SB 1576 - Protecting Florida Springs

(SB 1576) and Amendment 1 made front-page news in the Orlando Sentinel. The good news is that the springs bill passed out of its final committee; the bad news is that the funding mechanism for springs protection was removed.

CS/CS/CS/SB 1576: Springs GENERAL BILL by Appropriations ; Agriculture ; Environmental Preservation and Conservation ; Dean ; (CO-INTRODUCERS) Montford ; Soto ; Simmons ; Hays ; Altman ; Abruzzo

Springs; Requiring the Department of Environmental Protection or the governing board of a water management district to establish the minimum flow and water level for an Outstanding Florida Spring; creating part VIII of chapter 373, F.S., entitled “Florida Springs and Aquifer Protection Act”; requiring the Department of Environmental Protection to delineate a spring protection and management zone for each Outstanding Florida Spring; requiring the water management districts to adopt minimum flows and levels for Outstanding Florida Springs, etc.

Effective Date: 7/1/2014
Last Action: 4/25/2014 Senate - Placed on Special Order Calendar, 04/30/14
Location: On Special Order Calendar
Bill Text: Web Page | PDF