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Special Meeting - Changes At Silver Glen Coming?

    What will future access to Silver Glen Springs look like?  The public could get an idea at a special public meeting set for February 20 in Astor.  Representatives from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will be in town to discuss a proposed Spring Protection Zone designation for the popular recreation site.  
    The meeting will convene at 5:30 p.m. at the Astor Community Center, located at 24148 Ann Street.
    Boating access to Silver Glen has been a topic for decades, with a variety of procedures put in place over time designed to preserve public recreational access while preserving the spring’s environment.  As far back as 1994, the state created anchoring and channel regulations for the springs.  Recently, the U.S. Forest Service upped the ante, by requesting the FWC designate a Springs Protection Zone at the springs, triggering a state law that allows enhanced restrictions.  
    Exactly what those restrictions might look like and how they will impact public use of the springs has been a hot topic among locals for several months, with some fearing a strict policy on boating use could lead to broadly negative impacts on communities along the St. Johns River.
    “Besides fishing, it’s the only other real draw to our town,” said Kris Wake of Astor, who is part of the Save Our Boating Rights (SOBR) campaign that has sought to keep Silver Glen boating access as open as possible.  “The SPZ could be devastating.”
    Silver Glen is a popular boating destination, with the public at times packing the springs during weekends and holidays.  It is that heavy use that has led some to seek a reduction - or even elimination - of powered boats in the Glen.  State law allows SPZ implementation when ‘harm’ is done to an area, and the designation has been used in recent years to severely restrict boating in other areas of the state.  
    Wake says the word ‘harm’ is broadly defined in the statute, leaving the door open to over-regulation of public access areas.  
    “What is harm?  If you stub your toe, is that harm?  There are multiple layers to degradation.  Flooding, herbivores, it’s not just people.”
    Wake is hoping for a large turnout at the meeting, as it will be part of the official record when the FWC Commission takes up the issue at its meeting scheduled for May in Ocala.  
    “This meeting is going to be super important,” Wake said.  “Will there be no grounding, no beaching, no mooring? We just don’t know.”
    Fears over the future have drawn the attention of area governments.  The town of Pierson has gone on record as advocating additional research rather than invoking an SPZ at Silver Glen, and Volusia County has gone on record imploring the FWC to 'listen to the voices of the people of the various impacted counties' and the impact of changes at Silver Glen before moving forward.  
    Wake says she expects FWC staff to recommend some form of SPZ to the commission, it will be up to a public outcry to preserve as much public use of Silver Glen as possible.
    FWC officials this week outlined the upcoming meeting, with Major Bill Holcomb, FWC Boating and Waterways official, leading an agenda that will outline the process that has led to the staff recommendation.  After the FWC presentation, the public will be allowed to speak.  
    The meeting will also be available via virtual attendance.  Those interested in attending virtually can visit www.myfwc.com/boating/waterway/workshops for online and dial-in options.