In One Of FL's Formerly Pristine Springs, Fish Biomass Down 90% Since 50s, Algae Blooms Booming

[hatrack]

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Marwick, 68, moved to the Silver Springs area in 1970. An avid scuba diver, he explored the spring and the Silver River that flows from it. He found skeletons of mammoths and a prehistoric dugout canoe. He spearheaded the creation of the Silver River Museum and Environmental Education Center.

When he looks at Florida's most famous spring, he sees that the sparkling white sand on the bottom that gave the spring its namesake sheen has been smothered by globs of toxic algae. He sees mats of the brown glop floating on the surface, some of it so thick that alligators perch atop it. He sees a submerged tree that once glittered with shells — to the point it was dubbed "the Christmas tree" — is now a dull and fuzzy shade of olive. "I used to look at the bank and see big patches of white sand and emergent plant life — blues, reds, cardinal flowers," Marwick said. "It's all been smothered by the algae. The color palette that was the Silver River has just been washed out and now it's all brown and green."

Studies have found that 90 percent fewer fish are swimming in the spring compared to the 1950s. Pollution is increasing, the flow has dropped from 790 cubic feet per second (or about 510 million gallons per day) before 2000 to 535 cubic feet in the past decade.

"Silver Springs is headed for a slow, slimy, green death if we continue along this path," biologist Roy "Robin" Lewis said. The cause of the water quality decline lies with the land around the spring. About 75 percent of the water gushing out of its 69 vents originates in runoff from a 4-mile radius. By analyzing aerial photos from the past 50 years, scientists in 2006 found that radius has changed from a predominantly natural landscape of forests and swamps into one of homes, stores, roads and farms.

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http://www.tampabay.com/news/environment/water/silver-springs-backers-fight-proposed-cattle-ranch/1262975

[watrwefitinfor]

1. Thank you, hatrack. I think.

Though you're breaking my heart. It's hard to imagine this has happened to one of the most beautiful and amazing places I've ever seen.

I was there in 1954, when my dad took our family on a whirlwind Florida vacation. Silver Springs made the most lasting memory. We went on the glass bottom boat and it was just as described in your post - so beautiful.

Peering through the glass bottom, it was unbelievable how clear the water was, and the bottom was clean, beautiful white sand. I remember seeing the huge catfish they guessed was about 400 years old (or something like that - I was after all 12 and it was a long time ago).

How horrid that it has come to this. Hard to see how that glorious place can ever be reclaimed. Do the glass bottom boats still carry tourists out to look at the lake bottom destruction?

Wat