The Florida Springs Council began as a coalition of conservation organizations concerned about Florida's springs and waterways.
Rainbow River Conservation logo
Silver Springs Alliance logo
Rainbow River Conservation logo
In 2014 local springs groups like Ichetucknee Alliance, Friends of Wekiva, and Rainbow River Conservation joined larger conservation groups like Sierra Club and Save the Manatee Club to combine their efforts, skills, and expertise to protect Florida's Springs.
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The result was the Florida Springs Council, a 501(c)3 non-profit coalition designed for collective advocacy focused solely on the protection and restoration of Florida's springs. Representatives of those groups were the first members of FSC.
Since then we've opened membership up to individual advocates, building a growing coalition of people ready to take action for springs, while still maintaining a model of cooperation with our partner organizations. Each member on our board of directors represents a springs or environmental organization. Each organization brings specific expertise and local knowledge to the Council, and we have greater strength when we work as one on local or statewide springs threats. We lobby in Tallahassee for better laws, coordinate legal challenges, and take other action as needed to protect Florida's springs.
Ryan Smart holds a Master's degree in Water Policy & Public Administration from the University of Florida, where he was honored for his environmental advocacy work as the 2017 University of Florida Bob Graham Center Young Floridian of the Year.
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He took the helm as FSC's first Executive Director in 2018, after having served as the Director of the Florida Conservation Coalition and President of 1000 Friends of Florida.
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“My goal as the Florida Springs Council’s first executive director is to build the power, influence and resources of springs advocates across our state. We are putting those who pollute and abuse our springs on notice. No more. We are going to do whatever is necessary – through science, local governments, the Legislature, and the courts - to reverse the destruction of North Florida’s springs and waters.”
Brenda Wells holds a Master's degree in Secondary Education with a specialization in volunteerism and service learning from the University of Florida.
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Based in Gainesville, she has worked with the Florida Springs Council since 2016.
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As Engagement Director Brenda works to bring community partners, FSC members, advocates, and supporters together to advance the work of the Florida Springs Council.
Choe Dougherty holds a Master's degree in Mass Communication through the University of Florida with a concentration in Public Interest Communications, an emerging field that uses strategic communication to achieve sustained and positive social change.
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Chloe lives in Central Florida, and since joining the Florida Springs Council in 2022 has kept springs advocates informed and active in advocating for Florida's springs and environment.
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Board of
Directors
JOHN JOPLING
PRESIDENT
Ichetucknee Alliance
BRAD RIMBEY
VICE PRESIDENT
Homosasssa River Alliance
ROBERT PALMER, PHD
TREASURER
Florida Springs Institute
MIKE CLIBURN
SECRETARY
Friends of the Wekiva
MAXINE CONNOR
League of Women Voters
of Citrus County
KIMBERLEIGH DINKINS
1,000 Friends of Florida
BURT ENO, PHD
Rainbow River Conservation
MERRILLEE
MALWITZ JIPSON
Our Santa Fe River
SEAN MCGLYNN
Wakulla Springs Alliance
MICHAEL MCGRATH
Sierra Club
LISA RINAMAN
St. Johns Riverkeeper
DR. PAT ROSE
Save the Manatee Club
DR. URSULA SCHWUTTKE
Withlacoochee Aquatic Restoration, Inc.
Communications
Advisory Board
Our Communications Advisory Board is a team of volunteers who take on special projects. Each is a springs enthusiast, each brings a special skill, like writing, fundraising, public speaking, photography, local knowledge, social media, or design, that allows the Springs Council and our smaller member groups to better communicate the needs of our springs. If you have an interest in taking on a project with the Springs Council, email our Communications Director at brendawells@floridaspringscouncil.org
RYAN
WORTHINGTON
Ryan is a Florida Master Naturalist who, through video, helps foster awareness, appreciation, and ultimately conservation of the habitats that make Florida special.
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Ryan also co-hosts The Florida Madcaps Podcast, with Chris and Chelsey, the Sunshine State Seekers, also FSC advisory board members. The podcast focuses on the natural areas of Florida and the issues affecting them.
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Current Project:
First Person Video Shorts:
Ryan is always on the move, and everywhere he goes he coordinates with us to create educational videos about an issue affecting the springs he visits.
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CHELSEY & CHRIS STEVENS
Chelsey and Chris, through their website "Sunshine State Seekers," gather and share information about how to fully experience the natural side of Florida.
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Chris and Chelsey also co-host The Florida Madcaps Podcast, sharing their deep knowledge of the natural areas of Florida,
LINDA
WILINSKI
Linda is a talented photographer in the Rainbow River area and a friend to otters. Linda donates her photography skills and talent for telling stories to conservation causes across Florida.
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Current Projects: Linda headed up a calendar fundraising project for FSC, she also provides the majority of the images we use in our communications.
CHELSEA
TURNER
Chelsea is our go-to source for making sure that our website tells the story that moves our mission forward.
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Chelsea specializes in brand management for outdoor recreation, hospitality, and leisure industries at Little River Creative.
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Current Project: Website improvements and general digital presence coaching.
HUNTER
TURNER
Hunter is the guy we turn to for cool graphics.
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He's the artist behind "Old Florida Vibes." Hunter helps us with artwork for stickers and merchandise and also donates event proceeds to FSC.
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Current Projects: Hunter is our merchandising coach, and is hosting art events that raise awareness and funds for Springs Conservation.
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DANIELLE
MOSICHUK
BRENT
FANNIN
In 2021, Brent won a film grant from an environmental non-profit named Project Paradise, and directed The Water State, a documentary that followed the exploitation of Florida's Springs, particularly focused on the legal challenge against the Seven Springs Water Co's bottling permit at Ginnie Springs. He went on to produce Gopher Games, and continues to further his environmental mission by telling stories through documentary films.
Danielle started the "Florida Springs Passport" out of a love for exploring Florida's springs.
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The Florida Springs Passport is an interactive adventure booklet that includes 20 locations with pictures and visiting information, and comes with discounts from local eco-tour companies to help you get out on the water!
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Danielle reached out and offered to work with us and other advisory board members on a booklet that could help get new springs enthusiasts out exploring and offer an introduction to springs advocacy.
JESSICA MEINHOFER
Jessica, a Puerto Rican mom, wife, and outdoor enthusiast, is deeply passionate about protecting Florida’s springs and unique ecosystems. Her journey from RV life to battling cancer taught her that nature heals and inspires, no matter where you are in life. Through her blog, Walk and Paddle, Jessica encourages others to explore the outdoors, hoping they, too, will fall in love with Florida’s precious springs and ecosystems. By promoting responsible recreation, she believes every step and paddle can contribute to preserving these irreplaceable natural treasures.
EMERITUS
Communications
Advisory Board Members
REME VAUGHT
HASTINGS
Reme was one of the first springs advocates to join our advisory board. She used her photography skills to help introduce more people to the issues facing our springs.
Most notably she joined us in Tallahassee to speak before a House Committee, showing lawmakers her photos of algae-impaired springs.
BRANDY
CLARK
Brandy created and took on the management of an Instagram presence for FSC member group Rainbow River Conservation.
KELLY
DEL VALLE
Kelly was our first social media consultant. She curates the springs-centric Instagram account, the spring state (and can also be found on Instagram as @tannicroots)
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Kelly created one of our most popular sticker designs, and created our first tee-shirt as a fundraiser. She also accompanied us to Tallahassee to speak before lawmakers to amend the Clean Waterways Act.
KIMBER GREENWOOD
Kimber is a travel and adventure photographer who specializes in stunning underwater portraiture. She's also a certified cave diver.
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Kimber was the creative director on a grant-funded project to change perceptions around lawns and bottled water use.
MICHELLE
COLSON
Michelle Colson on land, she is "Mermaid Michi" in the water. Michelle is a content creator, known as "Guardian of the Waters" and has used her extensive platform to help elevate the cause of springs conservation.