Trash Survey

Findings of investigation:

Santa Fe River– between HWY 441 bridge in High Springs and HWY 47 south of Fort White: (in order going down river)
• Santa Fe Canoe Outpost (rentals & launch area) = they provide customers with trash bags and collect from them when picking up down river, employees visit downstream access points to pick up trash, assist with multiple volunteer/environmental group clean ups by providing staff and vessels
• Adventure Outpost (rentals) = they provide customers with trash bags and collect from them when picking up down river, employees visit downstream access points to pick up trash, assist with multiple volunteer/environmental group clean ups by providing staff and vessels
• High Springs Boat Ramp (managed by Alachua Co) = waste receptacles present and clean river bank
• Columbia County Boat Ramp (hwy 27) (managed by Columbia Co) = waste receptacles present and clean river bank
• Poe Springs Park (owned by Alachua Co – managed by Nature Quest) = clean river bank, waste receptacles present, no alcohol policy, working on implementing a “no glass/no bottle” policy for all beverages, users typically families and remain on land and around spring
• Rum Island Park & Boat Ramp (managed by Columbia Co) = clean river bank, waste receptacles present, no alcohol policy, inmate crews pick up litter once per week, open to public, multiple uses by the public – including river access and floating
• Blue Springs (private park) = clean river bank, waste receptacles present, currently have “no glass/no bottle” policy, allow alcohol, no food or beverages allowed in swimming areas, employees monitor/pick up spring run for trash, assist & sponsor multiple volunteer/environmental group clean ups, users typically remain in and around spring and spring run
• Ginnie Springs (private park) = clean river bank, waste receptacles present at entry and exit points to the springs and river, have “no glass/no bottle” policy, allow alcohol, employees pick up banks following weekends, employees dive river when clear enough to pick up trash, high number of users and use includes tubing down the Santa Fe River – entering and exiting at entry and exit points on the subject property
• Gilchrist Co Park (managed by county – primitive site downriver of Ginnie Springs – no facilities) = trash present along river bank, no waste receptacles onsite, sign posted “no alcohol”, users fish from banks and use as access point to enter river for floating, canoeing/kayaking
• The Santa Fe Park & Boat Ramp (managed by Gilchrist Co – off hwy 47) = trash present along river bank – some in bags, no waste receptacles onsite(one fishing line container present), users fish from bank, launch vessels, hike up river bank, tube and use as exit point from upriver county park


Additional information:
- Gilchrist County has recently purchased and placed new trash containers (stolen in the past) at the county parks along the river as well as scheduling inmate crews to pick up trash at the parks on Mondays.
- FWC officers have issued many citations for littering in the past and concentrate patrols during the “season” (Memorial to Labor Day).

Source: Carmine Oliverio, Florida Department of Environmental Protection