Florida Spring Basin Management Action Plans

Introduction: A Crisis in Our Springs

Florida's freshwater springs are among the most biodiverse and irreplaceable natural resources on Earth. However, they are currently in a state of crisis. Excess nitrogen pollution—primarily from agriculture, leaking septic systems, and urban fertilizer runoff—has pushed 26 of the state's 30 Outstanding Florida Springs into an impaired condition.

In 2016, the Florida Legislature passed the Florida Springs and Aquifer Protection Act, requiring the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) to develop Basin Management Action Plans (BMAPs). These are intended to be step-by-step cleanup strategies for each impaired spring system, with a mandatory deadline to meet water quality goals by 2038.

While the first round of BMAPs was released in 2018, they were immediately challenged as legally and scientifically inadequate. After a years-long legal battle, a landmark 2023 court ruling ordered FDEP to rewrite the plans. Updated BMAPs were released in 2025, but advocates argue they still fall short of what is required to save our springs.

Section 1: Timeline of Events

The fight to protect Florida's springs through Basin Management Action Plans spans nearly a decade. Here is the complete story so far:

Section 2: The 2023 Court Victory

On February 15, 2023, after a four-year legal battle, Florida's environmental community won a major victory. A three-judge panel ruled that FDEP violated Florida law when it wrote the 2018 BMAPs. The court found that the plans failed to allocate nitrogen pollution loads to specific categories of sources—a fundamental legal requirement for accountability.

What It Means

The ruling required FDEP to immediately draft new, legally compliant BMAPs for impaired springs on the Suwannee River, Santa Fe River, Ichetucknee River, as well as Rainbow Springs, Silver Springs, and Volusia Blue Springs. For the first time, cleanup plans would have to say exactly who is responsible for how much pollution reduction.

Section 3: Updated Pollution Data — The Numbers Have Gotten Worse

The 2018 BMAPs were supposed to be the beginning of springs restoration. Seven years later, the data tells a sobering story. Key statistics from FDEP's 2024 data updates include:

Where Is the Pollution Coming From?

Agriculture remains the dominant source of nitrate pollution entering Florida's springs, followed by septic systems. The statewide breakdown according to FDEP data is as follows:

Section 4: The 2025 BMAP Updates — Progress and Pitfalls

Following the 2023 court ruling, FDEP released revised BMAPs in 2025. While these plans represent structural improvements over the 2018 versions, major concerns remain.

What's New in the 2025 Plans

• Source-specific allocations: Individual entities (cities, counties, agricultural operations) are now assigned specific nitrogen reduction targets.
• Population growth factored in: The 2025 updates include projections for population increases in each basin.
• New measurement tool: FDEP developed the Nitrogen Source Inventory Loading Tool (NSILT) to calculate nitrogen loading more accurately.

What Advocates Say Is Still Wrong

Despite improvements, the Florida Springs Council identified several critical flaws in the May 2025 assessment:

• Double-counting credits: Critics argue that some agricultural reductions are being counted twice, artificially inflating progress.
• Vague commitments: Many plans include large claimed reductions without concrete examples of the practices that will achieve them.
• No path to 2038: The updated plans still do not demonstrate a credible path to meeting Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) requirements by the legal deadline.

Section 5: New Legislation — Septic System Requirements (HB 1379)

In 2023, the Florida Legislature took a significant step by passing House Bill 1379. This law introduces the most significant update to septic system requirements near Florida's springs in years.

Key Deadlines and Requirements

Section 6: Ongoing Legal Challenges (2025)

The 2025 BMAPs did not end the legal fight. On November 24, 2025, the Florida Springs Council filed new legal petitions challenging the Suwannee River and Wekiwa & Rock Springs BMAPs, arguing they still violate statutory requirements for enforceable reduction targets.

The outcome of these challenges will have statewide implications for all 13 Outstanding Florida Springs BMAPs. Environmental advocates argue that the current cycle of inadequate plans followed by legal challenges reflects a deeper problem of prioritizing development interests over the legal requirements of the Florida Springs and Aquifer Protection Act.

Section 7: Take Action & Stay Informed

The fight for Florida's springs depends on an informed and engaged public. Use the resources below to stay up to date:

• Official FDEP Springs BMAPs Overview
• BMAP Interactive Dashboard and Adopted Plans List
• Florida Springs Council - Advocacy and Legal Updates

How You Can Help

• Contact FDEP: Email BMAPProgram@floridadep.gov to share your concerns about the 2025 BMAPs and the inadequacy of agricultural pollution allocations.
• Contact your state legislators: Urge them to provide FDEP with the authority and funding needed to meaningfully regulate agricultural nitrogen sources — the dominant cause of springs impairment.
• Support advocacy organizations: The Florida Springs Council's legal work is funded by member donations. Consider supporting the organizations that are fighting in court on behalf of Florida's springs.
• Know your septic status: If you live near a spring, use FDEP's interactive map to find out whether your property is in a BMAP area and whether your septic system is subject to upgrade requirements.
• Attend public meetings: FDEP is required to hold public meetings as part of the BMAP process. Showing up and commenting on the record matters — it becomes part of the administrative file that courts review.