By Michael McGrath, Sierra Club Florida
A crowd of over 100 angry Floridians gathered today to hammer Governor DeSantis and his Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) for their dereliction of duty regarding protecting Outstanding Florida Springs from harmful consumptive use. Just steps away from the FDEP public workshop in the St. Johns River Water Management District Apopka Service Center, protesters and invited speakers alike railed against the failure of the DeSantis Administration to prevent harm to the state’s iconic springs. After eight years of inaction, the disgust aimed at the Governor and his FDEP was palpable, and the disdain for the so-called public meeting process was overwhelming.
Those who spoke at the event included: Florida House Representative Anna V. Eskamani, Bill Weinaug, Owner of Wekiva Island, Dr. Jay Exum of the Friends of the Wekiva River, Jane Hepting, President of Lake County Conservation Council, Ryan Smart, Executive Director of the Florida Springs Council, and Michael McGrath, Lead Organizer, Sierra Club Florida.
Representative Anna V. Eskamani, PhD: “Our springs are not only natural wonders but also integral to the well-being of our environment and communities. The health of our springs impacts our economy, our water supply, and our quality of life. It is the responsibility of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to follow the law and ensure that these invaluable resources are preserved for generations to come.”
Michael McGrath, Sierra Club Florida Lead Organizer: “It has been eight years now. The blame for any and all negative impacts on our springs, business, public health, ecosystems, and our overall quality of life is firmly on the Governor.”
Bill Weinaug, Owner of Wekiva Island: “We have lost so many springs in the state. So many more are in peril. We understand the health of our springs is complicated. But this over-pumping part seems straightforward. Conservation and efficiency is good and part of the solution. Thank you, but we are already drawing more than what is required…And on an important note, we have run out of time.”
The law (373.219(3), F.S.) signed by Governor Rick Scott in 2016 requires FDEP to “adopt uniform rules for issuing permits which prevent groundwater withdrawals that are harmful” to Outstanding Florida Springs. Since Governor Ron DeSantis was elected in 2018, his FDEP has flagrantly disregarded that law.
The above graphic from 2023 provides a clear timeline for how FDEP has failed to abide by the rule of law for eight years. Weak agency regulations across the state are causing Florida’s waterways, spring-fed rivers and lakes, and aquifers to suffer from over-pumping and over-pollution. Spring flow is down 30% statewide, and 80% of Outstanding Florida Springs are impaired (over-polluted) by nitrogen pollution.
ABOUT SIERRA CLUB FLORIDA: Founded in 1892, the Sierra Club is the nation's oldest and largest environmental advocacy organization. The Florida Chapter boasts over 240,000 members and supporters committed to exploring, enjoying, and protecting the earth's wild places. To learn more about Sierra Club Florida, click here.
