Sen. Charlie Dean, R-Inverness is putting money where his mouth is — to help restore Florida’s environment and especially its waterways to the days of his youth, when things were pristine.
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In the most recent budget approved by the Florida Senate, Dean has appropriated $100,000 to help with the cleanup at King’s Bay.
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“I think it’s just wonderful what they are doing over there with the cleanup. I was able to get a little bit into the budget and hope that would help. I think we should all be for anything that would make the ecology and environment better,” Dean said Wednesday.
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He said the money is being channeled through the Crystal River city manager’s office to make sure everything is accounted for and done in public view.
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“God Bless Mr. Jones for doing what he is doing,” Dean, who grew up in Citrus County, said.
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Dean has previously lamented the state of Florida’s once pristine springs at a Chronicle Editorial Board meeting. He said then he would try during this legislative session to help cleanup efforts at some of Florida’s polluted springs. He said as a child he remembers being able to see clear to the bottom of water bodies like Silver Springs, but today they are overtaken with muck.
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It is that muck that Art Jones of the Crystal River/Kings Bay Rotary is endeavoring to clean up through volunteer muscle power and donations.
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“We are absolutely thrilled by this news,” Jones said.
“Now, hopefully the governor would sign it,” he added.
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Jones said Dean is a man of his word because when he appeared before Dean during a Meet your Legislator session, he said the senator promised he would aid his efforts and it has now become reality.
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Jones and his army of volunteers have since last fall been raking King’s Bay one plant at a time to rid it of noxious filamentous algae called lyngbya.
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This money comes on the heels of two other big donations to the group. One donation was from Cheryl and John Phillips of a $75,000 diver vacuum to suck up the invasive weed that interferes with boating, swimming, fishing and even manatees.
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The other is from Save Crystal River Inc., which recently donated $5,000.
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Jones said his group needs 12 barges at about $10,000 a pop and thinks any extra money will help fill that need.
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“It would make things go a lot faster,” Jones said.
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The project is expected last five years. Jones said volunteers and donors are needed to help keep the project moving forward.
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To help in the efforts or for information, contact Jones at 727-642-7659. The group also has a YouTube video. Search under “Savekingsbay” or click on the video below.
Chronicle reporter A.B. Sidibe can be reached at 352-564-2925 or asidibe@chronicleonline.com.
INFORMATION
*Â Art Jones: 727-642-7659.
* Kings Bay Rotary Club: kingsbayrotary.org.
