Under intense public pressure by Audubon, and most other major Florida environmental groups, the developer for Adena Springs Ranch has instructed his agents to reduce the proposed pumping of water from Silver Springs' aquifer from 13.2 million gallons per day to 5.3 million gallons per day.

It is unclear whether this will be the limit of the project's proposed withdrawal of water from the fragile aquifer that feeds Silver Springs, or whether the ranch company has merely elected to phase its proposed permit applications to the St. Johns River Water Management District in order to mollify public opposition.

When Audubon Director of Advocacy Charles Lee pressed Adena Springs's attorney and ranch managers on the point of whether the reduction was permanent and binding or merely an interim action, their response was inconclusive, and they seemed unwilling to enter into a permanent binding legal agreement to limit water use to that level.

Adena Springs spokespersons say it will accomplish the reduction by shifting some cattle grazing to other sites possibly in nearby Levy County, and by more efficient irrigation methods. Of course, should irrigation take place at another site that will also raise issues about the capacity of the groundwater aquifer to sustain such withdrawals.

Audubon members and other conservationists and concerned citizens who have written to the Governor, and Water Management District board members objecting to this threat to Silver Springs have clearly had an impact. The Water Management District has asked Adena Springs to waive the regulatory time clock and provide more information on the impacts of their proposed water use. Deliberations on Adena Springs' reduced permit request will be delayed until at least November 2012, meaning that no decision by the Water Management District on this permit is likely until early 2013.

All concerned with Florida's Special Places and Silver Springs in particular are urged to keep up their contacts with the Governor and St. Johns River Water Management District board members.

For more information, please see the following links:

• Take Action: Defend Florida’s Iconic Silver Springs
• Audubon Urges Bold Action at Silver Springs Rally
• Orlando Sentinel - "Ranch near Silver Springs slashes its request for aquifer water"
• Orlando Sentinel - "Editorial - First priority: Protect springs"