With more than 1,000 springs, Florida is home to one of the largest concentrations of freshwater springs in the world.

The springs provide many benefits to humans and wildlife alike and are a window into our aquifer, which provides drinking water to over 90% of Floridians.

Unfortunately, Florida springs are threatened by nutrient pollution, development, recreation overuse, water overwithdrawal, and more. Read on to see what actions you can take, both individually and as a community, to help protect Florida’s springs.

Conserve Water

Humans are withdrawing groundwater from the aquifer faster than it can be renewed by rainfall. This can reduce the flow of our springs, which can cause algae blooms and sinkholes. Here are some ways to conserve water:

1. Take Shorter Showers. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the average showerhead has a water flow of around 2.5 gallons per minute. If you shorten your daily shower by one minute, you could save more than 900 gallons of water in a year. Imagine the water savings if you shorten your shower by 2 minutes or more!
2. Turn off the Tap. By turning off the tap while you brush your teeth in the morning and at night, you can save up to 8 gallons of water a day! This adds up to over 2,400 gallons in a year.
3. Fix Leaks in Faucets and Toilets. According to the US EPA, fixing household water leaks can save homeowners about 10 percent on their water bill!
4. Grow Native Plants. Florida native plants in the right place can thrive with little or no irrigation and help to conserve water. UF/IFAS Extension’s Florida-Friendly Landscaping program has saved more than 3.5 million gallons of water so far. That’s enough water to supply 4,085 households with water for one year!

Reduce Nutrient Pollution

Excess nutrients, particularly nitrates, can degrade water quality in the springs and cause damaging algae blooms. Here are some ways to reduce nutrient pollution:

1. Reduce or Eliminate Fertilizer Use. Fertilizing only when necessary saves money, reduces pest problems, and promotes healthy plant growth. It also protects our waterways from nitrogen and phosphorous contamination, which can cause algae blooms in our springs.
2. Clean Up after Your Pets. By picking up dog waste, you can protect people and waterways from harmful parasites and disease.
3. Avoid Overwatering Your Lawn. According to the US EPA, about 75% of US residential water is used outdoors, with over half of it going to landscape irrigation. Follow Florida Friendly Landscaping guidelines on how to irrigate your lawn responsibly.
4. Reduce or Eliminate Pesticide Use. Pesticides can runoff into waterways via stormwater drains and can contaminate plants and animals. Only use pesticides if absolutely necessary and apply them only to the affected plants or lawn area. Native Florida plants are naturally more resistant to pests because they are adapted to the environment.

Recreate Responsibly

Springs visitors who trample vegetation, improperly dock their vessels, litter, and more can contribute to plant loss, erosion, and declines in water quality. Here are some ways to enjoy the springs responsibly:

1. Don’t trample plants or kick up sediment. This damages and erodes the spring bed, making it harder for plants to regrow. Healthy springs vegetation prevents erosion, protects water quality, and provides habitat for the springs.
2. Avoid docking on riverbanks. This can erode riverbanks, increase flooding, and negatively impact water quality.
3. Stay in the vessel (kayak, tube, etc.) whenever possible. By doing this, you can help protect the spring bed and banks from damaging erosion.
4. Do Not Disturb Wildlife. Maintaining a respectable distance from wildlife is important so you don’t disrupt their natural behavior or harm their health.
5. Don’t climb trees or use rope swings. You could injure yourself or damage the trees, which provide critical flood control and improve water quality.
6. Throw out litter in designated areas and do not leave anything behind. Single-use plastics and other trash can release toxic chemicals and entangle animals, posing major risks to wildlife and humans. Bring a reusable water bottle to minimize waste!

Join the Springs Community

There are many ways to get involved with community-scale efforts to protect the springs:

1. Volunteer with Local Organizations. There are many groups across North and Central Florida dedicated to protecting Florida’s springs. These include land trusts, conservation groups, and more. Check out this list of springs organizations by the Florida Springs Institute to find some near you.
2. Contact Legislators. Your vote is important! Use your power as a voter to talk with local and state representatives about why conserving and protecting Florida’s springs is important to you and your community.
3. Vote in Local, State, and Federal Elections. Many of the threats that face our springs and aquifer can be reduced through legislation. Find out who your representatives are and learn about state, federal, and local policies to inform your vote.
4. Educate Others. The most powerful tool you have is your voice! By educating yourself and others about how and why Florida’s springs are important, you can better protect them. Whether through a conversation with family or a post on social media, sharing your love for the springs can help increase awareness of the threats they face.
5. Become a Citizen Scientist. Citizen science is collaboration between scientists and volunteers who document things like biodiversity loss for scientific research. Citizen science plays a crucial role in shaping environmental policy, documenting biodiversity, and aiding in natural resource management. Some local opportunities include Florida Springs Heartland Manatee Sighting Network and Florida Lakewatch.

Ready to take action? Sign the Swamp for the Springs pledge and join fellow Gators in working to conserve Florida’s critical springs resources.