SeaYoda and I were there 2 years ago in October when they had their first onsight meeting at the Springs of the County Commisioners, county engineers, and evironmental folks. We weren't invited, we just happened to be there that day diving....
There wasn't any 'scuba representatin' at the meeting (other than us showing up) but were several local people that were big fishermen. One of the concerns the fishermen had was that all the swimmer and divers would park down at the waters edge and they couldn't get their boats/trailers backed in. or get them out. So a seperate boat ramp and parking area was the idea with that. That's great for the boaters, but also for swimmers/divers as it doesn't require boat launching/recovery to be done in the basin where people are. So much safer. This still doesn't mean someone won't bring their boat in there. ( * remember it's the local fishermen who vote in that county and most divers are not registered voters there, so our voice is hardly heard with the commissioners.)
As for the boardwalk, they were talking about that 2 years ago also. They told us that it would give divers better acess to the water. We mentioned that we didn't need it and asked for some gear tables instead. They looked at us strangely and went back to the subject of the boardwalk. In follow up meetings that SeaYoda attended the boardwalk was always included. So somewhere they got that in their mind and didn't want to change it. Oh well. Maybe it's part of the grant money they received specified it when they applied for it or maybe it's for ADA requirements. I'm sure the barge in the basin is for installing the pilings for that.
As for whatever happens in development, well... it happens. not much we can do to change it. Hopefully this will make a few things a little nicer and also make things a little safer in regards to boat traffic.
EDIT:
Reefhound. In reference to your comment about paving and runnoff, I completely understand. This will make us both feel better. According to this website
Walton County, Florida Online, they are paving with a material that will reduce runnoff.
kchFLA has a copy of the Morrison Springs Land Management plan if anyone wants a copy of it. (note this was over a year ago and she's moved since, so she might not still have it). The lease of the land from the state of Florida required the management plan, but I can't seem to find it online easily.
I also called Walton County Commissioner Scott Brandon's office and talked to a nice lady there named Susan Burgess. She was pretty positive about the changes going on there. Here's a few things she told me:
- They've got $800k in grant money for the upgrades
- They are installing new bathrooms and showers and a septic tank that will not allow runnoff to pollute the spring.
- They will have the seperate boat ramp area to increase safety at the basin and also to keep boats, trucks and trailers from polluting the basin more and erosion issues from backing them in along the shoreline. the new boat ramp will be concrete.
- They are building a new road and two bridges to a boat ramp area.
- They are building a boardwalk through the cypress trees that will be ADA compliant. It will go down to the beach area and into the spring.
- The parking area will be far back from the beach and won't allow vehicles near the beach.
- A Education pavillion will be eventually built and hopefully some nature type trails.
- construction will most likely take until summer to complete everything, but they spring will not be closed completely the entire time. There will be periods where it can be accessed during construction but also periods where they have to close it during construction for safety/liability reasons.
- They will try to get some construction information up on the county website for when closures will be, but she doubts it will be a specific schedule.
- She also suggested calling the county parks and recreation department to see if the park was closed or open (Phone 850-892-8703)
- While the park might be closed on and off for some time, she also went over all the positive things that would come out of it... so in the long run, it might be better for us and they are trying to preserve things.
Commissioner Scott Brannon can be contacted at:
Tel: (850) 835-4860 or E-mail:
brascott@co.walton.fl.us
Note: I don't speak for the county or any of the above people. This is just from notes I took while I talked to her. hope it's helpfull to us as divers.
mike
