Protect our springs

It is a plain fact that Wakulla Springs is a natural treasure that benefits all of Wakulla County not only environmentally, but also educationally and economically thanks to thousands of wide-eyed school children, nature lovers, vacationers, researchers and longtime county residents who visit the springs year-round and spend their money here.

It’s also a fact that over the decades our county and planning commissioners have worked to protect the Springs, most notably with zoning in our comprehensive plan.

But now a threat to our treasure is looming, this time from out-of-state oil company owners who are pressuring county and planning commissioners to change the zoning at the Bloxham Cutoff intersection so they can profit from a 16-pump gas station they want to build right over an underground cave that feeds water to the Springs.

There is no doubt that underground storage tanks, oil leaks and everyday run-off from the proposed monster-sized gas station could drain into the cave below and flow into the Springs, a threat even the company’s consultant acknowledges, along with promises for the oil company to be good managers and discuss protection down the road.

So here’s the question for our commissioners: Are promises and future discussions from an out-of-state oil company enough assurance to protect the springs and ease the worries of the people of Wakulla County now and forever when a single broken or ignored promise could contaminate, if not devastate, natural habitats, wildlife populations and Wakulla’s fisheries?

Plain and simple, an out-of-state oil company dedicated only to making a profit could irreparably damage Wakulla County in countless dreadful ways.

With that in mind, this is but one of many requests asking Wakulla County Planning Commissioners to keep our county’s zoning plan as it is when they meet on Feb. 14.

Dana Peck

Panacea