Gasparilla Island water challenges shared statewide

Many sites statewide share the same environmental problems dogging Boca Grande Pass and Charlotte Harbor.
Florida Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Herschel Vinyard Jr. and state Sen. Charlie Dean recently cruised Crystal River and some of the 30 springs feeding Kings Bay.

The trip followed the DEP commitment of $1.4 million to a reuse project for the city of Crystal River to reduce nitrate pollutant 16 percent.

The project, jointly funded with the Southwest Florida Water Management District and the city, will send 750,000 gallons of highly treated reclaimed water daily from the Crystal River wastewater plant to the Progress Energy Citrus County Power Complex.

SWFMD will invest another $1.1 million in water-quality projects for Kings Bay. The project will increase spring flow into Kings Bay by reducing groundwater pumping at the power complex.

The DEP has directed $11.5 million to restoring Florida's springs over the past three years, said Vinyard.

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