Florida Springs

County commissioners agree to take over the campground, which had been headed for closure by the Southwest Florida Water Management District.

A Florida congressman wants the federal government to consider a Florida Springs National Park. Environmental stakeholders are skeptical.

The highest concentration is in Central and North Florida, including most of the 30 “first magnitude” springs —those that discharge at least 65 million gallons of water daily. Most are considered polluted.

The 28 updated nutrient Basin Management Action Plans target the Santa Fe and Suwannee Rivers, among other waterways.

A new law signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis has become a reservoir of praise and contention. Some say it protects boater access. Others say it limits spring protections.

Members of the public can still weigh in on the Florida Department of Environmental Protection's updated plans to help restore polluted freshwater springs to better health.

Nitrogen and phosphorous from septic tanks and fertilizer spawn the growth of algae in Kings Bay, the second largest freshwater spring system in Florida and one of the largest in the nation.

The nonprofit citizens action group Friends of the Wekiva River is hopeful the new pilot reservation program at the park will mitigate overcrowding while helping preserve the river system.

The proposed legislation comes as Gov. Ron DeSantis initiates a DOGE-like cost-cutting effort and suggests Florida should take over Everglades restoration from the federal government.

The state has been slow to adopt rules to protect Florida's endangered springs. A boom in residential construction has increased the amount of groundwater being taken from the aquifers.

Freshwater springs advocates are skeptical of the state agency’s proposed rules for pumping springs, saying the rules as currently written wouldn’t change anything from the current status quo.

Freshwater springs advocates are skeptical of the state agency’s proposed rules for pumping springs, saying the rules as currently written wouldn’t change anything from the current status quo.