Florida Springs News Archive

Jan 9, 2019 - Starting January 1, people launching into the river from the park's dock can only bring reusable containers or bottles with them. Several signs reading "only non-disposable items allowed on the river" have been posted throughout the parking lot and park entrance.

Jan 2, 2019 - We've lost track at how many times we've spent visiting Florida to escape the cold. It has usually been along the Gulf or Atlantic beaches or one of the Orlando parks. But over the past few years, we've 'discovered' the beautiful and unique springs of Florida.

Dec 13, 2018 - The EPA's own figures show the rollback of Obama-era regulations will leave 51 percent of the nation's wetlands unprotected. Florida has 12 million acres of wetlands, more than all but one other state

Nov 27, 2018 - The rural areas near Branford, Florida have many wonderful springs. I know that many people have heard of Ginnie Springs as it is a very popular spring and is known well even down here in central Florida.

Nov 7, 2018 - For too many families, North Florida's once pristine groundwater may be unsafe to drink. One nasty pollutant is nitrate, a principal ingredient in synthetic agricultural and urban fertilizers, and in animal manure and human waste.

Oct 10, 2018 - North Florida is home to a vast underground plumbing system known as the Floridan Aquifer. Comprising more than 100,000 square miles and several thousand feet in thickness, the Floridan Aquifer is like a gigantic, rock-filled bucket.

Oct 1, 2018 - The bloom has now touched all three of the state's coasts, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. This appears to be only the second time that has happened since the state began officially tracking the blooms.

Sep 12, 2018 - It's September in an election year in Florida, and suddenly everybody cares about water.

Aug 9, 2018 - Florida springs and aquifer at risk warns top environmentalist. This year the environment is emerging as a top issue in both the primary and the general election.

Aug 8, 2018 - The water that connects us "needs us now," author Cynthia Barnett told the crowd gathered at South Walton High School on July 25.

Aug 3, 2018 - Stuart and environs is a glistening jewel born of water. It may well top the list of Florida cities in shoreline per capita. There's simply water everywhere.

Jul 18, 2018 - Visit the new Gilchrist Blue Springs State Park and, if you can get in, you will see what your neighbors do to tolerate the summer heat. They spend the day in the springs.

Jul 18, 2018 - With toxic algae blooms now erupting all over Florida ' from the St. Johns River to Lake Okeechobee as well as on both coasts ' scientists are pointing a finger at one likely fuel source: pollution from leaking septic tanks.

Jul 17, 2018 - The Great Toxic Slime Outbreak of 2018 has befouled the Caloosahatcheer, the river of my childhood. I needed to see for myself, so I grabbed my cameras and headed south to Fort Myers and Cape Coral. A heartbreaking sight awaited.

Jul 10, 2018 - Last week, Hawaii became the first U.S. state to ban the sale of sunscreens containing two common chemicals, oxybenzone and octinoxate, which many researchers worldwide have deemed potentially harmful to aquatic life.

Jun 30, 2018 - Decided to welcome summer by adventuring to some of Florida's natural springs.

Jun 13, 2018 - Today I led my monthly Florida Trail Association Wednesday paddle on the Suwannee River. 14 paddlers showed up to play on one of my favorite sections of the Suwannee featuring several named springs.

Oct 2, 2017 - A deadline is looming for the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to finalize cleanup plans for the Silver and Rainbow rivers but an agency official and environmentalists alike say the plans will not be enough.

Aug 13, 2017 - Forget slimy June grass and sandy feet. Forget your eyes stinging from the saltwater or searching desperately for a parking spot. Instead of heading to the beach, head north and take a refreshing dip in the crystal clear springs.

Aug 10, 2017 - Two Florida pulp mills just got major water permits approved by the St. Johns River Water Management District governing board-- with no deliberation whatsoever, reports the Orlando Sentinel.

May 29, 2017 - In the same meeting where it imposed tighter water restrictions on Tampa Bay residents due to drought, the Southwest Florida Water Management District board voted to allow developers to further plunder a critical water source

May 23, 2017 - BROOKSVILLE ' Efforts by state officials to set a minimum flow for its iconic springs have stirred up a wave of public opposition. Opponents contend the state is willing to destroy its springs in order to justify continuing to provide water for new development.

May 8, 2017 - When it comes to weather, Florida is usually known for humidity and hurricanes. But now, drought is making news in the Sunshine State. Sixty-six percent of the state is now in a drought, the highest percentage of any U.S. state.

Apr 18, 2017 - A recent report by 1000 Friends of Florida projects that more than 5 million acres of natural and agricultural lands will be permanently lost to development over the next 50 years if current development trends continue.

Apr 12, 2017 - Advocates for Florida springs say the state is falsely blaming aquatic grass and weeds for shriveling Silver Springs as a way to grant water rights to a wealthy rancher

Apr 6, 2017 - Florida used to be world famous for ' its water. A peninsula riddled with rivers and lakes surrounded by miles of beach. We have been destroying our water environments and our drinking water at an increasing rate.

Mar 2, 2017 - Consistent with this anti-regulation bandwagon, U.S. Representative Matt Gaetz, R-Florida, has introduced a bill in Congress that would abolish the EPA in 2018 and send that authority "downstream" to the states

Mar 1, 2017 - What's going on at the end of Sabal Trail's Citrus County Line at Duke's new natural gas plant in Crystal River, Florida?

Jan 11, 2017 - Members of the Senate Committee on Environmental Preservation and Conservation grilled Department of Environmental Protection brass Tuesday on its handling of controversial new water pollution limits.

Oct 25, 2016 - Alabama filed a brief Friday in support of Florida's 2013 federal lawsuit to cap Georgia's water use from federal reservoirs that terminate in Apalachicola Bay.

Oct 3, 2016 - U. S. Rep. Gwen Graham on Saturday said Gov. Rick Scott had damaged bipartisan support for the environment and blamed him for weakening the state's water management districts.

Oct 1, 2016 - Ask the two most influential groups engaged in the conversation about the future of Florida's deteriorating springs and they will offer diametrically opposing perspectives on what is needed to save these precious waters.

Sep 30, 2016 - In an effort to help the environment, protect wildlife, and bring awareness to these environmental issues, one Eagle Scout made it his mission to organize a project to call attention to responsibly handling waste materials.

Sep 23, 2016 - Clean water activists in Florida hit a snag this month in their legal effort to prevent the state from raising its limits on certain toxic chemical in drinking water.

Sep 20, 2016 - More than 200 million gallons of 'slightly radioactive' contaminated wastewater from a fertilizer plant 100 miles north of Lee County leaked into one of the state's main underground sources of drinking water after a massive sinkhole opened up beneath a storage pond.

Sep 19, 2016 - At a time when the governor of Florida failed to appoint the environmental seat and the local government seat to the Florida Environmental Regulatory Commission, the commission voted on July 26 to adopt weakened water quality standards.

Sep 17, 2016 - A Florida administrative law judge has dismissed the Seminole Tribe's petition against a new water rule, but the larger legal battle might be far from over, clean water advocates say.

Sep 8, 2016 - Lawyers for the Seminole Tribe, Martin County, the city of Miami and the pulp and paper industry told an administrative law judge Wednesday that Florida rushed through new, very complex criteria for more than 80 water toxins without properly notifying the public.

Sep 1, 2016 - With water pollution already fueling toxic algae blooms in Florida, the state shouldn't allow more toxic chemicals to flow into waterways, South Florida officials warned Wednesday.

Aug 8, 2016 - In Florida, one of the nation's largest waterways is in danger as septic tanks are disrupting the fragile ecosystem of the state's Indian River Lagoon.

Jul 31, 2016 - They say the deck was stacked when the Department of Environmental Protection took the standards to the commission for approval, the latest step in a years-long effort to modernize out-of-date limits under the federal Clean Water Act.

Jun 9, 2016 - A $9,000 grant from the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission Protect Florida Springs tag grant program will be used to buy media time for a water conservation television commercial as well as Facebook marketing to encourage low water and fertilizer use in landscapes.

Jun 6, 2016 - Florida's rivers, streams, lakes and coastal waters face a dramatic increase in the level of toxic chemicals that cause cancer and other serious illnesses under a proposal by the pro-business administration of Gov. Rick Scott to water down state environmental protections.

May 27, 2016 - They sat on the concrete, in the sun, near the iron gates and the ticket booth, many of them toting large cloth beach bags stuffed with towels. Some made small talk: about school (few were over 22), about career prospects, about the big swim that was to come.

May 24, 2016 - Donald Trump has nothing on today's Floridians. Like Trump, Florida's residents and tourists were born with a silver spoon in their mouths.

May 17, 2016 - Jackson Blue Springs draws in visitors both near and far. It is the main source of water for Merritt's Mill Pond. State agencies want to keep those bodies of waters clean with a restoration plan.

May 11, 2016 - Investment in renewables is going up. Government support, with some notable exceptions, is too. Prices are coming down. Though these trends are relatively new, it's a story we're getting used to.

Apr 26, 2016 - Gov. Rick Scott and the Florida Cabinet on Tuesday approved spending nearly $6 million toward the wooded land. State officials want to add the tract to the St. Johns River Blueway Florida Forever project. The move is supported by conservationists.

Apr 26, 2016 - Cape Coral Mayor Marni Sawicki said she had not heard of the possible suit from city staff nor seen the notice of intent herself.

Apr 9, 2016 - The measure (HB 989), that was important of legislative leaders coupled with the support of conservationists, could yearly put aside greater than $250 million for restoration work. The cash can come from funds that voters designated in 2014.