The Shields Painting Difference: Perfection with Every Brush Stroke
Many painting companies in Florida rely on flashy marketing and big promises to try and attract new clients. But when it comes time to work, they fall short of their promises. This is often due to a lack of experience, qualified painters, and a drive to overachieve. At Shields Painting, we do things a little differently than other painting companies in Citrus County. We believe that a professional paint job should be as close to perfect as possible. Our goal is to leave you 100% satisfied, whether we're touching up an old residential paint job or performing a complex commercial project. It might sound simple, but we achieve that goal through honesty, hard work, beautiful results, and reasonable pricing.
As a family-owned and operated painting company in Silver Springs, FL, we strive to provide personalized, professional, and friendly service. Shields Painting has been in business since 1968 for a good reason. Whenever possible, we go the extra mile to make sure our customers are happy. Unlike some of our competition, we want to know all about your house or business painting project: your vision, your preferences, your challenges, and your goals. When we understand your needs, we can present you with a fantastic final product - one that you're proud to show off to friends and neighbors.
At Shields Painting, we combine our extensive experience with time-tested, meticulous painting processes, resulting in the highest quality painting results around. As a painting contractor in Citrus County, we can take on a variety of residential, commercial, and industrial projects in Florida.
A few of our most popular painting services include:
- Interior Painting
- Exterior Painting
- Residential Painting
- Commercial Painting
- Cabinet Painting
- Ceiling Painting
- Fence Painting
- Sign Painting
- MUCH More!
Our commercial, industrial, and residential painting contractors take the proper steps to protect your property and belongings while we work. Our team will clean up after ourselves, so your property is left clean and free of debris when we're done. After all, we think there's only one way to do a job, and that's the right way.
Painting Services
Eco-friendly & clean work area.
PDCA Certified Member.
Your Go-To House Painting Company in Silver Springs, FL
Your home is a haven of relaxation and solitude. It is uniquely you - a place where you can express who you are through style and design. Whether you need interior touch-ups for your crown molding or a new exterior coat of paint, hiring a reliable painting contractor is the best way to get quality results.
At Shields Painting, we know how important it is to have a home that highlights your tastes and personality. That's why we offer an extensive array of residential painting services in Citrus County. As tempting as it might be to try a DIY paint job, without the proper skills and experience, there is a good chance that the results will turn out less than satisfactory.
High-quality painting requires skill, experience, and patience. If you're a homeowner who needs residential painting services but doesn't have the time, patience, or skills to handle the job, look no further than Shields Painting. We offer accuracy, precision, and longevity with each paint job we perform. Our customers choose Shields Painting for their home because they receive:
- Free Quotes with Detailed Project Breakdowns
- Affordable Pricing
- Expert Painting Contractors
- High-Quality Paint Products
- Combo of Traditional and Modern Techniques
- Well-Maintained Tools
- Unmatched Craftsmanship
- Friendly, Personalized Service
- Good Old-Fashioned Hard Work!
The majority of our house painting services come in two forms: interior and exterior.
Interior Residential Painting
As an interior painting contractor with decades of experience, our expert technicians have developed an interior painting process that maximizes quality and emphasizes customer satisfaction. We understand that interior painting goes beyond aesthetics. It protects your ceilings and walls and helps you sustain a healthier place to live for your family. When only the finest craftsmanship will do inside your home, Shields Painting is here for you.
Our seasoned team of painting experts and craftsmen is dedicated to respecting your space and providing you with the look and feel you're craving inside your home. Whether you bought a new house and want to make it your own or need minor touch-ups but have no time, Shields Painting is ready to tackle the job, no matter how small or large.
Unlike some painting companies, our interior house painters take the time to get the details right, every time. For instance, color is only one aspect of your interior paint job. The paint sheen or finish is just as important. Certain finishes are better for living rooms and bedrooms than in kitchens and bathrooms. We'll help you find the right finish and paint colors for your home, so you don't have to worry about touch-ups or repainting.
Some of our most popular interior house painting services include:
- Ceiling Painting
- Popcorn Ceiling Removal
- Living Room Painting
- Bathroom Painting
- Basement Painting
- Color Consultations
- More
Cabinet Painting
Citrus County cabinet painting deserves its own section on this page because it requires more time, skill, and quality paint than most sections of your home. If your home's cabinets are built into its woodwork, replacing them can be obnoxiously expensive. Compared to the cost of installing new cabinets, painting your kitchen cabinets is much more affordable.
At Shields Painting, we specialize in transforming old cabinets into new, gorgeous features that are just as usable as they are beautiful. Each step of our cabinet painting process is meticulous and thorough. And we'll take care of the entire job, from cleaning, prep, and sanding to priming, painting, and reassembly. This unique service lets you enjoy a brand-new look in your kitchen without having to go into debt by replacing your cabinets.
Whether your cabinets are new, but you want to change their color or you'd like to transition wood cabinets to a painted finish, Shields Painting has the expertise and experience to give you a new look you'll love.
Exterior Residential Painting
Your home - it's a place that not only keeps your belongings safe. It protects your family and loved ones, too. It's one of your largest investments, and like anything else of value, it should be protected. However, Florida weather can take a toll on your home's structure and paint, lowering your home's value and even putting your family at risk.
While it's true that a beautiful exterior affects your house's value, it shouldn't take thousands of remodeling dollars to make a positive change to your home. There's a fine line between reasonable pricing and top-quality painting, and that sweet spot is what Shields Painting aims for. If you want to transform how your friends and neighbors see your home, never underestimate the power of a professional paint job.
Our exterior residential painting services are designed to boost curb appeal, give your home a fresh look, and help it stand up to Florida's unique weather. But we provide more than that. When you hire Shields Painting for your outdoor painting project, you will enjoy peace of mind in knowing that your home is in truly capable hands. Our goal is to exceed your expectations and help bring out the best in your property, whether you need to re-stain your deck or remove old, peeling paint from your siding.
If you're on the hunt for the very best exterior painting contractor in Silver Springs, FL, look no further than Shields Painting.
Some of our most popular exterior house painting services include:
- Vinyl Siding Painting
- Deck Painting and Staining
- Stucco Exterior Painting
- Wood Exterior Painting
- Porch Painting and Staining
- Soffit Painting
- Fascia Painting
- Window Painting
- Front Door Painting
- Thorough Painting Prep
- More
The Premier Commercial Painting Company in Silver Springs, FL
When it comes to first impressions, your businesses' appearance plays an important role. Your commercial property's paint job factors into its overall aesthetics. A great-looking, well-maintained paint job can mean the difference between a customer walking in your storefront and passing by. Conversely, an old, worn-out commercial paint job can send the wrong message to prospective customers. If you can't take the time to keep up your property's appearance, why would a customer spend their hard-earned money on your products?
The same goes for your businesses' interior paint. Would you want to do business with a company that has peeling paint or unsightly crown molding? At Shield's Painting, our goal is to create a beautiful environment that your customers and employees will love inside and out. When you work with our business painters, you can rest easy knowing we treat your business like it were our own. We always clean up after ourselves and know that operations cannot come to a halt just because we're painting. As such, we'll work with your busy schedule to ensure the job gets done right the first time without disrupting your day-to-day commitments.
With decades of commercial painting experience, we know the demands of a commercial painting project necessitate a disciplined and focused approach from the start. Our team of business painters is committed to delivering quality, on-time results on every project, every time - no excuses
We offer professional business painting services to a variety of building types, including:
01
Industrial Painting
A high level of care and finesse are required to effectively paint an industrial property. At Shields Painting, we know that industrial paint jobs involve much more than aesthetics. That's why our industrial services are customized to your specifications, using industrial-grade materials that stand up to heavy-duty operations.
02
Retail Store Painting
Our commercial painters apply effective, yet appealing interior and exterior paint that stand up to the daily rigors of busy retail environments.
03
Small Business Painting
Do you own a restaurant franchise? Have a small "mom and pop" location that needs a fresh coat of paint? Shields Painting has the resources and reliability to efficiently get the job done the first time. That way, you can focus on serving your customers, not having your business repainted.
04
Healthcare Location Painting
From walk-in clinics to long-term care facilities, Shields Painting is sensitive to your patients' needs. We know you must protect your patient's privacy while maintaining productivity. Our approach to healthcare location painting centers around your schedule to avoid disruptions in care.
05
Apartment Complex Painting
Erase signs of wear and make your apartment complex or multi-family building a more desirable place to live with a stunning, professional paint job.
Florida's Most Trusted Painting Contractor
Shields Painting has been in the business since 1968. In a world where so much has changed, we are proud to uphold the ideals that make us successful: hard, honest work, getting the job done right, and excellent customer service. Providing you with trustworthy, quality work will always take priority over rushing through a project to serve the next customer. That is just not the way we choose to do business.
As professionals dedicated to perfection, we strive to provide a unique painting experience for every customer - one that focuses on their needs and desires instead of our own. Whether you need residential painting for your home or commercial painting for your business, we encourage you to reach out today to speak with our customer service team. Whether you have big ideas about a new paint project or need our expertise and guidance, we look forward to hearing from you soon.
352-212-1533Free Consultation
Latest News in Silver Springs, FL
Silver Springs State Park: Best Time to Visit, Cost, and Fun Activities
Em Thomashttps://a-z-animals.com/blog/silver-springs-state-park-best-time-to-visit-cost-and-fun-activities/
Silver Springs State Park in Silver Springs, Florida is one of the largest springs in the entire country. The park is home to a long list of amazing excursions and tours, and if you’re visiting Florida, thi...
Silver Springs State Park in Silver Springs, Florida is one of the largest springs in the entire country. The park is home to a long list of amazing excursions and tours, and if you’re visiting Florida, this park is a must-see stop.
Silver Springs State Park is over 4,000 acres in size and includes a spring, river, and forest. It’s an amazing place to learn about Floridian flora and fauna with hikes, boat rides, and guided tours. The park has a rich history and a large variety of plants and animals.
One of the special things to do at Silver Springs State Park is take a clear-bottom boat ride around the spring, allowing you to see the life underneath the water! Read on to discover the full history of the park and all of the amazing things you can do while you’re visiting.
History of Silver Springs State Park
The Silver Springs area of Florida has a profound history that dates back over 10,000 years. Many people have enjoyed this sector of Florida for a variety of purposes. In fact, in 1850, this shore was a commercial trading hub, and steamboats would pull up for the purpose of moving supplies. It’s hard to imagine this beautiful, protected land used for industrial use.
After the Civil War ended in 1865, the Silver Springs started to be honored for its beauty. Adventurers by steamboat and railroad would stop in the Springs to explore the amazing forests and stunning waters. There’s a lot to explore in the area, so it’s rightful that they became a tourist destination.
In 1870, the glass-bottomed boat was created by Hullam Jones and Phillip Morrell. They made the bottom of a rowboat clear so that they could see what was underneath the water. This is now a staple of the Silver Springs State Park, which offers glass-bottomed boat tours on a daily basis!
Things To Do At Silver Springs State Park
There are a lot of things to do at Silver Springs State Park! The park is home to not only the Silver Springs but also the Silver River, which means the park is full of awesome things to do.
Visitors to the park can plan on doing any number of standard state park activities, including hiking, biking, and camping. You can also rent kayaks and canoes directly in the park. However, Silver Springs State Park is also home to some pretty unique adventures.
Silver Springs State Park’s claim to fame is its glass-bottom boat tours. Visitors can take a half-hour or extended tour of the springs in a glass-bottom boat for under $30. Tours start at $12 per person, making it easy and cheap to explore the deep blue waters of the springs. You’ll not want to miss this!
Silver Springs State Park is also home to a few different dining options. There are a number of restaurants within the park, providing delicious and accessible options to visitors. Stop by the Springside Restaurant for a burger and fries, or head over to Paradise Treats for a scoop of yummy ice cream.
If you’re coming to Silver Springs State Park to hike, there are some great trail options for you! The park has five defined trails, each differing in intensity and length. Here’s a quick overview of the trails you can hit while you’re visiting Silver Springs State Park.
Creek Trail
Creek Trail is the newest trail at Silver Springs State Park. It’s a 3/4-mile loop that will take you to the only tributary at the park!
Spring Connector Trail
The Spring Connector Trail is an awesome walk for folks looking to get a couple of miles in. One way, the trail is 2.3 miles, totaling over 4.1 miles roundtrip. The trail connects a few different nearby trails, making it a great option for folks wanting to explore.
Sandhill Trail
The Sandhill Trail is a 1.7-mile loop that’ll lead you through some of the gorgeous terrain offered at Silver Springs State Park.
Sinkhole Trail & Old Field Loop
The Sinkhole Trail and Old Field Loop Trail at Silver Springs State Park are both upland trails. The Sinkhole Trail is a bit longer, looping 2.2 miles, while the Old Field Loop is just under one mile around.
Swamp Trail & River Trail
Both the Swamp Trail and River Trail will take you to see the beauty that is Silver River. The Swamp Trail is just under two miles, while the River Trail is 1.3 miles. Both are looping trails.
If you’re planning on coming to town, keep an eye on the Silver Springs State Park events calendar. The park hosts a wide variety of events throughout the year, so if you and your family are stopping into town, you may want to time it with some special fun! They celebrate holidays and host craft shows throughout the year, so be sure to check the calendar for an updated schedule.
If you’re looking to have a special event in Florida, consider choosing Silver Springs State Park as your venue. They host weddings and other parties all year round, so check out their Wedding & Catering page for more details about renting out a space.
Wildlife At Silver Springs State Park
Silver Springs State Park is known for being home to a wide variety of wildlife in the trees, forests, and beneath the surfaces of the water. Birding is extremely popular here, so keep your head in the clouds as you stroll the beautiful property!
As you explore the uplands of the park, it’s common to run into deer, armadillos, and foxes! You’ll also very likely see some Sherman fox squirrels running around the acreage. There are coyotes and black bears on the land, as well, though it’s unlikely you’ll spot them. As always, if you come into the proximity of wildlife, give space and proceed cautiously.
The river is home to some of the most amazing wildlife found in the park. Manatees, alligators, and turtles live in the water. On your glass-bottom boat ride, you’ll very likely see quite a few different varieties of fish, as well! Expect to see a lot of Floridian wildlife while you’re at the park.
Best Time To Visit Silver Springs State Park
Silver Springs State Park is located in north-central Florida. Florida is warm all year round, with some intense temperatures during the summertime. Not only that, but visitors flock to Florida on summer breaks.
With that in mind, the best time to come to Silver Springs State Park is during the Florida off-season. March and April, as well as September and October, are less busy and feature temperate weather. However, the Silver Springs State Park is open seven days a week, all year round (including holidays!), so whenever you can visit, it’ll be waiting for you!
Cost of Visiting Silver Springs State Park
Visiting Silver Springs State Park is not very expensive! In fact, it only costs $8 per vehicle to enter the park. However, the park offers some equipment rentals and tours, which will add a few bucks to your trip’s totals.
Glass-bottom boat tours range from $12-25, depending on the length of the tour and the time of the trip. There’s a child and senior discount, as well. For a half-hour tour, adults can expect to pay $13, with children and seniors costing $12 a head.
Paddleboards, kayaks, and canoes can also be rented for varying amounts of time. A one-hour self-guided paddlesport rental will cost between $30-45, while full-day rentals cost between $60-75. The Silver Springs State Park gives a full breakdown of costs, as well as a page to make reservations.
The photo featured at the top of this post is © David Radzieta/iStock via Getty Images
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About the Author
Em Thomas is a writer at A-Z Animals primarily covering places, travel, and chili peppers! She's an MBA student with a passion for storytelling. Though she's a Michigan native, she presently resides in Denver, Colorado. While she doesn't currently have any pets of her own, she's an avid dogsitter with an affinity for big dogs!
Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us? Contact the AZ Animals editorial team.
These Florida monkeys could give you herpes. Here’s where they’ve been found
Anthony Talcotthttps://www.clickorlando.com/health/2024/01/05/these-florida-monkeys-could-give-you-herpes-heres-where-theyve-been-found/
When it comes to Florida’s wildlife, the first animals that come to mind are usually alligators, sharks or ...
When it comes to Florida’s wildlife, the first animals that come to mind are usually alligators, sharks or manatees.
However, monkeys are also a staple within Central Florida, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
These monkeys — called “rhesus macaques” — were originally brought to Florida by the manager of a glass-bottom boat operation, who released six on an island in the Silver River to attract tourists.
However, the monkeys swam away from the island into the surrounding forest, breeding and increasing their numbers over the years.
While the population of monkeys in the Silver Springs State Park has reached as high as 400 at some points, trapping and removal efforts have kept them from getting out of hand. As of 2015, the FWC reported that there were around 190 inside the park.
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Nowadays, these monkeys can be found throughout the state, though the FWC says that these sightings likely stem from the group of monkeys at Silver Springs.
Aside from environmental concerns, these monkeys pose a threat to public health, as rhesus macaques in Florida have tested positive for herpes B.
The CDC states that this viral infection is extremely rare, but it can lead to severe brain damage or even death. The virus can be transmitted by these monkeys through bites, scratches or contact with bodily fluids.
In addition, these monkeys may become aggressive when fed by people, so the FWC passed a rule in 2017 prohibiting locals from feeding any wild monkeys in the state.
According to the FWC’s rhesus monkey tracker, the following counties have had credible sightings of these monkeys outside of the core population:
The FWC provides these tips for rhesus macaque encounters:
6 Best Glass Bottom Boat Tours in Florida
Breanna Ramoshttps://authenticflorida.com/glass-bottom-boat-tours-in-florida/
Did you know there are glass bottom boat tours in Florida?As the name suggests, glass bottom boats have a translucent glass bottom that allows you to see directly beneath you in the water.With the clear Florida waters in lakes, rivers, and the ocean, glass bottom boats allow riders a unique opportunity.On these boats, you can see creatures and habitats while exploring the waters around them, providing a more immersive experience.These types of boats can also provide seemingly magical moments if you are participati...
Did you know there are glass bottom boat tours in Florida?
As the name suggests, glass bottom boats have a translucent glass bottom that allows you to see directly beneath you in the water.
With the clear Florida waters in lakes, rivers, and the ocean, glass bottom boats allow riders a unique opportunity.
On these boats, you can see creatures and habitats while exploring the waters around them, providing a more immersive experience.
These types of boats can also provide seemingly magical moments if you are participating in a nighttime bioluminescent kayaking tour.
There are glass-bottom boat tours located around the Sunshine State that allow people to see different areas in an entirely new way.
Whether you are already familiar with Florida waters or new to exploring them, consider a glass-bottom boat tour to see even more of the area around you and cruise through bodies of water around the state.
Before you go on a glass bottom boat tour, make sure to call or check the website of the tour operator you booked with so you have all the necessary information.
This ensures you’ll have an enjoyable and fun experience.
Here are a few standard tips:
The best glass-bottom boat tours in Florida
Table of Contents
Silver Springs State Park – Silver Springs, FL
What better place to start than where glass bottom boats were invented?
Silver Springs State Park is a huge 4000-acre destination with so much to do.
There are hiking trails, a museum, gardens, restaurants, and more.
Glass bottom boat tours are popular here thanks to their origin in Silver Springs back in the 1870s.
Today, visitors can book glass bottom boat tours. These are the best way to see Mammoth Spring, the head spring of Silver River, while observing fish swim beneath the boat in the sparkling spring waters.
Silver Springs State Park Address: 5656 E Silver Springs Blvd, Silver Springs, FL 34488
Key Largo Princess – Key Largo, FL
Key Largo Princess is a glass-bottom boat cruise operator in the Florida Keys. The Key Largo Princess is a luxury glass bottom boat sailed by an experienced captain.
Guests can relax in the boat’s air-conditioned cabin while visiting the United States’ only undersea park, John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park.
Sights to see during your glass bottom boat ride include marine life from the Molasses Reef.
Enjoy the boat’s sun deck and full-service snack bar while viewing a variety of tropical fish from the Atlantic Ocean.
Key Largo Princess Address: 99701 Overseas Hwy, Key Largo, FL 33037
Sharkey’s Glass Bottom Tours – St. Petersburg, FL & Sarasota, FL
Sharkey’s Glass Bottom Tours in St. Petersburg and Sarasota specializes in LED eco-tours. The company offers both day and nighttime kayak tours.
In St. Pete, you can choose between a daytime tour that takes you through a mangrove tunnel and a large sandbar where you can spend your morning or afternoon swimming and snorkeling in the water around the sandbar.
At night, they offer LED-illuminated tours from St. Pete Beach. Here you can see sea life around the illuminated ocean floor beneath you.
In Sarasota, they offer similar day and nighttime experiences.
Sharkey’s Glass Bottom Tours Address: 4237 Gulf Blvd, St Pete Beach, FL 33706
Fury Water Adventures – Key West, FL
Fury Water Adventures is another great glass-bottom boat tour option in the Florida Keys.
Located on Duval Street in Key West, the Glass Bottom Boat Reef Eco Tour also takes guests to North America’s only living coral reef.
With a sundeck, an enclosed, air-conditioned viewing area, restrooms, and a snack bar, Fury Water Adventures allows you to see fish, sea turtles, and other marine life in their natural habitat in comfort.
It also keeps the delicate reefs safe.
Fury Water Adventures Address: 0 Duval St, Key West, FL 33040
Sea Experience – Fort Lauderdale, FL
Sea Experience is a company that offers scuba diving and snorkeling trips in Fort Lauderdale.
Their glass bottom boat tour departs from Bahia Mar Marina and cruises along Fort Lauderdale’s unique Intracoastal waterways.
See some of the glamourous yachts and mansions the city is known for before making your way out to the ocean.
You’ll see the magnificent marine life beneath you from the boat’s glass bottom.
From there, you can join the action by jumping in for a snorkeling adventure!
Sea Experience Address: 801 Seabreeze Blvd, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316
John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park
Pennekamp Park is home to a glass bottom boat tour you won’t want to miss.
Step aboard the Spirit of the Pennekamp to see a variety of shallow water reefs.
The two-and-a-half-hour tours run multiple times a day. It offers you a look at things you may normally never see.
Pennekamp Glass Bottom Boat Tour Address: 102601 Overseas Hwy, Key Largo, FL 33037
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Fragile Springs Revisited: Silver Springs struggles with human impacts but remains a gem
Danielle Johnsonhttps://www.ocala.com/story/news/environment/2021/10/27/iconic-silver-springs-struggles-human-impacts-but-remains-gem/6020868001/
No jewel in the crown of natural springs that ring North Central Florida shines brighter than Silver Springs, now with further protections within Silver Springs State Park.Over the past eight years, the state has renovated and maintained the park’s glass-bottom boat rides — its signature attraction for 140 years — while enlisting an army of volunteers to restore native plants to the 4,666-acre facility, which merged Silver Springs and the former Silver River State Park.Meanwhile, the Florida Dep...
No jewel in the crown of natural springs that ring North Central Florida shines brighter than Silver Springs, now with further protections within Silver Springs State Park.
Over the past eight years, the state has renovated and maintained the park’s glass-bottom boat rides — its signature attraction for 140 years — while enlisting an army of volunteers to restore native plants to the 4,666-acre facility, which merged Silver Springs and the former Silver River State Park.
Meanwhile, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, which owns and operates the park, has contributed to efforts by the county and the St. Johns River Water Management District to improve the health of the springs. That money has bought environmentally sensitive land, such as the Silver Springs Sandhill property, and has gone toward runoff prevention at Half-Mile Creek.
Timucuan Indians lived along the springs beginning in the early 1500s until they clashed with the invading Spanish explorers. Driven out, they were later succeeded by Seminole Indians, before the Indians met with the same fate after conflicts with the U.S. government and Florida settlers.
By the 1850s, boats carried supplies to the growing town of Ocala. And when steamships arrived, so did tourists to see the pristine springs.
Before Disney took up in Orlando, the springs were an attraction that saw thousands of people a day. It was one of Florida’s first tourist attractions, and from the beginning glass-bottom boats were a popular ride.
Location: Silver Springs State Park has a main entrance at 5656 E. Silver Springs Blvd. in Silver Springs. The camping and museum entrance is located at 1425 NE 58th Ave.
About: Silver Springs first became an attraction in the 1820s for visitors who poled along the stream. The invention of glass-bottom boats came in the late 1870s and developed into the attraction they are today.
Before becoming a state park in 2013, Silver Springs was an amusement park featuring rides and exotic animals, and over 20 movies were filmed in the area.
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Silver Spring contains over 30 spring vents, with the main "Mammoth Spring” being a first-magnitude spring and the largest of the Silver Springs basin group. The 33-foot-deep vent discharges into a pool nearly 300 by 200 feet in size.
The flow rate of Silver Springs has historically averaged over 500 million gallons a day, a number that had garnered it the title of Florida’s largest spring.
Visitors: Visitors can hike, mountain bike, ride horseback, camp, rent cabins and take tours in the famous glass-bottom boats. They also can take their own boats up the Silver River and back if launching from Ray Wayside Park to the north, which has a $5 launch fee per vehicle.
Kayaks and canoes are available for rent at the park, or personal paddlecraft can be launched for $4 per vessel. There is no swimming allowed in Silver Springs.
The park is open daily from 8 a.m. to sundown daily. Entrance fee is $2 for pedestrians and bicyclists at the main gate, or $5 for single-occupant vehicles and $8 for vehicles of 2-8 people at the camping/museum entrance. Visitors also can enter the Silver River Museum and Environmental Center for $2.
Problems: Silver Springs has been identified as impaired due to excessive nitrate concentrations in the water, which cause algal growth. Under the Florida Springs and Aquifer Protection Act, springs with impaired water quality require a Basin Management Action Plan (BMAP) to meet standards within 20 years.
The Florida Department of the Environment found that 29% of nitrogen loading to groundwater in the area was caused by septic systems, 22% from urban and sports fertilizer use and 36% from livestock waste, including horse and cattle farms, and farm fertilizer.
Silver Springs also has been impacted by groundwater pumping in the region, which has contributed to its reduction of flow by more than 30%.
The disturbed ecosystem is now supporting invasive tilapia, which make up 86% of the fish biomass in Silver Springs and affect its productivity.
Future: Experts say intensive farming needs to be discouraged in favor of better practices, groundwater pumping needs to be addressed and installation of new septic tanks needs to be halted.
Under the BMAP, the nitrogen levels must be reduced over 20 years by prohibiting new septic tanks, connecting lots to central sewer, reducing fertilizer input, employing better irrigation and more. Advocates say the targets are insufficient to curb nitrate levels and are currently appealing for a stronger action plan.
They also say the Rodman/Kirkpatrick Dam needs to be breached to reconnect Silver Springs to the St. Johns River via the Ocklawaha River, which will help restore fish migration and balance the ecosystem.
Contact reporter Danielle Johnson at djohnson@gannett.com.
Invasive blue tilapia now make up 86% of fish at Silver Springs in Marion County
Danielle Johnsonhttps://www.ocala.com/story/news/environment/2021/09/18/invasive-blue-tilapia-represent-eighty-six-percent-total-fish-population-silver-springs/8337132002/
A recent fish count of Florida’s famous Silver Springs revealed alarming results: Blue tilapia, an invasive fish, now make up 86% of the biomass, or weight, of the total fish population in the springs.What was deemed a “tilapia explosion” by the Howard T. Odum Florida Springs Institute (FSI) coincides wit...
A recent fish count of Florida’s famous Silver Springs revealed alarming results: Blue tilapia, an invasive fish, now make up 86% of the biomass, or weight, of the total fish population in the springs.
What was deemed a “tilapia explosion” by the Howard T. Odum Florida Springs Institute (FSI) coincides with declining populations of native fish, overall declining health of the springs, and continued calls to breach the Rodman/Kirkpatrick Dam near Palatka.
“They’re a defiant invader,” FSI Director Robert Knight said. “Once they get in, I don’t know that anybody’s been successful in controlling them.”
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FSI is an independent nonprofit started in 2010 by Knight, who has researched Florida’s springs, which number upwards of 1,000, since his doctoral research on Silver Springs in the 1970s.
Declining native fish populations
In counts conducted in 2004, 2009 and 2013, the tilapia were present, but their populations weren’t significant. By FSI’s first count, conducted in 2019, blue tilapia made up 25% of the live fish weight in Silver Springs. They similarly comprised 26% in 2020, but numbers skyrocketed to 86% in a count conducted this July.
In a press release on the findings, Knight said the tilapia compete with native mullet and gizzard shad for food, as well as bass and sunfish for nesting areas.
Native fish species are only at 41% of their population sizes prior to the Rodman/Kirkpatrick Dam’s completion in 1968, when populations collapsed.
Fish populations decreased by 78% by 1979 and 92% by 2004. Although the overall biomass is increasing again, it is largely driven by the non-native tilapia.
From the 1950s to 2004, largemouth bass and sunfish populations declined by 67% in Silver Springs, and they are still down 48%.
Even more dramatically, catfish numbers dropped by 91% since 1954, and striped mullet, which are essential for consuming algae, dropped by 77%.
Who let the tilapia out?
Knight suspects the tilapia, which are native to the Middle East and parts of Africa, were allowed into the St. Johns River system, which has many invasive species, through the dam’s lock.
“We also saw another exotic that went through an explosion years ago, but nothing like this tilapia explosion,” Knight said. “It was armored catfish, and they are a South American fish that has infiltrated throughout North Florida.”
Both are tropical fish attracted to the springs because of the warmth of the water in the winter.
Knight says the health of Florida’s springs has been declining at an accelerating rate. Both Silver and Rainbow Springs are polluted by nitrates, which cause algal blooms and are changing the types of vegetation in the area.
“The tilapia explosion is related to the pollution of Silver Springs,” he said. “I think it may come to an end eventually, but they’re responding to a damaged system. This is what happens when you damage a complex ecosystem. You get invasive species.”
A damaged ecosystem
Knight remembers riding the iconic Silver Springs glass-bottom boats with his grandparents 68 years ago when he was just 5 years old and fish were the big attraction.
Though tourists might not notice the lack of diversity in fish species, the ecosystem will.
“The fish have a purpose,” Knight said. “The fish aren't there just for decoration.”
He elaborated that top consumers control the ecosystem by preying on lower consumers, which control herbivores and have a cascading effect down the food chain. Mullet, which are still present to a degree, do a good job of keeping the algae populations down, but tilapia do not.
“What’s gone from Silver Springs is there was a big population of channel catfish, and channel catfish are literally bottom feeders. They eat everything. They’re gone,” Knight said. "The gar have just about disappeared from Silver Springs based on the last three years. The gar numbers were trivial this last year, and they were always a part of the food chain here.”
Breaching the Rodman/Kirkpatrick Dam would bring back the channel catfish and other large predatory fish like the striped bass to compete with tilapia and potentially control their population, according to FSI's press release.
"The whole system is changing, and what we’re seeing when we measure the productivity of the Silver River, we’re seeing a decline in the productivity of the river," Knight said, referring to the total output of organic matter the system is producing.
The tilapia are not helping maximize the productivity of the ecosystem, he added. He expects the system will only support the fish temporarily before the population crashes, like the armored catfish did.
How to restore Silver Springs
Whether the population is controlled naturally or not doesn’t change three needs of Silver Springs for Knight.
First and most importantly, he says, it needs its flow back, which has been altered by groundwater pumping and an increasing number of wells. Second, nitrogen pollution from fertilizers and septic tanks must be addressed. Third, the dam must be removed.
“To restore Silver Springs to its former beauty and glory, you’re going to have to deal with all three of those issues,” he concluded.
Breaching the dam is 50 years overdue in Knight’s mind, and many activists and organizations, such as Free the Ocklawaha, have argued for its removal as well.
“The economics have been studied, the alternatives have been studied, the environmental impacts have been studied,” Knight said. “It’s just a matter of having the political will to take on a fairly small group of proponents for keeping the dam because it’s not in the public’s best interest.”
Knight, who says he's spending his retirement fighting for the springs, is also hoping to build the Silver Springs Environmental Center within Silver Springs State Park, pending funding.
The center would conduct research on artesian springs and the Floridan Aquifer, which supplies groundwater to the region, as well as be a hub for outreach and education related to the springs.
Contact reporter Danielle Johnson at djohnson@gannett.com.