Senate Bill sb1486c1
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Florida Senate - 2007 CS for SB 1486
By the Committee on Environmental Preservation and
Conservation; and Senator Oelrich
592-2287-07
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to springs; creating the
3 "Florida Springs Protection Act"; creating s.
4 369.402, F.S.; providing legislative intent;
5 creating s. 369.403, F.S.; defining terms;
6 creating s. 369.407, F.S.; prescribing duties
7 of the Department of Environmental Protection,
8 alone and in coordination with other
9 governmental entities, with respect to
10 protection of springs and surrounding lands;
11 requiring a report; providing an effective
12 date.
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14 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
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16 Section 1. Part IV of chapter 369, Florida Statutes,
17 consisting of sections 369.401, 369.402, 369.403, and 369.407,
18 is created to read:
19 369.401 Short title.--This part may be cited as the
20 "Florida Springs Protection Act."
21 369.402 Legislative intent.--
22 (1) The Legislature recognizes that the springs in
23 this state are a precious and fragile natural resource that
24 must be protected. Florida's springs provide recreational and
25 tourism opportunities and are a great financial benefit to
26 local economies. In addition, springs provide critical habitat
27 for endangered or threatened species of plants and animals and
28 serve as indicators of the quality of groundwater resources in
29 general.
30 (2) The Legislature recognizes that a spring is only
31 as healthy as the water resources in its springshed. The
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Florida Senate - 2007 CS for SB 1486
592-2287-07
1 groundwater that supplies springs is recharged by seepage from
2 the surface and through direct conduits such as sinkholes. As
3 a result, the health of spring systems is directly influenced
4 by activities and land uses within the springshed.
5 (3) The Legislature recognizes that springsheds and
6 areas of high vulnerability within springsheds are not clearly
7 delineated and that, as the first step in adequately
8 protecting springs, the springsheds must be delineated and
9 characterized using the best available data.
10 (4) The Legislature recognizes that the Department of
11 Environmental Protection, the water management districts, the
12 United States Geological Survey, and others have initiated
13 efforts to delineate the springsheds of this state's 33
14 first-magnitude springs.
15 (5) The Legislature recognizes that springshed
16 delineations and the location of areas of high vulnerability
17 within springsheds are critical information needed by local
18 governments in the preparation of comprehensive plans and plan
19 amendments in order to provide for land uses and protection
20 strategies that are compatible with protection of quantity and
21 quality of groundwater recharge within a springshed.
22 369.403 Definitions.--As used in this part, the term:
23 (1) "High vulnerability zone" means the geographic
24 area within a springshed delineated by the Department of
25 Environmental Protection and the appropriate water management
26 district which contributes most directly to the water quantity
27 and quality of the spring.
28 (2) "Spring" means a point where groundwater is
29 discharged onto the earth's surface, including under any
30 surface water of the state, excluding seeps.
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Florida Senate - 2007 CS for SB 1486
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1 (3) "Springshed" means those areas within the
2 groundwater and surface water basins which contribute to the
3 discharge of a spring.
4 367.407 Delineation of springsheds and high
5 vulnerability zones.--
6 (1) The Department of Environmental Protection, in
7 coordination with the water management districts and the
8 Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, shall create
9 a priority list and schedule for delineation of the springshed
10 and high vulnerability zones within each springshed for this
11 state's 33 first-magnitude springs. The priority list and
12 schedule shall include a consideration of:
13 (a) Work already completed;
14 (b) The degree of threat to the spring based on
15 existing water quality and water quantity impacts;
16 (c) Projected development patterns; and
17 (d) Existing and reasonably expected funding and
18 resources available to complete the work.
19 (2) The Department of Environmental Protection, in
20 coordination with the water management districts and the
21 Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, shall develop
22 criteria for the delineation of high vulnerability zones
23 within a springshed.
24 (3) By January 30, 2008, the Department of
25 Environmental Protection shall submit a report to the
26 Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the
27 House of Representatives on the status of springshed
28 delineation which includes:
29 (a) The status of the delineation of the springshed
30 and high vulnerability areas within each springshed for each
31 of the 33 first-magnitude springs.
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Florida Senate - 2007 CS for SB 1486
592-2287-07
1 (b) The priority list and schedule developed under
2 subsection (1).
3 (c) The criteria developed for the delineation of high
4 vulnerability zones within a springshed developed under
5 subsection (2).
6 (d) Identification of any additional funding and
7 resources needed to complete the delineation of the
8 springsheds and high vulnerability areas within each
9 springshed.
10 Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2007.
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12 STATEMENT OF SUBSTANTIAL CHANGES CONTAINED IN
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR
13 Senate Bill 1486
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15 Requires the Department of Environmental Protection, in
consultation with the Department of Agriculture and Consumer
16 Services and the appropriate water management districts, to
create a priority list and schedule for the delineation of
17 springsheds and high vulnerability zones for Florida's 33
first magnitude springs. The department shall provide a report
18 on the status of springshed delineation to the Governor, the
President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of
19 Representatives no later than January 30, 2008.
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