Our Water, Our Future

LIVE OAK — A video title “Our Water-Our Future” was shown at the Suwannee County Regional Library recently. 

The video, made available by the Live Oak Garden Club, featured the photos of noted nature photographer John Moran. 

The video, using photos taken by Moran of various springs in the 90s and then, again, in the 2000s showed a shocking deterioration of Florida springs.

Two main points were made in this video: Without clean and abundant waters, our booming tourist industry will lose many visitors and the effect on our economy will be a disaster, and our springs need protection from overuse, chemicals, and neglect.  

The viewing was well attended by concerned citizens and a lively discussion followed the viewing of the video.

Concern for the quantity and quality of our water supply was voiced by the majority of viewers.

Two garden club members, Martha Ann Ronsonet and Ali Deagan, both of whom are Master Gardeners, along with Tom Mirti, district director of the Suwannee River Water Management District, answered questions from the audience as concerns were raised about saltwater intrusion, water being drawn from our aquifers by bottling companies, over use of pesticides, fracking and what legislators should do to protect springs.

Participants received a handout outlining some of the measures that each citizen could take right now to help protect and preserve Florida springs.

Some of the suggestions are as follows:  

Visit and support the springs in the community.

Conserve electricity: consider use of solar power that will reduce demand on power plants. 

Eat more fruits, legumes, and vegetables: it takes a lot of water to produce animal meat. 

Use low impact shower heads; use rain barrels to collect and water plants. 

Farmers: grow the right crop in the right place. 

Buy local and buy organic. 

Use native plants and trees in landscaping.  

Do away with a grass lawn: put in gardens using native plants, rocks, cacti, and ground covers.

Stop using harmful chemical pesticides and use organic fertilizers.

Encourage local legislators to pass legislation that prohibits practices such as fracking in our county.

 Demand that private and for-profit water polluters pay for the clean up.