WWALS Watershed Coalition

WWALS Watershed Coalition, Inc. (WWALS) is Suwannee RIVERKEEPER® WWALS advocates for conservation and stewardship of the surface waters and groundwater of the Suwannee River Basin and Estuary, in south Georgia and north Florida, among them the Withlacoochee, Willacoochee, Alapaha, Little, Santa Fe, and Suwannee River watersheds, through education, awareness, environmental monitoring, and citizen activities.

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Lower Ichetucknee River Springs Protection Zone @ Suwannee BOCC 2025-10-07 [Up]

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Suwannee County BOCC docs found online:

You can help with clean, swimmable, fishable, drinkable, water in the 10,000-square-mile Suwannee River Basin in Florida and Georgia by becoming a WWALS member today!
https://wwals.net/donations/

Pictures

MMM

[Lower Ichetucknee River Springs Protection Zone @ Suwannee BOCC, Tuesday, October 7, 2025]
Lower Ichetucknee River Springs Protection Zone @ Suwannee BOCC, Tuesday, October 7, 2025

[Lower Ichetucknee River Springs Protection Zone @ Suwannee BOCC, Tuesday, October 7, 2025]
Lower Ichetucknee River Springs Protection Zone @ Suwannee BOCC, Tuesday, October 7, 2025

[Lower Ichetucknee River Springs Protection Zone @ Suwannee BOCC, Tuesday, October 7, 2025]
Lower Ichetucknee River Springs Protection Zone @ Suwannee BOCC, Tuesday, October 7, 2025

[Lower Ichetucknee River Springs Protection Zone @ Suwannee BOCC, Tuesday, October 7, 2025]
Lower Ichetucknee River Springs Protection Zone @ Suwannee BOCC, Tuesday, October 7, 2025

[Lower Ichetucknee River Springs Protection Zone @ Suwannee BOCC, Tuesday, October 7, 2025]
Lower Ichetucknee River Springs Protection Zone @ Suwannee BOCC, Tuesday, October 7, 2025

[Lower Ichetucknee River Springs Protection Zone @ Suwannee BOCC, Tuesday, October 7, 2025]
Lower Ichetucknee River Springs Protection Zone @ Suwannee BOCC, Tuesday, October 7, 2025

[Lower Ichetucknee River Springs Protection Zone @ Suwannee BOCC, Tuesday, October 7, 2025]
Lower Ichetucknee River Springs Protection Zone @ Suwannee BOCC, Tuesday, October 7, 2025

Agenda

[Public Concerns and Comments]
Public Concerns and Comments
PDF

[Staff Items (including Lower Ichetucknee River Springs Protection Zone)]
Staff Items (including Lower Ichetucknee River Springs Protection Zone)
PDF

[14. Discuss, with possible Board action, the springs protection zone on the Ichetucknee River. (Alden Rosner, Parks & Recreation Director)]
14. Discuss, with possible Board action, the springs protection zone on the Ichetucknee River. (Alden Rosner, Parks & Recreation Director)
PDF

Packet

[The FWC is requesting feedback from Suwannee County regarding this request....]
The FWC is requesting feedback from Suwannee County regarding this request....
PDF

[FW: Request for Springs Protection Zone- Ichetucknee River 2025-09-09]
FW: Request for Springs Protection Zone- Ichetucknee River 2025-09-09
PDF

[Relevant files in two google drive folders]
Relevant files in two google drive folders
PDF

R1

[Linda L. Weseman to FFWC 2025-07-29]
Linda L. Weseman to FFWC 2025-07-29
PDF

[Background, No Wake Zone, Personal Watercrafts]
Background, No Wake Zone, Personal Watercrafts
PDF

[The wakes result in shoreline erosion, turbity..., and disrupt turtle basking]
The wakes result in shoreline erosion, turbity..., and disrupt turtle basking
PDF

[Turtle basking]
Turtle basking
PDF

[Summary]
Summary
PDF

[Citations]
Citations
PDF

[Figure 1. PWCs “running the bridge” upstream and entering Ichetucknee Springs State Park.]
Figure 1. PWCs “running the bridge” upstream and entering Ichetucknee Springs State Park.
PDF

[Figure 2. Example of eelgrass uprooted by PWCs “running the bridge”]
Figure 2. Example of eelgrass uprooted by PWCs “running the bridge”
PDF

[Figure 3: PWC wakes at low speed; Figure 4: PWC group outing]
Figure 3: PWC wakes at low speed; Figure 4: PWC group outing
PDF

[Figure 5: Basking imperiled Suwannee Cooters; Figure 6: Motorized vessel sharing the channel with young swimmer]
Figure 5: Basking imperiled Suwannee Cooters; Figure 6: Motorized vessel sharing the channel with young swimmer
PDF

[Figure 7: PWCs beaching on Ichetucknee Springs State Park shoreline]
Figure 7: PWCs beaching on Ichetucknee Springs State Park shoreline
PDF

[Figure 8: Jet Rider Nation feedback]
Figure 8: Jet Rider Nation feedback
PDF

SE

[Supplemental Evidence — 07/29/2025 Petition for a Springs Protection Zone on the lower Ichetucknee River 2025-09-08]
Supplemental Evidence — 07/29/2025 Petition for a Springs Protection Zone on the lower Ichetucknee River 2025-09-08
PDF

[PWCs, wakes, turbidity, erosion, trash]
PWCs, wakes, turbidity, erosion, trash
PDF

[Figure 1: Year 2016. Diverse submerged aquatic vegetation and soil beneath private dock at 218 SW Riverside Ave, Fort White, FL.]
Figure 1: Year 2016. Diverse submerged aquatic vegetation and soil beneath private dock at 218 SW Riverside Ave, Fort White, FL.
PDF

[Figure 2: 09/06/2025. Submerged aquatic vegetation primarily consists of filamentous algae. Loss of soil around pilings beneath private dock at 218 SW Riverside Ave, Fort White, FL.]
Figure 2: 09/06/2025. Submerged aquatic vegetation primarily consists of filamentous algae. Loss of soil around pilings beneath private dock at 218 SW Riverside Ave, Fort White, FL.
PDF

[Figure 3: Abundant eelgrass and SAV upstream of the railroad bridge, as viewed from the US 27 embankment, prior to overpass construction in 2024.]
Figure 3: Abundant eelgrass and SAV upstream of the railroad bridge, as viewed from the US 27 embankment, prior to overpass construction in 2024.
PDF

[Figure 4: Loss of diversity of SAV, especially eelgrass, above the railroad bridge as of September 3, 2025 as viewed from the US 27 embankment looking downstream.]
Figure 4: Loss of diversity of SAV, especially eelgrass, above the railroad bridge as of September 3, 2025 as viewed from the US 27 embankment looking downstream.
PDF

[Figure 5: Abundant eelgrass is observed downstream of the railroad bridge on March 10, 2021.]
Figure 5: Abundant eelgrass is observed downstream of the railroad bridge on March 10, 2021.
PDF

[Figure 6: Eelgrass field below the bridge is in extremely poor condition as of September 3, 2025.]
Figure 6: Eelgrass field below the bridge is in extremely poor condition as of September 3, 2025.
PDF

[Figure 7: Interaction between tubers and motorized vessel.]
Figure 7: Interaction between tubers and motorized vessel.
PDF

[Figure 8: Interaction between tubers and motorized vessel.]
Figure 8: Interaction between tubers and motorized vessel.
PDF

[Beached craft and docks]
Beached craft and docks
PDF

[Figure 9: Examples of daily trash collections on the lower Ichetucknee.]
Figure 9: Examples of daily trash collections on the lower Ichetucknee.
PDF

[Abandoned floating dock]
Abandoned floating dock
PDF

[Another abandoned floating dock]
Another abandoned floating dock
PDF

[Figure 10. Abandoned floating docks salvaged from the lower Ichetucknee.]
Figure 10. Abandoned floating docks salvaged from the lower Ichetucknee.
PDF

[Figure 11. Larger trash retrieved from the lower Ichetucknee.]
Figure 11. Larger trash retrieved from the lower Ichetucknee.
PDF

[Figure 12. Removal of three abandoned docks consisting of over 2600 pounds of pressure treated lumber.]
Figure 12. Removal of three abandoned docks consisting of over 2600 pounds of pressure treated lumber.
PDF

NDR

[Notice of Development of Rulemaking 68D-24,0035 Protection Zones for Springs]
Notice of Development of Rulemaking 68D-24,0035 Protection Zones for Springs
PDF

[PURPOSE AND EFFECT: The rule is being amended to comport with legislative changes to section 327.45, which now requires a showing of significant harm to the springs and allow for modified anchoring, mooring, beaching or grounding as necessary to protect springs and associated spring runs.]
PURPOSE AND EFFECT: The rule is being amended to comport with legislative changes to section 327.45, which now requires a showing of significant harm to the springs and allow for modified anchoring, mooring, beaching or grounding as necessary to protect springs and associated spring runs.
PDF

SB1388

[2025 Legislature CS for SB 1388, 2nd Engrossed]
2025 Legislature CS for SB 1388, 2nd Engrossed
PDF

[Significant harm]
Significant harm
PDF

[Vessel stop and board and safety inspection decal]
Vessel stop and board and safety inspection decal
PDF

[More about the decal and vehicle stops]
More about the decal and vehicle stops
PDF

[Text of Section 327.75 Watercraft Energy Source Freedom Act]
Text of Section 327.75 Watercraft Energy Source Freedom Act
PDF

[Section 6. This act shall take effect July 1, 2025.]
Section 6. This act shall take effect July 1, 2025.
PDF

Florida Parks

[Email Response from DEP Chuck Hatcher, Director of Division of Recreation & Parks]
Email Response from DEP Chuck Hatcher, Director of Division of Recreation & Parks
PDF

FWCResearch

[Email from Craig Mallison, FWC Associate Research Scientist at Fish & Wildlife Research Institute]
Email from Craig Mallison, FWC Associate Research Scientist at Fish & Wildlife Research Institute
PDF

ESRWMD

[Email Response from SRWMD, Susie Hetrick, Office of Water Resources]
Email Response from SRWMD, Susie Hetrick, Office of Water Resources
PDF