{"id":15338,"date":"2013-01-28T12:29:21","date_gmt":"2013-01-28T18:29:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wordpress-367309-1145705.cloudwaysapps.com\/?p=15338"},"modified":"2013-01-28T12:29:21","modified_gmt":"2013-01-28T18:29:21","slug":"help-protect-blackwater-river-state-park-from-oil-and-gas-drilling","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sustainablog.org\/articles\/help-protect-blackwater-river-state-park-from-oil-and-gas-drilling\/","title":{"rendered":"Help Protect Blackwater River State Park from Oil and Gas Drilling"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"blackwater<\/a><\/p>\n

Today’s second post is also a bit unusual for us these days: normally, I leave activism campaigns to others who do it better. But we’ve all got places that are special to us, and Blackwater River State Park<\/a> in Northwest Florida is one of those for me. I lived in this part of Florida<\/a> until the age of 12, and have countless memories of good times on the Blackwater River: picnicking, swimming, hiking, camping, canoeing, fishing… it was a wonderful spot for just about any kind of outdoor activity.<\/p>\n

The park isn’t just a great recreational spot, though: according to the Nature Conservancy<\/a>, it’s also one of the last remnants of\u00a0longleaf pine\/wiregrass forest that once covered the Southeastern United States, and a hub of biodiversity<\/a>. It’s a real gem in a a state overrun with thoughtless development… and now, some want to risk sacrificing it for oil and gas development.<\/p>\n

It turns out there’s a pretty sizable oil and gas field under Santa Rosa and Okaloosa counties, and drillers want to get at it. State Representative Doug Broxson has put forth a bill – House 431<\/a> – that would allow for drilling in the state park. Milton resident Marsha Fuqua has put together a Change.org petition<\/a> and Facebook community<\/a> aimed at stopping Rep. Broxson’s bill.<\/p>\n

As someone who spent the remainder of his childhood in Southern Louisiana<\/a> (which I now consider “home”), I’ve seen the damage that can be done to ecosystems from oil and gas exploration and drilling. I’d hate to see this area damaged\u00a0irreparably, and I definitely don’t want to see toxins from the drilling process leaching into the water and soil of this area.\u00a0No doubt there’s money to be made for the state, but I hope Rep. Broxson and his colleagues in the legislature consider the value of what’s already there.<\/p>\n

If you’ve got any connection to Blackwater River State Park, sign the petition and share your experience – Rep. Broxson receives messages about each signer. And come back and share those experiences with us…<\/p>\n

Image credit:<\/strong> Tara R.<\/a> via photopin<\/a> cc<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Northwest Florida’s Blackwater River State Park is a special place for area residents, and an ecological treasure. 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