WAKULLA SPRINGS—Florida PIRG is working to protect Wakulla Springs, which is choking on algae blooms and hydrilla plants being fed by pollution runoff coming from the city of Tallahassee sewage sprayfi eld.

This summer, Florida PIRG is campaigning to win stronger protections for three of the state’s most treasured waterways —Wakulla Springs, Cypress Creek and the Everglades.

As Florida’s population continues to boom, these precious waterways face increasing danger from poorly planned development and nutrient run-off pollution.

Florida PIRG is calling on the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and key local decisionmakers to take action on the most imminent threats now and to strengthen existing water protection laws to prevent anticipated problems for the future.

The crown jewel of north Florida, and one of the most famous freshwater springs in the world, Wakulla Springs has become choked with algae blooms, hydrilla and other contaminants as a result of nutrient pollution. Studies have shown that a major source of the pollution is a Tallahassee City-owned sewage treatment sprayfi eld, but the city has resisted efforts to clean up the facility.

Florida PIRG is working to convince the Tallahassee City Commission to implement pollution controls at this sewage sprayfi eld that would reduce the fl ow of harmful nitrogen pollution into Wakulla Springs.

Cypress Creek, a tributary of the Hillsborough River just north of Tampa in Pasco County, is being threatened by developers’ plans to build a large mall adjacent to the creek.

The proposed development, which would despoil the pristine area and threaten Tampa’s drinking water supply, supply was initially opposed by the Florida Department of Community Affairs and the Florida DEP. However, pressure from developers and the Pasco County Commission has weakened state opposition to the mall’s construction.

Florida PIRG is working to convince the Florida DEP and Army Corps of Engineers to reject the wetland destruction permits needed to build the mall.

And meanwhile, developers are pushing building proposals that would further encroach on the Everglades. Miami-Dade County commissioners are considering shifting the Urban Development Boundary, which is designed to protect this world-famous ecosystem against sprawl, further west to accommodate the proposals.

Forty-six percent of Florida’s wetlands have already been dredged, fi lled and paved over for development.

Florida PIRG has joined the “Hold the Line” Coalition, which is campaigning to convince the Miami- Dade County Commission to oppose expansion of the Urban Development Boundary.