Last Updated on August 14, 2023
The Florida Springs Council (FSC) is a nonprofit organization that was founded in 2016. The 501(c)3 coalition is focused on the protection and restoration of Florida’s beautiful and vital freshwater springs.
Environmental protection and spring restoration are essential for preserving these natural areas for future generations.
The organization was established with this goal in mind and has gone on to spread awareness and take legal action to fight for the conservation of these spaces.
Meet the Florida Springs Council
The FSC has thousands of individual members. The executive director of the Florida Springs Council is Ryan Smart. Smart became the council’s first executive director in 2018.
Brenda Wells represents the group as their Communications Director and Chloe Dougherty is its Communications Associate.
Furthermore, the organization is also comprised of a Board of Directors, with each member of the board representing a springs or environmental organization, and a Communications Advisory Board, which takes on special projects.
How the Florida Springs Council Started
The Florida Springs Council originally started as a coalition of conservation organizations. Before, smaller groups like Friends of Wekiva, Rainbow River Conservation, and Ichetucknee Alliance, and larger groups like Save the Manatee Club and Sierra Club were all working to protect Florida’s springs individually.
These local groups and larger conservation groups decided to combine their efforts, and in 2016, they joined together to form the Florida Springs Council.
What the Council Does
The FSC advocates for the conservation of the state’s springs by working together to tackle local and statewide threats to them. They lobby for better laws and take on legal challenges that can affect the major springs.
Some of the legal challenges they have worked on include plans to address spring pollution, protect the water use of Ginnie Springs, address water quality affected by toxic blue-green algae, and advocate for spring funding and managing those funds.
In fact, the organization challenged the Florida Department of Environmental Protection in the First District Court of Appeal over springs cleanup plans.
FSC works to create new rules for water management districts and created a Basin Management Action Plan (BMAP) for the Santa Fe River Springs.
Organization Mission & Goals
“Our mission is to build the power, influence, and resources of springs advocates across the state.”
The FSC’s mission is to protect and restore Florida springs and spring-fed waterways.
To work toward this goal, the council has challenged a bottling permit with Nestle, created water quality restoration plans, opposed a turnpike extension that threatened several springs, and much more.
Check out the group’s Annual Report for a detailed overview of their recent accomplishments.
Support the Florida Springs Council
There are many ways to support this great organization. Donate to the council, which can be earmarked to support different legal challenges or general springs protection.
You can receive cool stickers and magnets as a thank-you for your support! In addition, there are shirts and hoodies for purchase that support the fight against the Ginnie Springs bottling permit.
Above all, a great way to show your support is to become a member of the organization.
You can become an Informed Member for free and receive news and updates on what the council is working on, or you become a Sustaining Member by making a monthly donation to support their mission.
Florida Springs Council Events
The council hosts and participates in many events throughout the year. The council does informal Q&As, guest lectures, charity bingo nights, and more!
You can find the latest event information on the organization’s event page.
One of the biggest events of the year that the group participates in is Florida Springsfest.
Florida Springsfest is an annual community festival held at Silver Springs State Park in Ocala.
The event is all about promoting, protecting, and preserving Florida Springs.
The organization is one of the exhibitors for the festival, showcasing conservation and sustainability efforts. Additionally, Florida Springsfest features live music, food vendors, and the famous glass-bottom boat rides that Silver Springs is known for.
2024 Florida Springsfest
When: Saturday, March 2nd & Sunday, March 3rd
Where: Silver Springs State Park, 5656 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Silver Springs, FL 34488
More information: State park entrance fee required for this event.
Learn more by visiting the Florida State Park’s official website.
For more information on this organization, please visit the official Florida Springs Council website.
If you enjoyed this article about the Florida Springs Council and are looking for a few other recommendations, check out these suggestions:
- Our 19 Favorite Freshwater Florida Springs
- Celebrating the History of Weeki Wachee Springs
- Cedar Key Spring Arts Festival is a Slice of Old Florida
- Micanopy: The Town that Time Forgot
- 23 Items for Our 2023 Florida Bucket List
- Blue Spring State Park + Places to Eat, Stay, & Shop Nearby
- Swim with a Manatee and Experience Authentic Crystal River