Environmental spending flows south, leaving North Florida in the lurch. Florida Springs Council executive director Ryan Smart writes for the Florida Times Union.

THE SPRING

This 13-minute short documentary won best short documentary at the Toronto Shorts in 2017 and was made by Delaney Buffett, daughter of Jimmy Buffett, and an all-female crew. A look behind the scenes at the Weeki Wachee mermaid show, it's a fun watch for the whole family, and perfect for lifting your spirits. Available for free if you have Amazon Prime, available to rent if you don't. (Click the image to go there.)

THE...

PDF here

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

February 27, 2020

Contacts:  Ryan Smart, Florida Springs Council, smarts421@gmail.com, 561-358-7191

David Cullen, Sierra Club, cullenasea@aol.com, 941-323-2404

Lisa Rinaman, St. Johns Riverkeeper, lisa@stjohnsriverkeeper.org, 904-509-3260

**PRESS RELEASE**

FLAWED CLEAN WATERWAYS ACT

GETS THE ROYAL GREENWASH

Today, in a press release from Senator Mayfield and Representatives Ingoglia and Payne,...

Excerpts from a story by Bruce Ritchie reporting for Politico

TALLAHASSEE -- A scientist with the Department of Environmental Protection testified Friday that his agency's plans won't reduce pollution enough to restore Florida's springs along the Suwannee River.

Tom Greenhalgh, who has been a hydrogeologist at the department for 31 years, was among the groups and individuals who filed legal challenges to state cleanup plans for...

Recently Seven Springs Water asked the Suwannee River Management District (SRWMD) to renew their permit to withdraw up to 1.152 gallons of water per day near the Santa Fe River. The water would be bottled and sold by the Nestle Corporation. 

The question at the heart of the Seven Springs/Nestlé permit application, therefore, is whether changing conditions in our waters and a better understanding of Florida’s hydrology sh...

Read full article here: https://www.gainesville.com/opinion/20190924/editorial-appointees-key-to-protecting-environment

Florida’s water management districts, and the appointees to their governing boards, play a key role in protecting Florida’s environment and water resources.

Earlier this month, the Suwannee River Water Management District’s governing board was forced to cancel a budget hearing because it had too many vacancies.

...

Florida Springs Council President Dan Hilliard sent an open letter to Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, questioning the Governor’s commitment to restoring the waters of central and north Florida and criticizing his progress on protecting Florida’s environment.

Hilliard, a lifelong conservative Republican, writes, “it appears your administration has left the springs, rivers and voters of north and central Florida behind. Although w...

Download a PDF of the press release HERE

UPDATE: Due to Hurricane Dorian the hearing has been postponed. New dates will be announced as soon as the hearing is rescheduled.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wednesday, August 28, 2019

For more information Contact:

Ryan Smart - Executive Director,

561.358.7191, smart@floridaspringscouncil.org

September 3, 2019, Tallahassee, FL: The administrative hearing over ineffective water quality plans (Basin...