It's a natural resource,that's slowly depleting. Ocala is becoming more populated and environmentalists say Silver Springs is suffering because of it. As biologists and environmentalists met today to set goals for restoring Silver Springs, visitors returning to the natural resource were disappointed in what it's become.
Forty years has passed since Hubert and Jean Black came to Silver Springs. The Black's say they remember seeing a lot more fish last time they visited. Environmentalists attribute the decrease in fish and other animals from the spring to an increase in algae. Peter Colverson led a workshop today with environmentalists and biologists to discuss goals for improving the natural resource. Colverson says; "one of the biggest changes today is the huge mat of algae that's growing in there that is basically changing the system and one of the reasons for that algae is nitrate."
The nitrate is from fertilizers and wastes entering the springs. Other than the increasing nitrate, biologists are concerned of another big problem, water flow. These problems were among many addressed at today's meeting. Concerned citizens making improvements to the springs for future visitors. So forty years from now, the springs will be just as beautiful as they were forty years ago.