THE FLORIDA SPRINGS INITIATIVE – THE RESULTS OF THE FLORIDA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY’S THREE YEAR INVESTIGATION AND THE IMPACTS ON PUBLIC POLICY

The Florida Springs Initiative, funded by the Florida Legislature since the 2001-02 fiscal year, was the result of the efforts of a diverse mix of geologists, biologists, other scientists and citizen representatives that comprised the Florida Springs Task Force. The Task Force was formed in response to the perception that Florida’s springs were becoming degraded. The Florida Geological Survey was tasked with revising the Survey’s 1977 bulletin “Springs of Florida” which included locations, descriptions and, in some cases, water-quality data. It is now known that more than 700 springs exist in the state. Survey teams visited, described and collected water samples at all the first magnitude springs (33) and approximately 60 second magnitude springs. The teams also visited other lower magnitude springs, inspecting and describing them. Nearly 500 springs have been described by the teams. The descriptions of the spring boils and runs have noted that many springs have been degraded compared to historical accounts and have had abundant algal blooms caused by changes in the spring-water quality. Water-quality analyses reveal increases in several analytes most notably nitrate. The natural nitrate levels in the Florida Aquifer System are below 0.05 mg/l. Today, some water from first magnitude springs exceeds 5.0 mg/l nitrate. Water from some lower magnitude springs contains more than 30 mg/l nitrate. Increased nitrate levels have been linked to human activities and land-use changes. Best Management Practices are being developed in order to prevent further degradation of the springs and to help return the springs to a more natural state.