The ripple effect from our recession continues to unravel important conservation programs around the state. The latest? Brevard County’s Environmentally Endangered Lands Program. With a shrinking tax base, the county commission is looking at drastic cuts to the EEL program, including immediately ceasing all land purchases, laying off half the staff, severely limiting operating hours at nature centers, and potential closing up to 2/3 of the hiking trails on EEL lands due to lack of trail maintainers.

Now’s the time for the community to step forward. Brevard taxpayers voted for EEL, and Brevard nature-lovers, hikers and birders and wildlife watchers, should join forces to provide volunteer support to keep EEL nature centers and hiking trails open. Perhaps the local Florida Trail Association chapter could coordinate such an effort?

Learn more about what’s in store for Brevard’s natural lands in today’s Florida Today.

High bacteria levels have forced closure of one of the state’s most beautiful springs, Blue Spring in Orange City, to swimmers this weekend, according to a story in the Daytona Beach News-Journal.

While manatee season is what usually chases swimmers out of the water, in this case, it’s a combination of high temperatures and low rainfall blocking the aquifer’s ability to cleanse - what goes in, must come out - the wastes that seep into the aquifer and spring.

Check the Blue Spring State Park website to keep up with when the swimming area will reopen.

New observation decks on the Lake Eaton Trail for overlooks on the lake, plus new stairs, decks, and kiosks on the Lake Eaton Sinkhole Trail are some of the improvements planned for this summer to this pair of popular day hiking trails in the Ocala National Forest.

The short loop to the sinkhole on the Lake Eaton Sinkhole Trail is now closed while contractors work on replacing wooden structures.  Observation decks on the Lake Eaton Trail will be closed as each is replaced.

For more information, see the National Forests in Florida blog

Just south of Daytona Beach, Ponce Preserve straddles the island from the Halifax River to the Atlantic Ocean, which means access to both kinds of watery fun! The best part - there’s a hike in-between. Check out a preview of what’s along the trail … the details are headed out to Hike-A-Week readers this afternoon.

Caspersen Beach

Governor Crist again dubbed July as Florida Parks & Rec month to keep in synch with National Parks & Recreation Month. Honestly, most other states can only celebrate it in the summer months … we can celebrate year-round!

While mid-summer is not the ideal time to take long hike, these are the days - when storms aren’t bearing down - when we can get out early and enjoy a hike AND a swim afterwards. Lucky us to have so many springs and beaches to pair up with easy nature walks. Here are some of my favorites hike & swim pairings:

Blackwater River State Park, near Pensacola
Wakulla Springs State Park, south of Tallahassee
Big Talbot Island @ Blackrock Beach, north of Jacksonville
Juniper Springs in the Ocala National Forest
Smyrna Dunes Park, New Smyrna Beach
Caladesi Island State Park, Dunedin
Coquina Baywalk, Bradenton
Caspersen Beach Park, Venice

All Florida State Parks will offer free entrance on July 17, so if you’re not a passholder, get out there and explore a new one! Got an iPhone? My Florida State Parks app can help you pick the proper park for your family’s favorite activities. It’s only $1.99 and packed with photos … plus GPS-enabled to help you pick parks by proximity … so grab a copy!