20%
LESS PUMPING
Tell the Water Management Districts:
When springs drop, pumping should too.
Poe Springs in 2026, no longer flowing
Photo provided by Bill Hawthorne photography and the Florida Springs Institute
POE SPRINGS HAS STOPPED FLOWING. DEEP DROUGHT DEMANDS ACTION.
The Alachua County Board of County Commissioners has wisely asked
the Suwannee River Water Management District to require a mandatory 20% reduction in
permitted water withdrawals during the drought.
The springs are low. The rivers are low. It's time to turn down the pumps.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
Stop by one of the locations below to fill out a postcard to the Suwannee River Water Management District AND send a
pre-written email directly to the governing board members.
Overwhelm them with our message:
Cut all permitted water withdrawals by 20% during the drought.
Take Action to Save Poe Springs
Email the Suwannee River Water Management District Governing Board
The Alachua County Board of County Commissioners sent a letter requesting that the water management district institute a mandatory 20% reduction of all consumptive use permits. We are grateful for Alachua County’s leadership in springs restoration and want to remind the Suwannee River Water Management District (SRWMD) that our local communities depend on clean, flowing springs and rivers. Healthy waters are vital to our local economies and tourism, wildlife and water supply.
Please take this important opportunity to email the SRWMD Governing Board. Tell them to reduce all water pumping by 20%, place a temporary moratorium on new landscape irrigation wells where potable or reclaimed water is available, extend current irrigation restrictions, and enforce the current water shortage restrictions.
Royal Springs
Poe Springs
Poe Springs photos provided by Bill Hawthorne Photography and the Florida Springs Institute
Send a Postcard to the Suwannee River Water Management District Office
If you live in, or are visiting, Alachua or Columbia County, we encourage you to visit one of the following businesses to pick up one of our FREE springs postcards to mail to the water management district offices:
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Cypress & Grove Brewing - 1001 NW 4th St, Gainesville, FL 32601
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Life Unplastic - 2441 NW 43rd st. ste 24b-1 Gainesville, fl 32606
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We'll continue to add businesses to the list. If you own a business in Alachua County and would like to be one of our postcard pick-up locations, please email brendawells@floridaspringscouncil.org.
Visit the nearest business above and find our Save Poe Springs flyer and postcards. We’ve got directions and a template of what to write included with the postcards.
Tell the Water Management District:
I support Alachua County’s request for a mandatory 20% reduction in all water use permits.
When springs drop, pumping should too.
You can use your own words or add additional thoughts.
Address:
Suwannee River Water Management District Governing Board
9225 County Road 49, Live Oak, FL 32060
Fill it out & leave it. We'll pick it up, stamp it & send it.
If you've got a blank postcard at home, we encourage you to consider sending it to the SRWMD with the message above!
Share Our Action Alert with Your Network - Click the images below or visit our Instagram or Facebook
Attend the Suwannee River Water Management District Governing Board Meeting in October
Tuesday, October 13, 2026
9:00 AM
District Headquarters: 9225 County Road 49, Live Oak, FL 32060
The meeting will be accessible online at https://www.youtube.com/@SRWMD and the stream will be accessible shortly before the start of the meeting. Public comment will be accepted from those in attendance.
More info from SRWMD: https://www.mysuwanneeriver.com/m/newsflash/Home/Detail/992
Dive Deeper
Read Alachua County's letter to the Suwannee and St. Johns River Water Management Districts calling for the 20% reduction. Click the PDF icon to open or download.
And, check out the U.S. Drought Monitor for updates on current conditions in your area.
Map released: Thurs. September 3, 2026
