Howard T. Odum Florida Springs Institute
Florida – “Land of 1,000 Springs”
Introduction
Florida has the greatest assemblage of artesian springs in the world, with over 1,000
springs documented to-date. Florida also has the largest number of first-magnitude springs
(33 counting river rises) with historic average flows exceeding about 65 million gallons per
day, and the largest individual spring groups with flows over 500 million gallons of
groundwater per day (Figure 1). The largest of these springs and spring groups are well
known - Silver, Wakulla, Ichetucknee, Weeki Wachee, Homosassa, Rainbow, Crystal,
Manatee, Blue, Wekiwa, etc. - and almost every Floridian remembers the first spring they
visited and when that visit occurred.
The importance of these springs may seem intangible. Yet, the value of springs can be
measured, both in economic terms for water supply and recreational enjoyment, and in
their environmental services that support water-dependent biotic communities. Healthy
springs depend upon plentiful and pure groundwater.
Florida has extensive laws that were intended to protect the quality and quantity of the
state’s surface and groundwaters. While these laws provide a framework that, if fully
enforced, could protect springs from further degradation, they have not been effective todate from preventing significant impairment in spring flows and water quality. For this
reason it is essential to pass additional legislation that specifically mandates and funds
protection and restoration of Florida’s springs.
During the past half century, declines in the health of our springs have become highly visible
and well-publicized. Life-style changes are needed to reduce the human-induced impacts
imposed on springs such as reduced flows and worsening water quality. Public education is
also needed so decision-makers and the general public have a better understanding of
“what we know” about Florida’s springs, both in terms of their normal functions and with
regard to human-induced stresses that are changing them. Prudent and sustainable
groundwater management is essential to protect the functions and values of springs into the
foreseeable future.
Here’s a brief overview of what we currently know about key environmental requirements
that maintain our local springs; how changing environmental conditions are altering these
springs; and recommendations for effective and cost-efficient solutions for restoring the
health of our springs and aquifer, the foundation of a healthy economy.
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Howard T. Odum Florida Springs Institute
Figure 1. Location of the first magnitude springs of Florida 1the distribution of
known springs in Florida as of 2000 .
Scott, T.M., G.H. Means, R.C. Means, and R.P. Meegan. 2002. First Magnitude Springs of Florida.
Florida Geological Survey Open file Report No. 85. Tallahassee, Florida.
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Economic and Natural Value
The Florida Park Service estimates that in 2012-13, the 165 Florida state parks generated
direct economic impacts of $1.2 billion and supported more than19,000 jobs. The 24 state
parks that are centered on artesian springs had more than 3.1 million visitors, created an
annual direct economic impact of about $127 million, and supported over 2,400 jobs during
this same period. This recurring economic impact is equivalent to an endowed value over $4
billion and continues without expense to society.
In addition to these easily quantifiable economic benefits, examples of less tangible
“ecosystem services” provided by clean and plentiful groundwater and springs include:
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Water quality purification. For example, the Ichetucknee River continually receives
groundwater contaminated with nitrate nitrogen from excess crop and landscape
fertilization in the springshed. Natural biological processes in the spring run
effectively assimilate about 120 tons of nitrate nitrogen each year. At an estimated
cost of $50 per pound of nitrogen removal in conventional wastewater treatment
systems, this natural purification function alone is worth nearly $5 million each
year.
Clean and abundant groundwater is arguably the most important “natural resource”
in Florida. The state pumps about 4.2 billion gallons each day from groundwater
aquifers. If this inexpensive water supply becomes depleted or contaminated, the
next most cost effective source is surface water from rivers and lakes at an
estimated average cost to collect, treat, and supply of roughly twice as much as
groundwater. If the inexpensive groundwater supply is exhausted or contaminated
through saltwater intrusion, the next most viable option is desalinization of brackish
groundwater or seawater at a cost of more than ten times that of our current
groundwater resources.
The majority of the rivers in North and Central Florida (e.g., the St. Johns,
Hillsborough, Suwannee, both Withlacoochees, Wakulla/St. Marks, etc., Apalachicola
are predominantly spring-fed during periods of low rainfall. These rivers will stop
flowing and lose their economic, biologic, and recreational values when their spring
headwaters stop flowing or are polluted with excessive nutrients.
Human Consumptive Water Uses and Spring Flow
Florida Spring Fact: There is no “threshold”- all human consumptive water uses in a
springshed reduce spring flows.
Florida’s springs are characterized by a high flow of transparent, artesian groundwater.
Clearly, the pure, unpolluted ground water itself is the most important component of these
springs. Nearly every aspect of a spring, from the basin size and shape, to the fish, other
wildlife, and plants in the spring run, and the public uses of the spring, are dependent upon
this flow of pure water. The number one objective of springs’ protection must be the
protection of the quantity and quality of water in that spring.
Every human use of water in a springshed – the area of land that recharges water to a
spring – to some degree reduces the ground water flow to springs in that springshed. Every
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Howard T. Odum Florida Springs Institute
domestic, agricultural, commercial, and public water supply well, shallow or deep, large
or small, uses some water that would otherwise discharge through the Floridan
aquifer into artesian springs.
When Florida’s human population was relatively low, the changes in flow in springs due to
these human consumptive uses were often not detectable. This was true in light of the
natural fluctuations that occur every year in the amount of rainfall that naturally recharges
the aquifers that feed these springs. That apparent absence of a human effect on spring flow
is no longer the case in much of Florida. It is likely that most artesian springs in Florida are
experiencing declining flows as a result of human groundwater uses.
One documented example of a decline in spring discharge can be observed in the long-term
data collected from Wekiwa and Rock springs (Orange County) near Orlando (Figure 2).
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Intera 2006 (Predicted)
Measured
90
Annual Mean Flow (cfs)
85
y = -0.3124x + 688.31
R2 = 0.4654
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75
70
65
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Minimum Annual Mean Flow = 62 cfs
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1950
1960
1970
1980
1990
2000
2010
Year
Figure 2. Time series plot of annual aver age flows at Wekiwa Spring compared to
the existing St. Johns River Water Management District minimum annual mean
spring flow of 62 cfs established in 1991 2
The magnitude of the contribution of human groundwater use on this multi-decadal decline
in spring flows is even open to some question due to the natural variability in rain and
resulting aquifer recharge. Unfortunately by the time flow reductions become obvious in
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Wetland Solutions, Inc. (WSI). 2007. Human Use and Ecological Water Resource Values Assessments
of Rock and Wekiwa Springs (Orange County, Florida) Minimum Flows and Levels. St. Johns River
Water Management District Special Publication SJ2008-SP-2, Palatka, FL. 192 pp.
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springs, they are often so great that significant ecological values and functions have already
been lost.
Nitrate Nitrogen in Springs
Florida Spring Fact: The concentration of nitrate nitrogen, a recognized pollutant in
surface and ground waters, is rising rapidly in response to agricultural and urban
development.
The increase in the human population in Florida and the corresponding land use changes
resulting from that population increase are changing the quality of our artesian ground
waters (Figure 3). An increase in nitrate nitrogen concentrations in the groundwater,
almost state-wide, is one of the most shocking environmental consequences of the past half
century of agricultural and urban development (Figure 4). While Florida has been known
nationwide as a state with strict environmental protection standards, much of the state’s
focus has been on protecting surface waters, with the tradeoff that pollutants such as
nitrogen had to go somewhere else and often into the ground.
Figure 3. Population growth (diamonds) in Hernando County, Florida and nitrate
nitrogen concentration (triangles) at Weeki Wachee Spring from 1923 to 2006 3
Florida Springs Task Force 2006. Florida Springs - Strategies for Protection and Restoration.
Prepared for the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.
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Howard T. Odum Florida Springs Institute
Figure 4. Nitrate-nitrogen contamination in Florida’s groundwater resources as
measured in monitoring wells between 2000 and 2004by state and federal agencies
(prepared by Wetland Solutions, Inc.).
This trade-off to protect surface waters from nitrogen contamination may have seemed like
a good idea at one time, but it is now clear that the state’s regulations have not adequately
protected ground water resources.
Throughout the karst areas of north and central Florida where artesian springs are
common, groundwater nitrate nitrogen concentrations have increased from a normal
background of less than 0.02 parts per million to widespread concentrations over 1.0 parts
per million (a fifty-fold increase),with localized hot spots greater than 10 parts per million –
the USEPA drinking water standard for nitrate.
These increases in groundwater nitrate concentrations are not only a threat to drinking
water supplies for humans but are also polluting surface waters where high-nitrogen
artesian water discharges from springs. Springs that evolved over tens of thousands of
years with a nitrate concentration of less than 0.05 parts per million (mg/L) are now
experiencing a 1,500 to 20,000 percent increase in the concentration of this macronutrient,
accompanied by the loss of native submerged aquatic vegetation and the excessive growth
of filamentous algae. Even if all human-controlled nitrogen pollution sources were stopped
today, nitrate nitrogen pollution in the Floridan aquifer and in our springs will take years to
decades to reverse.
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Howard T. Odum Florida Springs Institute
Promoting Effective Springs Legislation
General Springs Protection/Restoration Goals
These general goals summarize the conclusions about what we need to do to protect and
restore Florida’s springs based on the detailed springs facts described below. They do not
reflect exactly what is in the proposed springs’ legislation but they are consistent with the
legislation:
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Identify and map springsheds for all first magnitude springs and spring groups
(Outstanding Florida Springs) and their Spring Protection Zones (areas of aquifer
vulnerability);
Reduce all sources of nitrogen (N) loading in Spring Protection Zones to achieve
state numeric nutrient standard of <0.35 mg/L of nitrate-N at vents of Outstanding
Florida Springs;
Reduce permitted groundwater pumping throughout the Floridan Aquifer as needed
to restore Outstanding Florida Springs average flows as necessary to prevent
environmental harm (approximately >95 percent of average historic springs
discharge);
Direct the Florida Geological Survey to prepare an annual report to the Florida
Legislature to document the environmental conditions in the Outstanding Florida
Springs and summarize progress on achieving the water quality and quantity goals
listed above.
Recommended Talking Points
These are the minimum talking points you should try to convey during each meeting with a
State legislator concerning springs protection legislation:
 A springs protection bill is currently being prepared by Senators David Simmons,
Charlie Dean, Alan Hays, Wilton Simpson, and Bill Montford.
 You are on a key Committee that will consider the Simmons legislation and we
would appreciate your support for the bill.
 Springs are in terrible shape, due to declining flows and pollution, and they’re not
getting better.
 The draft Simmons bill offers important new protections for springs: (1) it provides
that currently compromised springs shouldn’t be “harmed” by further water
withdrawals and (2) it restricts pollution sources in designated springs protection
zones.
 Opponents of the Simmons spring bill will argue that current regulatory tools will
protect springs. These include Minimum Flows and Levels (MFLs) and BMAPs
(Basin Management Action Plans). The fact is that these well-intentioned tools have
not provided sufficient protection and show no prospect of leading to springs
recovery any time soon.
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With respect to water quality, for example, many of the BMAPs depend heavily on
use of Best Management Practices by agricultural operations. Best Management
Practices can be helpful, but we know that existing best management practices in
porous, high-recharge areas do little to protect springs.
With respect to water quantity, we appreciate the fact that Water Management
Districts are accelerating their work on MFLs and are working together more
effectively across district boundaries. However, there is no indication that these
changes will be enough to replenish the aquifer and its springs.
To date no degraded spring has graduated from these programs and been declared
healthy.
Key Senate Committees
Once filed, Senator Simmons’ springs’ bill will likely be referred sequentially to the
following three Senate committees. Twenty-eight of the forty members of the Senate serve
on at least one of these three committees. District office locations are provided below as
well.
Senate Environmental Preservation and Conservation Committee
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Charles S. "Charlie" Dean, Sr. (R) – CHAIR - Inverness
Joseph Abruzzo (D) – VICE CHAIR - Wellington
Thad Altman (R) - Melbourne
Dwight Bullard (D) – Cutler Bay
Andy Gardiner (R) – Orlando
Denise Grimsley (R) - Sebring
Jack Latvala (R) - Clearwater
Wilton Simpson (R) – New Port Richey
Darren Soto (D) - Kissimmee
Senate Agriculture Committee
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Bill Montford (D) – CHAIR – Tallahassee
Dwight Bullard (D) – VICE CHAIR – Cutler Bay
Jeff Brandes (R) – St. Petersburg
Bill Galvano (R) - Bradenton
Rene Garcia (R) - Hialeah
Denise Grimsley (R) - Sebring
Maria Lorts Sachs (D) – Delray Beach
Senate Appropriations Committee
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Joe Negron (R) – CHAIR – Palm City
Lizbeth Benacquisto (R) – VICE CHAIR – Ft. Myers
Aaron Bean (R) -Jacksonville
Rob Bradley (R) – Orange Park
Bill Galvano (R) - Bradenton
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Howard T. Odum Florida Springs Institute
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Andy Gardiner (R) - Orlando
Denise Grimsley (R) - Sebring
Alan Hays (R) - Umatilla
Dorothy L. Hukill (R) – Port Orange
Arthenia L. Joyner (D) – Tampa
Jack Latvala (R) – Clearwater
Tom Lee (R) - Brandon
Gwen Margolis (D) - Miami
Bill Montford (D) - Tallahassee
Garrett Richter (R) - Naples
Jeremy Ring (D) - Margate
Christopher L. Smith (D) – Ft. Lauderdale
Eleanor Sobel (D) - Hollywood
John Thrasher (R) – St. Augustine
Key House Committees
Potential Florida House action on springs legislation will likely come only after Senate
action is completed. House action would initially occur in the Agriculture and Natural
Resources Subcommittee of the State Affairs Committee, then in the full State Affairs
Committee. Depending on the bill’s content, it could also be referred to the Rules
Committee and to the Agriculture and Natural Resources Subcommittee of Appropriations.
House Agriculture and Natural Resources Subcommittee of the State Affairs
Committee
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Caldwell, Matthew H. “Matt” [R] – CHAIR – Lehigh Acres
Goodson, Tom [R] – VICE CHAIR - Titusville
Rader, Kevin [D] – RANKING DEMOCRAT – Boca Raton
Beshears, Halsey [R] – Apalachicola
Boyd, Jim [R] - Bradenton
Edwards, Katie A. [D] – Sunrise
Lee, Jr., Larry [D] – Ft. Pierce
Pigman, Cary [R] – Sebring
Pilon, Ray [R] – Sarasota
Porter, Elizabeth W. [R] – Lake City
Reed, Betty [D] – Tampa
Rooney, Jr., Patrick [R] – Palm Beach Gardens
Watson, Jr., Clovis [D] - Gainesville
House State Affairs Committee
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Precourt, Stephen L. “Steve” [R] – CHAIR - Orlando
Grant, James W. “J.W.” [R] – VICE CHAIR - Tampa
Albritton, Ben [R] – Bartow
Boyd, Jim [R] – Bradenton
Brodeur, Jason T. [R] – Sanford
Caldwell, Matthew H. "Matt" [R] – Lehigh Acres
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Howard T. Odum Florida Springs Institute
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Combee, Neil [R] – Auburndale
Eagle, Dane [R] – Cape Coral
La Rosa, Mike [R] – Saint Cloud
Raburn, Jake [R] – Valrico
Rader, Kevin [D] – Boca Raton
Rangel, Ricardo [D] – Kissimmee
Stewart, Linda [D] – Orlando
Taylor, Dwayne L. [D] – Daytona Beach
Waldman, James W. "Jim" [D] – Coconut Creek
Watson, Jr., Clovis [D] – Gainesville
Workman, Ritch [R] – Melbourne
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