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Columbia County Recreation Area
The property, formerly known as the Anderson Mining Corporation-
Columbia City Mine, was purchased as part of the Ichetucknee Trace
Florida Forever Project. The purpose of the acquisition was to
protect the water quality of Ichetucknee Springs by removing the
threat of further mining and groundwater contamination along the
area believed to be a major conduit to Ichetucknee Springs. The
property is approximately 11 miles southwest of Lake City, 2 miles
southwest of Columbia City, 8 miles north of Ft. White, and 3 ˝ miles
northeast of Ichetucknee Springs.
The site is approximately 655 acres, and is composed of roughly 246 acres of
pine plantation, 214 acres of spoil and mining road, 78 acres of mine
areas/gravel pits, 83 acres-mixed hardwoods, and 34 acres of cutover
News Release:
November 26, 2007
THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH CAUTIONS CONSUMPTION OF
LARGEMOUTH BASS FROM PONDS ON KIRBY MINE SITE IN COLUMBIA COUNTY
TALLAHASSEE
- The Department of Health (DOH) announced today
that eating largemouth bass from ponds located on the former
Kirby Mine site in rural Columbia County poses a “public health
hazard.” The finding was determined after review of sampling
data by a DOH health assessment program funded by the Agency for
Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). The hazard is
due to the levels of mercury found in the bass during recent
testing. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection
(DEP) tested largemouth bass caught in the ponds and requested
that DOH review the data to see if the fish were safe for people
to eat. DOH reviewed the data and found increased levels of
mercury in the fish samples.
Women of childbearing age and young children are especially
sensitive to mercury and should only eat one six-ounce meal per
month of cooked largemouth bass from the ponds. Anyone else
eating largemouth bass from the ponds should limit consumption
to one meal per week.
Eating fish is an important part of a healthy diet. Rich in
vitamins and low in fat, fish contains protein for strong
bodies. It is also an excellent source of nutrition for proper
growth and development. In fact, the American Heart Association
recommends that most people should generally eat two meals of
fish or seafood every week.
Levels of mercury found in fish vary depending on the age and
type of fish, as well as the condition of the fish’s
environment. To lower the risk of harm from mercury found in
fish caught in Florida, see guidelines based on tests of various
water bodies:
www.doh.state.fl.us/environment/community/fishconsumptionadvisories/index.html.
DOH promotes, protects and improves the health of all people
in Florida. A report on the fish from the Kirby Mine ponds is
available at
www.myfloridaeh.com/community/SUPERFUND/pdf/2007/FinalKirbyMineHC82207.pdf
To learn more about DOH programs, visit
www.doh.state.fl.us.
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Columbia County Recreation Area
2012 State of Florida