The Suwannee River Water Management District is recommending $4.6 million in projects designed to improve and protect the water quality of Poe Springs.
One project totals $3 million to expand the City of High Springs wastewater treatment facility and complete the creation of wetlands.
The second project would provide $1.6 million for land acquisition and restoration of 250-acres of uplands adjacent to Poe Springs. It would provide a match to the Alachua County Forever Program to purchase the property.
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection must decide whether to fund the items.
Other projects the SRWMD is recommending for funding are:
- Bobwhite Sandhill Land Acquisition – Suwannee County – $622,000 – This 622-acre conservation easement acquisition will help preserve the Troy Peacock Lafayette Blue Falmouth Springshed and benefit the Suwannee Basin Management Action Plan (BMAP). This project and funding request is with the Alachua Conservation Trust.
- Suwannee River Sandhill Land Acquisition – Suwannee County – $300,000 – This 630-acre conservation easement acquisition consists of sandhill, wetlands, and restorable uplands in the Troy Peacock Lafayette Blue Falmouth Springshed and provides high recharge to the Floridan Aquifer. This project and funding request is with the Alachua Conservation Trust.
- Lafayette Woods Land Acquisition – Lafayette County – $50,000 – This 102-acre conservation easement will allow natural system restoration of long leaf pine sandhill ecosystems and provide groundwater recharge, flood protection, and river corridor protection adjacent to Peacock Springs, Lafayette Blue, Troy Springs, and District lands. This project and funding request is with the Alachua Conservation Trust.
- Gilchrist Sandhills Land Acquisition – Gilchrist County – $200,000 – This 562-acre conservation easement in the Devil’s Ear Priority Focus Area contains protection for wetlands and sandhill uplands adjacent to Cow Creek in Gilchrist County. The project protects water quality and water supply in the region. The project and funding request is with Alachua Conservation Trust.
- Hornsby Horse Pasture Land Acquisition –Alachua County – $190,575 – This 99-acre conservation easement in the Columbia Hornsby Treehouse Priority Focus Area contains five sinks and will support aquifer recharge efforts near Mill Creek. This project and funding request is with the Alachua Conservation Trust.