With nearly 90% of Outstanding Florida Springs impaired by nitrogen pollution and spring flow continuing to decline across the state, our springs desperately need Florida legislators to increase springs restoration funding. Springs restoration is typically funded at $50 million each year, which is the minimum amount allowable under Florida Statutes. This is insufficient to even slow the degradation of our springs. To restore Florida’s springs, maintain healthy wildlife habitats and keep our water clean, we need the Florida Legislature to allocate a minimum of $150 million to springs restoration in the 2026 Florida Budget. Without increased funding, we will see negative impacts to our natural areas, wildlife, local economies and recreational opportunities continue.

SB 180 was passed during the 2025 Legislative Session and sold as a disaster relief bill. However, developers are using language that was snuck into SB 180 at the last minute to threaten local governments’ land-use rules and regulations. SB 180 puts local smart-growth planning at risk, stripping communities of home rule and weakening protections for our natural resources in favor of increased development and sprawl. We’re urging local governments to fight for their comprehensive plans, rural boundaries and land-use regulations, and we’re asking our state representatives and senators to repeal Ch. 252.422 F.S. (Section 18), and Section 28 of SB 180 during the 2026 Legislative Session.

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Learn more at 1000fof.org/priorities/restorecommunityplanning

Breaching the Rodman Dam and restoring the Ocklawaha River would revive 20 lost springs, enhance Silver Springs and the St. Johns River, open up critical manatee habitat, and provide increased recreational opportunities for fishing and paddling.⁠ Last year, Governor DeSantis vetoed critical funding for Ocklawaha River restoration. We’re encouraging the Florida Legislature to once again support the revival of a free-flowing Ocklawaha and finally reverse the damage created when the Ocklawaha was dammed for the abandoned Cross-Florida Barge Canal project.

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Learn more at reunitetherivers.com

For the last two years, conservation advocates have come together to defeat industry-backed legislation to eliminate and preempt local reusable and single-use container regulations already in place across the state, including at beaches, springs, and county and state parks. This includes regulations on plastic bottles and bags, styrofoam containers, glass, etc. 

This year, we’re asking lawmakers to stand firm in support of home rule and support legislation that allows local governments to keep trash out of our waterways, ensures our parks are clean and safe, and safeguards regulations already in place.​

Near the end of last Session, an amendment to SB 1388 “Vessels” put in place nearly impossible to meet conditions for the adoption of new Springs Protection Zones to regulate boating activities that harm springs. Besides raising the burden from “harm” to “significant harm,” the law now requires determining that vessels are the “predominant cause of negative impacts.” We’re asking the legislature to repeal that specific provision so new Springs Protection Zones can be adopted where needed.

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection is in the process of adopting the Lower Santa Fe and Ichetucknee Rivers and Associated Priority Springs Recovery Strategy. State agencies are required to adopt a Recovery Strategy where a spring or river has fallen below its mandated Minimum Flow, the limit at which further withdrawals would be significantly harmful to the water resources or ecology of the area. The Santa Fe Recovery Strategy will be up for ratification during the 2026 Legislative Session. The current draft of the Santa Fe Recovery Strategy allows the Santa Fe and Ichetucknee Rivers and Springs to continue to decline for more than a decade before any hope of recovery. We are urging our lawmakers who represent the Santa Fe Basin to advocate for a meaningful, protective and fiscally responsible Recovery Strategy that prioritizes restoration of the Santa Fe and Ichetucknee Rivers and springs. 

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Learn more: Click here to read the Florida Springs Council’s Santa Fe Recovery Strategy Comment Letter to FDEP