Silver Springs Alliance

10/03/2024

A lunar moth befriended a frog decal on our kitchen door. She stayed on the door for more than 24 hours and then moved to a nearby wall of the same green color.

09/07/2024

NO on 2! This dangerous and misleading amendment will strip Florida citizens of their power to protect and conserve wild animals. It’s designed to trick voters into allowing some of the cruelest forms of hunting and prevent citizens, scientists, and agencies from protecting wildlife in the future. World Animal Protection says a resounding “no” to Amendment 2. CURRENT REGULATION: Fla. Admin. Code R. 68A-24.002 No person shall use, place, or maintain any set gun or steel trap for the purpose of taking or attempting to take wildlife. This could change if this amendment passes.

I made these images to help us get the word out. Please use and share. If you need higher res images, DM me.

08/29/2024

We should stay vigilant. It's just the end of round 1 but at least we have stopped it for now.
From the Florida Springs Council

BREAKING NEWS 🚨

Governor DeSantis just announced that due to overwhelming opposition from the public, the destructive proposals to commodify and develop nine of Florida’s State Parks are being put on hold for this year, and DEP will be “going back to the drawing board.”

👏 We want to first say thank you and congratulations to everyone across the State who took action, sent emails, called the Governor’s office, pressured legislators to take a stand, sent postcards, shared information online, showed up at protests and rallies, and worked tirelessly this past week to organize, speak up and show our collective support and love for Florida’s natural spaces.

We are in awe of how the public came together with such little notice from DEP about these proposals and have not let the Governor and DEP get away with developing our State Parks. We appreciate the long list of legislators and elected officials who took a strong position against these proposals and called on others to voice their opposition as well.

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s proposal to develop our State Parks and public lands is and always will be unacceptable! This is just one of many recent attacks on Florida’s environment. We need to be prepared and continue to fight for the conservation of our public lands. The Florida Springs Council is focused on working with our conservation partners and legislators to pass even stronger legislation in 2025, so our state agencies and leaders can not develop and commodify our State Parks or hand our public conservation lands over to private interests.

“How many stretches of pristine, undeveloped beaches do we have in Florida? Not many – and the truth is, in Florida, anything that we don’t conserve is going to be developed.” - FSC Executive Director Ryan Smart

The Governor’s announcement was made during a press conference this afternoon, which can be viewed here: https://x.com/i/broadcasts/1RDGlybarRkJL

We encourage everyone to stay engaged in this fight and support our work to protect Florida’s conservation lands, which are the key to healthy springs and rivers.

Springs protectors, let’s continue to work together and stay vigilant. We won this battle, but the war against public conservation lands continues.
Thank you for defending our State Parks and conservation lands,
Chloe Dougherty

Florida Springs Council

08/24/2024

What I wrote on the "Great Outdoors Initiative" survey form.
I am writing to express my concern regarding the nine amendments to existing unit management plans for the following State Parks:

Jonathan Dickinson State Park (Martin County)
Anastasia State Park (St. Johns County)
Topsail Hill Preserve State Park (Walton County)
Camp Helen State Park (Bay County)
Grayton Beach State Park (Walton County)
Hillsborough River State Park (Hillsborough County)
Honeymoon Island State Park (Pinellas County)
Dr. Von Mizell – Eula Johnson State Park (Broward County)
Oleta River State Park (Miami-Dade County)

These proposed changes to the state parks that I visit and enjoy throughout Florida would tarnish the natural landscape that is increasingly rare in our state. The “Real Florida” is not comprised of golf courses, resorts, and pickleball courts. The state parks are, in some places, the only remaining vestiges of Florida's unique and varied ecosystems. We have won 4 gold medals for our parks, because of the pristine beauty and quiet sanctuary that our parks provide for us. The proposed changes to these parks will destroy the very gifts that our parks provide. There are currently 1285 golf courses in Florida. There are millions of hotel rooms. We don't need development, we need more preservation.
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." - Margaret Mead
https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/7983173/Great-Outdoors-Initiative
Also sending to
[email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]

08/22/2024

Florida Is Trying to Ram Development of State Parks, "Skirting the Legal Process"
By Jason Cochran 08/21/2024, 6:00 PM

Floridians are sounding a red alert after the state unexpectedly revealed its intent to allow rapid development at nine of Florida's nature reserves, sidestepping the usual process that allows for public participation.

"This appears to be something that has been planned in secret, and it doesn’t appear to have involved the hundreds, if not thousands, of people who are volunteers in the parks, the citizen support organizations, or the many people who have been involved in helping to create and develop Florida’s award-winning park system," said Eric Draper, who served as the director of Florida’s state parks between 2017 and 2021, in the Tampa Bay

According to the Tampa Bay Times, other projects suddenly threatening Florida's nature reserves include a new 350-room lodge at Anastasia State Park near St. Augustine and another 350-room lodge at Topsail Hill Preserve State Park near Panama City Beach.

Sections of Hillsborough River State Park near Tampa are slated to be cleared for a "disc golf course" and paved over for pickleball courts. New space for "glamping" was announced for Oleta River State Park, a rare green space in the urban Miami Beach area.

PLEASE SIGN AND SHARE. Deadline: Tuesday, 8/27

Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Announces major changes to State Parks throughout Florida.

09/04/2020

Govs. Bob Graham and Bob Martinez were for it. Govs. Lawton Chiles and Buddy MacKay were for it, too. So were Govs. Jeb Bush and Charlie Crist. Three

03/12/2020

During the late 1800s, visitors were attracted to the Ocklawaha River and surrounding area for its outstanding fishing and recreation. Resources were developed for tourism and included increases in barge and steamboat traffic.
(Photo: Okahumkee river steamer from the State Archives of Florida, )