4 replies to this topic

[gerald]

The Society for Freshwater Science (formerly "NABS" back in my studenthood) annual meeting is in Raleigh this year, June 4-8, immediately before our NANFA convention in MO:  < http://sfsannualmeeting.org/agenda.cfm >

 

It's a pricey conference < http://sfsannualmeet...egistration.cfm> but there's a significant discount if you register by March 24.

 

Anyway,  here's an interesting article from the latest issue of the SFS Journal Freshwater Science on algae vs vascular aquatic plants in northern FL springs.  These authors suggest that periodic flow reversals in the springs caused by floods from blackwater rivers are a significant factor in the overgrowth of filamentous algae in springs that were formerly dominated by rooted plant beds.  Nutrient enrichment from urban and agricultural lands is not the only factor at play. 

 

http://www.freshwate...6n1_Hensley.pdf

[fundulus]

You're right, that IS a pricey conference, about a hundred dollars more than JMIH.

[Doug_Dame]

Kind of a depressing article.

 

We MIGHT be able to do something about nitrates and phosphates. This analysis finds them as being not significant factors. 

 

Flow reversals, which are a function of regional high-water events and aquifer levels, will be much harder to influence. (At least, it seems that way to me.) Groundwater pumping in Florida will continue at high levels as long as there are a lot of people in Florida (pretty much guaranteed) and agriculture is very important and influential (also pretty much guaranteed.)

[don212]

the water districts are not allowed to say no to anyone with money, all this work on springs is useless if you don't ensure adequate flow

[Doug_Dame]

That is absolutely true.

 

Under Gov Scott, the water mgmt districts have been totally neutered. They exist now to approve water use permits as rubber-stampers, not to protect the water supplies. Any science they get to do is only because the politicians in charge forgot to fumigate in a few oddball corners. 

 

As they say ... over and over and over .... elections have consequences.