U.S. Congress member Gwen Graham (FL-02) and nature photographer John Moran will keynote the Florida Springs Restoration Summit in Ocala Friday Sept. 30th through Sunday Oct. 2nd at the College of Central Florida.

Gainesville Sun, 8 September 2016, Robert Knight: Fill vacuum in state leadership to fix springs,

The private, non-profit Florida Springs Council was organized by springs’ advocates to fill this vacuum in state leadership. Comprising 36 member organizations that represent more than 150,000 supporters, the Florida Springs Council is focused on stopping the springs train wreck and putting our beloved springs back on track to a healthy future. With this goal in mind, the Florida Springs Council is hosting the Florida Springs Restoration Summit from Sept. 30 through Oct. 2 at the College of Central Florida in Ocala.

This month’s Florida Springs Restoration Summit is designed to educate the concerned public about springs’ health, and to motivate representatives of the state’s environmental agencies to enforce Florida’s springs-protection laws. Short presentations by 27 spring science and management experts will occur on Friday, Sept. 30. On Saturday, Oct. 1, 25 springs advocates sitting on seven panels will describe what must be done to accomplish springs’ restoration and protection.

John Moran, acclaimed nature photographer and writer, and U.S. Rep. Gwen Graham, daughter of former Sen. and Gov. Bob Graham, will provide keynote lunch presentations on Friday and Saturday, respectively. The public will be active participants in this transfer of springs’ knowledge through their opportunity to direct questions to the presenters on Friday, and to join in the group discussions about the issues raised by each panel on Saturday.

Sunday’s activities will focus on outdoor adventures at Silver Springs. A flotilla of paddle craft led by springs’ experts will disembark from Rays Wayside Park at 8:30 a.m. for a round-trip to Silver Springs; while others are invited to tour the Silver Springs State Park with kayaks or on one of the famed glass-bottomed boats. Experienced boat captains will narrate the cultural and natural history of this largest spring in the world.

The Florida Springs Restoration Summit is designed to energize public supporters of Florida’s matchless artesian springs through education and involvement. Please consider taking part in this historic event. Registration is on-line at www.springsrestorationsummit.org.

WWALS is a member of the Florida Springs Council and will be at this conference. See also previous post.

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You can join this fun and work by becoming a WWALS member today!

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