- ABOUT US
- Rights of Springs
Fall is upon us. Experienced Floridians can feel the subtle changes in evening temperatures and humidity levels. Living in the northern hemisphere, we see the darkness emerging, bringing with it unique gifts of hibernation and inward growth.
Yet in Florida, this is a time for outward growth and flowering as well. It is a time that invites many of us into our natural communities, as we delight in being outside. Tourism increases during fall and winter in Florida. Our pristine inland lakes, rivers, springs, wetlands, and marshes fill with the sights and sounds of flowers, insects, birds, and manatees, and our state parks, national forests, famous beaches, and other outdoor places overflow with humans enjoying the natural beauty surrounding them. We are grateful that so many people find a way to enter into the beauty and richness of Florida’s natural systems.
One of the challenges of so many people wanting to experience Florida’s natural beauty is the impact of our ecological footprint. This is especially true of Florida’s extraordinary freshwater springs that Marjorie Stoneman Douglas dubbed “liquid bowls of light.” These extraordinary springs are under extreme duress due to mounting levels of nitrate pollution, excessive groundwater overpumping, and lack of sufficient rainfall.
The protection of the springs’ right to be healthy is CEJ’s priority work. This means sponsoring inspiring programs such as John Moran’s extraordinary photos of Florida springs, as well as writing detailed comment letters to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the St. Johns River Water Management District, urging the implementation of springshed recovery plans and reduced consumptive use permits. We are pleased to join the Friends of the Wekiva River and other organizations and to commit to protecting the integrity and flow of the springs and their springsheds.
As a part of our work we are also providing opportunities for students to visit some of the springs, springsheds, and spring-fed rivers, as nothing is more transformative than seeing the majesty of the springs themselves! In the words of one of our students, Heather Culp, who recently visited Rock Springs,
We viewed the cool bluish-green waters of one of Florida’s most beautiful bodies of water. The rock formations were stunningly beautiful and absolutely timeless. You could . . . see [their] different layers, marked by streaks that darkened as one’s eyes descended to the cavernous openings below. . . . After moving mechanically from desk to desk, classroom to classroom every day . . . it was wonderful to get lost in nature’s beauty and wonder, to be a part of the land that contains an indescribable form of magic.
Please join us in our healthy springs initiative by participating in the various activities we are hosting. Also check out the work of the Florida Conservation Coalition and its members, or join the Friends of the Wekiva River, or the St. Johns Riverkeeper or other waterkeeper organizations. Of course, financially supporting the work of CEJ as we develop a rights of springs initiative in Florida is always appreciated.
Finally, spend time in your ecosystem and the springshed nearest you. There is nothing as healing as spending time in nature!
Sr. Pat Siemen on Rights of Nature at TEDxJacksonville 2013View video full screen on YouTube.
CEJ Events & Presentations“Ethics, Faith & Water”
A program of “Water Voices”
On September 14, 2015, 7-9 p.m.
High Springs New Century Woman’s Club
40 NW First Avenue
High Springs, Florida 32643
Join us for the “Ethics, Faith, and Water: A Confluence,” a public conversation on water ethics for Florida. The event is the third session of the “Water Voices” series.
• Cynthia Barnett, an award-winning journalist and author of the water books “Mirage,” “Blue Revolution” and “Rain.”
• Lucinda (Lu) Faulkner Merritt, a writer who serves on the Ichetucknee Alliance Board of Directors, the steering committee of the Floridians’ Clean Water Declaration and the executive committee of the Florida Springs Council.
• Sister Patricia Siemen, Esq., a Dominican Sister and attorney who is the director of the Center for Earth Jurisprudence at Barry University Law School in Orlando.
• Robert E. Ulanowicz, Ph.D., an ecosystems scientist who is a professor emeritus with the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science and courtesy professor with the University of Florida.
Visit the: ICHETUCKNEE ALLIANCE for more information.
Bioluminescence Field Trip
Saturday, September 12, 2015
6:30 - 11:00 p.m.
Location to be determined
Brevard County, FL
Barry Law students, faculty, staff, and their guests are invited to a guided kayak tour of the Indian River Lagoon to experience the wonder of bioluminescence.
Contact: Jane Marsden, email@example.com or (321) 206-5691, for more information and to reserve a place.
Other Events:River Ruckus
St. Johns Riverkeeper
Saturday, August 29, 2015 • 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Riverside Arts Market
715 Riverside Ave.
A family festival to raise a ruckus for the river and show Jacksonville the St. Johns River is more than a scenic view: it’s a recreational asset that should be respected, protected, and enjoyed.
Contact: Shannon for more information.
Wekiwa Field School - Open to the public!
Florida Springs Institute
Start 28 Aug 2015, 9:00 AM
End 30 Aug 2015, 4:00 PM
Location: Wekiwa Springs State Park Youth Camp
1800 Wekiwa Circle
Apopka, FL 32712
The Florida Springs Field School is scheduled for three days of lectures and field trips. The Springs Field School will be held at the Wekiva Springs State Park Youth Camp facilities that include a lecture hall, dining hall, overnight cabins, and a swimming pool and conveniently located just north of Orlando, Florida. Field trips are tentatively planned to Wekiwa and Rock Springs.
Visit: Florida Springs Institute for more information.
Florida Wildflower Foundation's
2015 Wildflower Symposium
Friday, Sept. 25, and Saturday, Sept. 26
Location: Leu Gardens
1920 North Forest Ave, Orlando FL 32803
Visit the Wildflower Symposium webpage for more information.
Native Rhythms Festival
Wickham Park Amphitheater
World Cultural Music and Environmental Arts and Crafts
Free Admission - Family Event
November 12 - 15, 2015
Thursday: 5:30 PM - 9:00 PM
Friday & Saturday: 10:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Sunday: 10:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Visit Native Rhythms Festivals for more information.
Learning to See Naturally ~ Nature Journaling WorkshopsVisit our nature journaling blog, Learning to See Naturally, for poems, photos, stories and other nature-inspired creative works from our workshop participants.
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