Florida Springs Council

‼️ Restoration can not wait ‼️ Every year Florida waits to begin Ocklawaha Restoration is a year wasted in restoring manatee habitat, fisheries, aquatic vegetation, and recreational and economic opportunities.

SIGN THE PLEDGE TODAY & SHARE WITH A FRIEND!

It’s ABOUT DAM TIME to restore the Ocklawaha River 👏 Join the Florida Springs Council in voicing support for state decision makers to take action to approve restoration of the Ocklawaha River in 2026.

TAKE ACTION TODAY: Visit ItsAboutDamTime.org to sign the Pledge to Restore the Ocklawaha River ✍️

National park proposed for Florida springs doesn’t spring from desire to fix problems • Florida Phoenix Florida has three national parks — Everglades, Biscayne, and Dry Tortugas, all in the southern end of the state. Now newbie U.S. Rep. Randy Fine of Brevard County wants to create a fourth one, this ti...

Column: The push to create a #Florida Springs National Park doesn't spring from a desire to really fix what's wrong with the springs. My latest for @floridaphoenix.com also features shout-outs to Samuel Taylor Coleridge and the Fantastic Four. floridaphoenix.com/2025/09/18/n...

“If we make it easy for them by having quotas, having restrictions on how to vacation, we can get a lot of the way there,” Smart said. “There’s very little I’ve ever seen that’s as beautiful as launching your kayak on the north end of Ichetucknee.”

Residents worry that foot traffic hurts Ichetucknee Springs; some experts say otherwise Recent reports praising north central Florida’s Ichetucknee Springs prompted some area residents to post concerned comments on social media about excessive use of the area.

📰 “We don’t want to love our springs to death,” he (FSC Executive Director Ryan Smart) said. “But I also believe that in order to protect something, you have to love it, and to love it, you have to experience it.”

www.wuft.org/environment/...

“It worries me that we would take something that [belongs to] the citizens of Florida … and we would give them up to another level of government that we will have less say or input,” Smart said.

From the article: “If the federal government were to assist Florida in purchasing more conservation land, “that would be wonderfully helpful,” Smart said. Otherwise, Smart said he urges policymakers to stay focused on the water: how much water is flowing through Florida springs, and what’s in it.”

Springs advocates aren’t convinced by proposal to consider Florida Springs National Park A Florida Congressman wants the federal government to consider a Florida Springs National Park. Environmental stakeholders are skeptical.

“I think that it’s a well-intentioned idea. It’s just not what we need to protect Florida springs. And if that’s the goal, let’s do the things that we need.” - Florida Springs Council Executive Director Ryan Smart

www.cfpublic.org/environment/...

Florida's once-pristine springs threatened by pollution, development and climate change Florida boasts at least 1,000 freshwater springs, more than any other U.S. state. They are all under threats from agricultural pollution, stress from rapid development and from climate change that is ...

📰 “We just have too much pollution going into the ground and too much water coming out of the ground,” said Ryan Smart, executive director of the nonprofit Florida Springs Council. “And when you get that combination, you end up with springs that are no longer blue and vibrant and full of life.”

FSC Executive Director Ryan Smart will be joined by:

• Mike Cliburn, FSC Board Member & Friends of Wekiva River Treasurer
• Bob Palmer, FSC Board Member
• Michael McGrath, Sierra Club Florida Lead Organizer
• Dr. George Hochmuth, Professor Emeritus, Dept. of Soil, Water, and Ecosystem Sciences, UF

YouTube video by Florida Springs Council Springs Advocacy 101: Why Are Florida Springs Still So Polluted

Springs Advocacy 101 PART 2 - A deep dive into FDEP’s Springs BMAPs with experts on agricultural pollution, septic tanks & urban fertilizer.

🗓️ Aug. 27 @ 6:30 PM
💻 FB and YouTube

m.youtube.com/watch?v=_PpM...

NEW ALBUM DROP 💿 The Life of a S̶h̶o̶w̶g̶i̶r̶l̶ Springs Advocate

Day in the life of a #SpringsAdvocate: Showing up at the Capitol to meet with legislators, attending Legislative Session committee meetings, emailing decision makers & getting outdoors to enjoy Florida’s incredible natural spaces 🏛️🥾🛶

DIVE DEEPER: ⁠
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💻️ Read more on our blog: www.floridaspringscouncil.org/single-post/...
📹️ Watch our Springs Advocacy 101 webinar: www.youtube.com/live/A4dFsN-...
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⚠️This is an overview of the policies that affect springs as they exist in statute/rule & how they should work if implemented correctly. We do not yet dive into how they are/are not implemented.

Keep in mind: The problem in FL is not the laws/rules, but how state agencies implement them. (2/3)

SPRINGS ADVOCACY 101 💦 Now time to dive into the policies & programs that impact springs protection! (1/3)

Nearly 90% of Outstanding FL Springs are impaired by pollution & pollution in our springs continues to INCREASE!
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🗓️8/27 at 6:30 pm: FSC will go live to discuss the details & shortcomings of FDEP’s plans to cleanup polluted springs 🔗 Livestream: www.facebook.com/share/16wnx5...
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📷️: Alan Youngblood⁠

NEW SHIRTS 🔥 @oldfloridavibes.bsky.social

Get yours today: go.rallyup.com/springs-shop...

YouTube video by Florida Springs Council Springs Advocacy 101 💦 Players & Policies

#ICYMI Our first Springs Advocacy 101 discussion is available to watch now!

FSC Director Ryan Smart provided an insightful overview of BMAPs, MFLs, water use permits, springs protection zones, best management practices, comp plans, local ordinances & MORE! Watch now: www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4dF...

TONIGHT @ 6:30 PM

DON’T MISS OUR SPRINGS ADVOCACY 101 WEBINAR THIS WEDNESDAY AT 6:30 P.M.

💦 Dive in to the basics of water policy with the Florida Springs Council

www.facebook.com/share/1FEL2X...

FDEP adopted updated BMAPs a few weeks ago. We’re examining the plans carefully and can see that they still fall short. The BMAPs:
- include vague strategies
- lack accountability
- and most importantly, will not restore polluted springs back to health.

The first Springs BMAPs came out in 2018. Since then nitrogen in these springs has increased by over 1.5 million pounds per year.

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FDEP is failing our springs.

Here’s how:

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Thanks to Rep. Shoaf & Senator Simon for sponsoring the Kill the Drill bill & working hard to protect their communities!

A win for Florida: The #KILLTHEDRILL bill was just signed by the Governor, banning oil drilling in Apalachicola 👏 Shoutout to the folks with The Downriver Project, Apalachicola Riverkeeper & all the local leaders + advocates who fought hard to protect the Forgotten Coast 🙌

🚨 BREAKING NEWS: Governor DeSantis just signed the State Parks protection bill prohibiting golf courses, hotels, pickleball courts and more in Florida State Parks 👏 A HUGE WIN FOR FLORIDA’S ENVIRONMENT THANKS TO YOUR ADVOCACY AND PERSISTENCE 🙌

BREAKING: The State Parks Protection Bill has been sent to Governor DeSantis ‼️ He has 7 days to act on the bill, and he indicated a few weeks ago that he would sign the bill!

Thanks to everyone who contacted legislators, joined us in Tallahassee to speak directly to lawmakers, & worked with us to defeat the bad trash bills‼️ This is a result of all the orgs & advocates who kept the pressure on lawmakers & fought HARD to protect Florida’s water, wildlife & communities👏

BREAKING: The bill that would have eliminated local single-use container regulations DIED in the Florida House👏🙌 Through all of today’s twists and turns, HB 1609 did not pass the House Floor - Once again, we’ve kept local regulations of single-use containers in place💪

Thank you, springs advocates!

After the Senate tried, for a second time, to force the bad trash language onto HB 1609, the Florida House REFUSED TO ACCEPT the Senate’s amendment 🙌 Rep. Weinberger once again STAYED STRONG in protecting local plastic regulations & safeguarding our water resources! HB 1609 heads back to the Senate.