Florida Springs Algae Growth Problem, Phosphate Industry Shows Poor Environmental Management

One reason for Florida’s spring breakdown dilemma is that, until recently, no one thought about tracking flow rates, temperature, dissolved oxygen concentrations, and algae growth or “water chemistry.” “at the Florida springs.

The scientific community incorrectly considered these variables to be stable, so the chemistry of the spring water was not controlled. These variables are now known to fluctuate naturally in a regular cycle. The natural fluctuation of these variables is consistent with the health of the spring in question (1). That is, when any of the variables differ from the normal ranges, the entire aquatic ecosystem associated with the spring also degrades.

Abnormal algae growth in a spring indicates that the spring is in poor health, including the aquifer that supplies the spring and the ecosystem in and around the spring. Algal growth in the spring and aquifer system may indicate an above-average concentration of phosphorus or nitrogen nutrients (pollutants) (4). Both of the aforementioned pollutants are found in many of Florida’s springs with higher-than-average concentrations.

Springs showing abnormal algae growth are directly related to spring health and can also be toxic to humans. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) has reported more than 140 algae-related cases involving humans. The FDEP now requires limits based on the concentration of nutrients (contaminants) (mass / volume) in the spring water.

Nitrogen-based pollutants appear to attract more media attention than phosphorus-based pollutants. The media’s approach is generally based on complaints about the seepage of livestock manure and nitrogen-based fertilizers, originating from runoff, which are absorbed by the landscape and then absorbed by the local spring and aquifer systems.

Phosphorous-based pollutants are as deadly to Florida’s aquifers and spring systems as nitrogen-based pollutants. (3) These pollutants also come from crop and livestock production, but phosphorous-based pollutants can come from other sources, such as phosphate open-pit mining and mining facilities.

The FDEP published a maximum standard for concentrations of phosphorus, one of the top pollutants of concern in state springs. The standards are used to establish benchmarks for the amount of phosphorus found in springs for the protection of Florida’s state aquatic ecosystems. Privately owned springs and ecosystems are the responsibility of their owners and are not regulated by the state of Florida. You can see that Florida officials at the FDEP now regulate state-owned springs and aquatic ecosystems to keep water quality in an acceptable range.

Counties and the state of Florida issue mining permits to the phosphate industry that “allow” the complete removal and destruction of the aquifer and spring systems, which the phosphate industry considers waste material or overburden. Historically, Florida phosphate industry practices “show” little concern for Florida’s aquatic ecosystems.

Since the early 1900s, the land of west-central Florida has been “stripped” of its natural beauty by the phosphate rock just below the surface. Florida’s scarred surface, caused by huge draglines in and around Polk County, Florida, is just one facet of the destruction of Florida’s natural resources on a whim.

Another problem refers to the natural hydrogeological formations that succumbed to the dredge for their total destruction. This topic of the total destruction of hydrogeological formations does not receive much attention and should receive more.

All the truth

Florida’s phosphate industry is not telling the whole truth about the recovery of existing mineral deposits. The search for the valuable phosphate matrix occurs by stripping it “totally” and “completely” from the surface of the earth about fifteen to one hundred feet deep. The phosphate drag line burrows through aquifer systems, crushing and eliminating its very existence. An entire local hydrogeological system (3) now fails to do what nature intended, to store clean fresh water.

You can see that Florida phosphate industry practices are detrimental to Florida’s unique natural ecosystems. The phosphate industry cannot recover acre-for-acre springs and aquifers as described by Florida law, simply because the technology does not exist to do so.

However, phosphate industry officials reinforce their claims for full land reclamation as seen in local television commercials and other forms of media. Phosphate officials publish reports of complete land reclamation related to former mining sites in specific localized areas. I know this because I also see your commercials. The recovery driven by the phosphate industry does not include spring and aquifer systems, because these aquatic systems take thousands of years to form in nature.

Complaints phase?

I remember riding motorcycles on abandoned mining sites in the 1970s. The mined “pits” left by the phosphate industry were near my home when I was young. The abandoned sites he frequented as a young man had no visible enclosure, confinement, containment, or warning signs. We used to drive into abandoned mine shafts, straight from a relentless public road and unload our bikes and ride miles inside abandoned shafts. The leftovers from mining seemed as barren as a lunar landscape. Unfortunately, he was unaware that toxic materials existed in these waste dumps, including heavy metals, piled up in highly concentrated mounds.

If you live in the west-central Florida area, I challenge you to see for yourself. If you live in this area, the trip to see the “real” phosphate industry will be no more than a short drive. The phosphate industry will be viewed from a different point of view. The sites mentioned above were numerous, neglected, and still toxic to humans.

The phosphate mining industry in Florida shows many signs of environmental impacts, including abnormal algae growth (2) in Florida aquifers and springs, abandoned toxic mining sites, and very few reclamation projects to mention.

Reference
1. Biologist Jim Heffernan, postdoctoral researcher and professor at Florida International University
2. The fading springs of Florida | Tampa Bay Time
3. Southwest Florida Water Management District
4. The journey of water. Florida Springs com