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...

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.

...

Read the original article in the Gainesville Sun here: https://www.gainesville.com/opinion/20190722/bob-palmer-only-rich-and-connected-need-apply

I’m still one of those cock-eyed optimists who believe that most of the time, our public servants are trying to do their best for most Floridians. We all carp about the motivations of our elected officials and their appointees. But, by and large, those who toil away anonymously in our...

Read the original story in the Orlando Sentinel here: https://www.orlandosentinel.com/opinion/os-op-florida-springs-pollution-farmers-agriculture-20190415-story.html

Photo, Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel

Too often, the debate over water quality problems and solutions in Florida is fueled by emotions and not facts.

Sometimes clean-water advocates are accused of demonizing industries and exaggerating the severity of the water polluti...

Read the original story here: https://www.tcpalm.com/story/news/local/indian-river-lagoon/politics/2019/03/20/mayfield-septic-tank-wastewater-bill-amended/3221201002/?fbclid=IwAR2K7R-_ICs7m4uFQLeE4u8qunMxOzNF9a0HFES9TQ4eMC3VDNyh_ufpeNc

Florida Sen. Debbie Mayfield has amended her bill that would have moved state oversight of septic tanks from the Department of Health to the Department of Environmental Protection....

Read the original story at

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/os-ne-florida-spring-battle-tour-20190312-story.html

Soon after taking office, Gov. Ron DeSantis promised long-awaited fixes for the ailing Everglades, the green slimes at the waterfronts of Stuart and Martin County and the red tides along Sarasota and Fort Myers.

Those aquatic disasters have rallied broad alliances of environmentalists, anglers, waterfront home...

This is a 25 minute radio story from WMFE 90.7 in the Orlando area covering the most pressing springs issues. It's a great summary to help you catch up with what's going on in springs conservation.

Joining in are 90.7’s environmental reporter Amy Green, Clay Henderson with the Stetson University Water Institute and Russell Bryant former board member with Friends of Wekiva, one of FSC's member groups....

Read the original story in the Gainesville Sun here: https://www.gainesville.com/opinion/20190131/editorial-water-spending-is-only-part-of-solution

Florida’s new governor is proposing big spending on water projects, but he also needs to prevent the pollution that is driving up those costs.

Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Tuesday that he will ask the Legislature to spend $625 million this year on water projects. The proposal is part...

More has to be done, both with the Basin Management Action Plans and the state’s commitment to saving these wonderful waters. If Florida is going to save its spectacular freshwater springs, state environmental regulators are going to have to step up their game and rewrite their long-term plans for restoring these unique waters.

To try to force that to happen, seven local environmental groups have filed administrative challenges...