Paradise Preserved:
Springs Protection In
Wakulla County
SPRINGS OF THE COUNTY
• Wakulla is filled with
many freshwater
springs and
groundwater fed ponds
and sinkholes
• Wakulla Springs – one
of the largest and
deepest in the world
• Spring Creek – largest
average discharge of
spring water in the state
• Panacea Mineral
Springs
Issues We Are Facing
• Rapid growth of invasive plants in Wakulla
Springs
This growth is linked to
elevated concentrations
of nutrients in the spring
water
1994 Wakulla Springs
Special Planning Area
HISTORY OF THE SPECIAL
PLANNING AREA
• On July 5, 1994, the Wakulla
County BOCC approved the
Wakulla Springs Special
Planning Area by Ordinance
• Created to protect the water
quality of Wakulla Springs
and its contributing water
bodies, which includes the
largest underwater cave
system in the US.
• Ordinance helps raise
awareness for springs
protection.
NUTS & BOLTS OF ORDINANCE
• Protection of water quality
•
New commercial projects must
document the use, storage and
disposal of regulated
substances
•
Injection wells and drainage
wells not permitted
•
Currently, there are no property
owners registered
•
Residential and existing
commercial property owners
are expected to self-report.
Program operates on the honor
system
sought through the regulation
of 128 substances
• For residential and commercial
•
Reporting threshold = 5 gallons
of liquid or 50 pounds of solid
of any of the regulated
substances
•
Regulated substances include
everything from fertilizers to
batteries
•
There are exemptions to
regulated substances, such as
fuel for agricultural equipment
WAKULLA SPRINGS BASIN MAP
WAKULLA-LEON
SINKS CAVE
SYSTEM
2008 SPECIAL PLANNING AREA
EXPANSION
Water Quality Protection
Measures
• Performance Based Septic Tanks required Countywide since December of 2006
• Expansion of central sewer into Wakulla Gardens
raised concerns
• March 3, 2009 BOCC meeting – Adopted an
Ordinance which exempts owners of a well
maintained PBST from connecting to sewer
• Exemption is County-wide
• Also, a separate exemption for low income families
Karst Protection Measures
• Require a 100 to 300 foot
buffer from the rim of karst
features with a direct
connection to aquifer
• New and substantially
redeveloped sites must
conform with St. Johns River
Water Management District
Karst criteria, including …
– Karst features cannot be used
as storm water management
facilities
– Pre-development flow rate and
volumes must equal postdevelopment
Ongoing Efforts
• $20M Expansion of Central Sewer and
Water Reuse Facilities
• County is participating in on-site septic
tank Regional Management Study
• Stormwater Master Plan for Wakulla
Gardens
Ongoing Efforts
Wakulla Springs Restoration Joint Workshop
Future Protection Measures
Comprehensive Plan
Evaluation and Appraisal Report Amendments, 2009
Possible Changes
•Wakulla Springs Special Planning Area
-Evaluate creation of a TDR program
-Identify sending and receiving areas
Future Protection Efforts
Land Development Code Updates, anticipated 2010
• Refine Springs Special Planning Area Requirements
• Implement TDRS, if included in the Comprehensive
Plan
– Identify sending and receiving areas
• Conform to NWFWMD ERP requirements
• Incorporate BMPs for Landscaping
– Florida Yards and Neighborhoods, focus on fertilizer
• Incorporate Low Impact Development (LID)
For Additional Information
Deanna Green
Wakulla County Planning
& Community Development
(850) 926-3695
Fax (850) 926-1528
dgreen@mywakulla.com