District proclaims April 2018 as Springs Protection Awareness Month

Governing Board members Doug Bournique, Douglas Burnett, Ron Howse, Chuck Drake and Susan Dolan, District Executive Director Dr. Ann Shortelle, Board Chairman John Miklos, State Sen. David Simmons, and Board members Allan Roberts and Janet Price.

PALATKA, Fla., March 13, 2018 ― For the fifth consecutive year, the St. Johns River Water Management District’s Governing Board has approved a proclamation designating April as Springs Protection Awareness Month. The annual designation helps increase awareness about the importance of Florida’s springs and encourages residents and stakeholders to participate in the protection of springs.

“The District is pleased to join with Gov. Scott, the Florida Legislature, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and our fellow water management districts in recognizing the importance of increasing public awareness about the value of springs,” said St. Johns River Water Management District Executive Director Dr. Ann Shortelle. “Over the past four years, the district has co-funded more than 100 projects to protect our Outstanding Florida Springs. By approving this proclamation annually, the Governing Board emphasizes our continued commitment to science-based projects to ensure that our springs are protected.”

Sen. Rob Bradley and Rep. Elizabeth Porter filed resolutions in the Florida Legislature (SR 1936 and HR 8067) declaring April 2018 as Springs Protection Awareness Month. Water management districts across the state are joining the Legislature in recognizing the importance of increasing public awareness about the value of springs and encouraging behaviors that will enhance springs protection.

The district has worked with other agencies for many years through various programs to increase knowledge and understanding about the region’s springs, while also working to protect springs systems. Since 2014, through district cost-share programs, the district has contributed more than $43.2 million toward vital springs protection projects, resulting in more than 90 million gallons per day of groundwater withdrawal offsets and alternative water supply. These projects also have reduced total nitrogen loading in the vicinity of priority spring systems by 1.2 million pounds.

Visit www.sjrwmd.com/springs for more information about the district’s work to protect springs.