Florida needs real protection, restoration for declining springs

For more than 30 years, Floridians have been painfully aware of the declining ecological health of their favorite springs.

In 1982, the Friends of the Wekiva River formed out of concern for the deterioration of this liquid treasure. In 1988, the river and more than a dozen springs that are the source of its flow began receiving protective legislation, special designations and pollution reduction goals. Yet, after more than three decades of declining flows and excessive pollution, it is safe to conclude that these special efforts to protect the Wekiva River springs are best described as the “appearance of protection” rather than the real thing.

Starting in 2000, under the administrations of Govs. Jeb Bush and Charlie Crist, the Florida’s Springs Initiative was an ambitious effort to restore and protect all of Florida’s 1,000-plus artesian springs. Following 10 years of scientific study by the Florida Springs Task Force, this once-hopeful endeavor culminated in a final push to accelerate meaningful recovery at only three of the state’s springs — Silver, Rainbow and Wakulla. Florida’s new administration, under the direction of Gov. Rick Scott, quickly canceled those restoration planning efforts shortly after taking office in 2011.

After so many bureaucratic delays, the Legislature passed the Florida Springs and Aquifer Protection Act this year. A wolf in sheep’s clothing, this law places the responsibility for springs’ restoration in the hands of the same state agencies, using the same regulatory tools that have been so ineffective over the past 30 years.

In the meantime, spring flows continue their longterm decline.

The Florida Springs Council, which comprises 36 member organizations, is focused on stopping the “train wreck” and putting our beloved springs back on track to a healthy future. The council is hosting the Florida Springs Restoration Summit today through Sunday at the College of Central Florida in Ocala.

The summit is designed to educate the public about springs’ health, and to motivate representatives of the state’s environmental agencies to enforce Florida’s springs-protection laws.