Minimum Flows and Level Recovery Plan
Outstanding Florida Springs “Harm” Rule
Florida Springs Council’s (FSC’s) legal team will be in Tallahassee on March 18 for a hearing in their legal challenge against FDEP’s proposed “Springs Harm Rule.” Back in January, FSC filed an administrative petition to invalidate FDEP’s proposed “Springs Harm Rule” because the proposed rule is circular, vague, and essentially the same as the consumptive use permitting rules already in place. To get more information and follow the results of the hearing, please go to www.floridaspringscouncil.org.
In passing the Florida Springs and Aquifer Protection Act in 2016, the Florida Legislature directed DEP to develop new rules to protect Outstanding Florida Springs, which include our own Wekiwa and Rock Springs. In a presentation to the Joint Administrative Procedures Committee on February 3, FDEP acknowledged that the proposed Springs Harm Rule is nearly identical to the rules already in place, confirming one of the very reasons FSC challenged FDEP’s proposed springs harm rule in court. You can watch a clip of the committee meeting where FDEP admits the proposed rules do not set any new standards here: https://www.instagram.com/p/DFodJewNho8/
Wekiva River System Minimum Flows and Levels
The St Johns River Water Management District (SJRWMD) has determined that, because of excessive groundwater pumping, Wekiwa and Rock Springs and the Wekiva River do not meet the recommended minimum flows and levels (MFLs) needed to protect the aquatic ecosystem and adjacent wetlands. They are preparing a Recovery Plan to identify projects to allow the springs and river to meet the District’s recommended MFLs. Unfortunately, state law allows up to 20 years for recovery plans to achieve the MFLs. FOWR has requested that the District adopt a more aggressive schedule of achieving the MFLs within 7 years, and we also sent them a list of potential measures to help reach that goal. The District now estimates that the draft Recovery Plan will be issued sometime in 2026. So there is a very real possibility that the flows in Wekiwa and Rock Springs and the Wekiva River may not be able to sustain the desired aquatic ecosystem and adjacent wetlands for 20 years or more! Stay tuned for further developments as FOWR seeks to work with the District to find ways to accelerate that schedule.
2025 Regional Water Supply Plan for Central Florida
The SJRWMD, along with the South Florida and Southwest Florida Water Management Districts, have just released a draft water supply plan to meet projected water demand within central Florida. FOWR will be studying the plan and providing comments to the WMDs. To review the draft plan or find more information about the planning process , please go to www.cfwiwater.com.
