Marion County Sinkhole on Sabal Trail path

Janet Barrow says:

Here is a photo of a sinkhole that is 1230 feet from the proposed pipeline at MP 380. It dropped overnight—40′ wide and deep—several years ago.

Sinkhole 1230 feet proposed pipeline at MP 380

This is the biggest recent one on the ranch where I live, but there are others. MP 377 – MP 386 go through the ranch where I live. We don’t own it. My husband is manager. This is in Marion County. 29.094506, -82.405163.

The thing is, I know a lot about this land, and very few others know anything about it. It is almost 10,000 acres, and in the last 65+ years, probably just a dozen people have worked on it or lived on it for any length of time. There are lots of listed species. I was told last month by a UF wildlife research professor that we have one of the 10 largest burrowing owl populations in Florida. If you get a chance, read some of my FERC comments. I have commented half a dozen times or so.

I found three under FERC docket CP15-17:

  • 20151021-5001, “Opposition to Sabal Trail Project’s Proposed Changes in Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Construction in Florida Scrub Jay Habitat”
  • 20151022-5004, “OPPOSITION TO SABAL TRAIL PROJECT AND CRITICISM OF THE SABAL TRAIL DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT DUE TO ITS FAILURE TO SURVEY FOR THE STATE LISTED FLORIDA SANDHILL CRANE”
  • 20151023-5006, “OPPOSITION TO SABAL TRAIL PROJECT AND COMMENTS ABOUT SABAL TRAIL’S GOPHER TORTOISE SURVEY”

Janet continued:

Also, very few people know about Rock Springs.

Rock Springs FL
Rock Springs – photo of the pond

Rock Spring Map 29.1191060, -82.3829010 When we came here in late 1983, the owner of the ranch told me he had a scientist put dye into Rock Springs, and the dye come out at Rainbow River/Rainbow Springs. Sabal Trail would go right between these two springs. Other sinkholes have appeared in this area.

There is also a spring on the map in this area called Gissy Springs.

Rock Springs location: FL 29.119106, -82.382901

Gator that lives at Rock Springs
Gator that lives at Rock Springs

I can give you plenty of info about wildlife on the pipeline route. All this land is watershed for the Rainbow River and Withlacoochee River. It has sandhill and wetland communities.

She’s referring to the central Florida Withlacoochee River that flows from the Green Swamp to the Gulf; the one about which Florida Audubon made a NIMBY deal that Sabal Trail is using as an excuse that EPA is believing.

Remember, FERC is still accepting e-comments Even better, ask your local, state, and especially federal elected and appointed officials to tell FERC to stop this Sabal Trail boondoggle.

-jsq

2 thoughts on “Marion County Sinkhole on Sabal Trail path

  1. Here are 3 other sets of comments I made to FERC about Sabal Trail, just in case anyone wants to read them:

    20140306-5070; 20151027-5043 ( includes some photos of listed species on the ranch and in the pipeline path), 20151214-5039. The 20140306-5070 is listed under the old FERC Docket Number for Sabal Trail (PF 14-1.)

    I also spoke a couple of times, the last time being on October 6, 2015, at the FERC meeting at Dunnellon Middle School, Dunnellon, Florida. I assume that the transcripts are on the FERC elibrary system.

    1. Janet. Barrow…. You recently inquired through the SCCi website about information on Jennings preserve. I am currently the steward of the preserve and am familiar with the other karst features on the ranch in west Marion County. Previous attempts to contact you have been unsuccessful. Please feel free to contact me at mgordon1988@msn.com.

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