAGEMENT 10 COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING STRATEGIES 69 Use a Springshed-Based Approach to Golf Course Siting and 12 Use Florida’s Comprehensive Planning Process Effectively Development 14 Establish a Working Group 72 Select an Appropriate Site 14 Adopt a Resolution of Support for Springshed Protection 74 Integrate Environmental Planning into Golf Course Design 17 Collect Data and Map the Resources 81 Establish and Follow a Construction Management Program 21 Establish Springshed Protection Zones 84 Create a Golf Course-Specific Natural Resource Management Plan 22 Create an Overlay Protection District 93 Additional Resources 24 Use Other Appropriate Land Use Planning Tools 94 Attachment: Elements of a Natural Resource Management Plan 28 Use Acquisition and Easement Strategies to Protect the Most Sensitive 96 AGRICULTURE AND SILVICULTURE Areas 98 Implement Agricultural BMPs 30 Establish Voluntary Stewardship Programs 101 Take Advantage of Assistance Opportunities for Agriculture 33 Adopt Comprehensive Plan Policies for Springshed Protection 102 Implement Silvicultural BMPs 34 Additional Resources 106 Take Advantage of Assistance Opportunities for Silviculture 35 Attachment: Sample Goals, Objectives and Policies 107 Additional Resources 40 MANAGING DEVELOPMENT IMPACTS 108 PUBLIC RECREATION 42 Select the Most Appropriate Site for Development 109 Develop a Management Plan 42 Design the Site Appropriately 110 Control the Impact of Public Use 46 Use Sensitive Landscape Design and Management Strategies 111 Additional Resources 50 Use Effective Erosion and Sediment Controls 112 GLOSSARY 53 Address Stormwater Management Issues 115 GRAPHICS CREDITS 56 Address Wastewater Management Issues 117 BIBLIOGRAPHY 58 Utilize a Combination of Best Management Practices 1 2 INTRODUCTION ith over 600 freshwater springs, Florida is blessed with perhaps the largest concentration of these natural features in the world. Springs are intricately woven into the fabric of Florida’s history. For thousands of years, humans have been drawn to their crystalline waters, as rich archeological remnants scattered on their banks attest. They W are supplied by the Floridan aquifer, the source of drinking water for much of Florida. Most of Florida’s springs are located in the region stretching from Hillsborough, Orange, Seminole and Volusia counties north and west to Walton County. This manual focuses on this region’s springsheds— the land areas that feed water to the springs. Figure 1.1 Springs are important resources in Florida. 3 s Florida’s population continues to Most Florida springs exist where the grow, our springs are facing increasing Florida’s Geology Creates Our Springs limestone of the Floridan Aquifer is exposed at A pressures. This growth brings an the land surface and ground water is forced out inevitable rise in water use, as well as extensive lorida rests on a bed of limestone. from underground. This type of landscape is land use changes. Water shortages could become Rainwater, made slightly acidic by carbon commonly referred to as “karst.” a controlling factor in the location and timing of F dioxide picked up from the atmosphere, Within this very porous topography, soils new development. Each year, lands within slowly works its way through the limestone, are often sandy. Water passes through rapidly springsheds are developed, altering the quality dissolving channels and caves to form an and is poorly filtered, so pollution from the land and quantity of water flowing to the springs. underground drainage system. Where larger passes quickly into the underlying aquifer. Springs serve as windows into the quality of our cavities are created, the overlying rock Additionally, sinkholes, streams, and lakes act ground water, which continues to decline as sometimes collapses, forming a sinkhole or as conduits, further polluting the aquifer. These development pressures increase. spring. pollutants then emerge in the spring water. Figure 1.2. Karst areas may resemble Swiss cheese when exposed. Figure 1.3. In a karst area, sinks and springs connect ground and surface waters. 4 INTRODUCTION In recognition of the pressures facing Florida’s springs, the Florida Springs The entire state of Florida is a karst region, is near the surface. Comparing Figure 1.4 with Task Force was convened in 1999 to resting on a limestone plateau formed millions of Figure 1.1 reveals the strong correlation recommend strategies for the years ago when the area was a shallow sea. Karst between areas with well-developed karst terrain activity is most visible in those areas where and the location of major springs. protection and restoration of these there is little to no overburden (clay and sandy Springs are classified by their rate of soils) on top of the limestone, and ground water discharge. First magnitude springs produce the fragile resources. Created by Secretary greatest amount of water—100 cubic feet per Figure 1.4. Although all of Florida is a karst region, in those areas Struhs of the Department of second or more. Eighth magnitude springs where the karst is more developed there is a higher potential for spring development. Environmental Protection, the task force was comprised of sixteen scientists, planners, and other citizens. After meeting for a year, their final report, Florida’s Springs: Strategies for Protection Karst Terrain and Restoration, was issued in Areas with limestone lying at or near the ground November, 2000. It identifies a wide surface with thin overburden; well-developed karst is present. In some areas deep dewatering has variety of strategies, including outreach, occurred and sinkhole collapse is present. information, management, and funding Areas with limestone covered by moderate to thick approaches, and identifies roles for all overburden with the water table and/or piezometric surface lying below the top of rock levels of government and Florida basins; well-developed karst is present. residents in spring protection. The work Areas with limestone covered by moderate to thick overburden with the water table and/or by Florida Springs Task Force directly piezometric surface laying near or at ground surface. led to the development of this best management practices manual. 5 produce the least—less than one pint per contrast to a hot summer afternoon for young and minute. Florida has 33 of the nation’s 75 first Springs Contribute to old alike. Smaller springs and sinkholes serve as magnitude springs, more than any other state. Florida’s Economy important local recreation areas. Ginnie Spring is the most popular freshwater diving location in There Are Many Unseen prings have always played an important the world. Silver Springs, Ichetucknee Springs, Connections to a Spring role in this state’s history. Among Warm Mineral Spring, and Wakulla