SPRINGS YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED

By Jane Owen

Resource centers send invoices of what they need, the thrift stores fill the items and then they are picked up and taken to the centers daily. Leftover items at the thrift stores are sold, and the profits support ECHO’s programming.

Macaluso explained that the new store provides more giveback to what ECHO is already doing but beyond that, it gives back to this area of the community.

“I look at our thrift store as its own give back to the community. We try to keep things here reasonable. People can come and shop and find nice things for their family. A lot of people are struggling who might not need assistance, but things are a little tight and we are more afordable,” Macaluso said.

ECHO’s Bloomingdale thrift store is located at 815 W. Bloomingdale Ave. It is open from 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday. Donation hours are 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on those days.

Donations of clothing and housewares are accepted. Baby seats, large toys and furniture (with the exception of small accent pieces) cannot be donated.

To learn more about ECHO, visit https:// echofl.org/. For specific thrift store information, select the “ECHO Thrift” tab on the website.

Q: What is a spring?

By Madison Trowbridge, Ph.D., Springs Scientist

A: A spring occurs when groundwater that is under pressure flows through natural cracks in the aquifer and creates a natural opening in the ground. The pressure causes the water to flow from the aquifer to the earth’s surface. Our groundwater is the result of seasonal rainfall that soaks into the ground and into the aquifer. Springs can occur as an individual vent but more often as many spring vents, known as a spring group.

Q: What is a springshed?

A: A springshed is an area of land that captures rainwater and supplies the groundwater to a spring. A springshed can be quite large. For example, the Rainbow Springs Group has a springshed that covers several hundred square miles and extends into three counties. The water travel time in a springshed to the spring can vary from hours to several decades, but this water will eventually flow out of the spring vent. It is often said that a spring is only as healthy as its springshed because actions that occur many miles away can have a direct efect on the health of the spring and the water flowing from it.

Q: Why are springs important?

A: Florida’s springs and their associated rivers and bays provide ecological, economic, recreational, and aesthetic value to the state. Springs are often called windows to the aquifer because the water that flows out of them comes directly from the aquifer, and therefore should be protected from harm. A spring’s rivers and bays can provide activities like swimming, kayaking and nature watching, to name a few. The Florida

Springs Coast provides the largest natural warm-water refuge in the United States for the Florida manatee, with seasonal numbers in the hundreds. People come from around the world to visit these gentle creatures, resulting in a large economic impact for the surrounding communities.

Q: What makes a healthy spring?

A: Characteristics of healthy springs include the quantity of flow, water chemistry (especially the amount of nutrients) and the type and amount of aquatic vegetation, fish and wildlife present. Levels of spring flow affect the appearance and the ecology of the rivers and bays that are fed by these springs.

Q: How can I help protect Florida’s springs at home?

A: What we do in the springshed impacts the springs even if we don’t live close to a spring. Limit fertilizer use because excess fertilizer can seep into the aquifer. Inspect your septic tank every few years, as tanks that are not properly maintained can pollute the aquifer. Never dump anything down a storm drain and always dispose of grass clippings, litter, motor oil and pet waste properly. Always dispose of hazardous household chemicals etc. at an approved facility. Remember, both our drinking water and springs can become harmed.

Dr. Madison Trowbridge is the springs scientist and the Springs Team lead for the Southwest Florida Water Management District. She holds a Ph.D. in cell and molecular biology from the University of South Florida, and her doctoral research is focused on subsurface microbial ecology near Weeki Wachee.