District proclaims April 2023 as Springs Protection Awareness Month

Left to right: Governing Board members Doug Bournique, Gen. Douglas Burnett, J. Chris Peterson, Janet Price and Maryam Ghyabi-White (Vice Chair); District Executive Director Mike Register; District General Counsel Erin Preston; and Board member Ron Howse (Not pictured: Board members Rob Bradley, Ryan Atwood and Cole Oliver).

PALATKA, Fla., April 6, 2023 ― The St. Johns River Water Management District has long been dedicated to protecting Florida’s springs. Demonstrating that commitment, the District’s Governing Board approved a proclamation designating April as Springs Protection Awareness Month for the 10th consecutive year. The annual designation, which was adopted at March’s Governing Board meeting, helps increase awareness about the importance of Florida’s springs and encourages residents and stakeholders to participate in the protection of springs.

“Protecting Florida’s springs is part of our daily work and is at the heart of our mission of safeguarding our state’s water quality and natural resources,” said St. Johns River Water Management District Executive Director Mike Register. “Over the past nine years, the District has co-funded 164 projects, which has saved more than 100 million gallons of water a day to help protect Outstanding Florida Springs.”

Steps to reduce pollution and groundwater usage and minimize other impacts on the springs are the focus of many projects and initiatives now underway. The District continues to build on partnerships with many entities, pursuing protection and restoration of springs through scientific research, restoration projects, water use regulation, water supply planning and stakeholder outreach.

Rep. Charles “Chuck” Clemons of Newberry recently introduced a resolution (HR 8029) recognizing April 2023 as Springs Protection Awareness Month in Florida. Since 2013, water management districts across the state and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection have joined the Legislature in recognizing the importance of springs and encouraging behaviors that will enhance springs protection.

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