| 1 | A bill to be entitled |
| 2 | An act relating to springs protection; creating part IV of |
| 3 | ch. 369, F.S., entitled "Springs Protection"; providing a |
| 4 | short title; providing legislative findings and intent; |
| 5 | providing definitions; establishing the Florida Springs |
| 6 | Stewardship Task Force; providing for task force |
| 7 | membership and duties; requiring a report to the Governor |
| 8 | and Legislature; providing for assistance and cooperation |
| 9 | from state agencies and local governments; providing for |
| 10 | expiration of the task force; providing an effective date. |
| 11 |
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| 12 | Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: |
| 13 |
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| 14 | Section 1. Part IV of chapter 369, Florida Statutes, |
| 15 | consisting of sections 369.401, 369.402, 369.403, and 369.404, |
| 16 | is created to read: |
| 17 | Part IV |
| 18 | SPRINGS PROTECTION |
| 19 | 369.401 Short title.--This part may be cited as the |
| 20 | "Florida Springs Stewardship Act." |
| 21 | 369.402 Legislative findings and intent.--The Legislature |
| 22 | finds that: |
| 23 | (1) Florida's springs are valuable resources that provide |
| 24 | recreational and tourism opportunities and are a great financial |
| 25 | benefit to local economies and that Florida's springs provide |
| 26 | critical habitat for endangered or threatened species of plants |
| 27 | and animals. |
| 28 | (2) The flow and water quality of Florida's springs are |
| 29 | direct reflections of the aquifer systems in Florida and |
| 30 | consequently are indicators of the condition of a significant |
| 31 | portion of the state's water supply. |
| 32 | (3) Cooperative efforts can best develop the mechanisms to |
| 33 | identify best management practices for the protection, |
| 34 | restoration, and preservation of Florida's springs. |
| 35 | (4) The citizens of Florida desire to be good stewards of |
| 36 | the state's resources and that through educational awareness |
| 37 | programs will voluntarily implement best management practices |
| 38 | into their daily activities. |
| 39 | (5) The most cost-effective means to provide protection, |
| 40 | restoration, and preservation of Florida's springs is through a |
| 41 | nonregulatory approach. |
| 42 | 369.403 Definitions.--For purposes of this part, the term: |
| 43 | (1) "Seep" means a place where the water table aquifer |
| 44 | intersects the land surface and flows onto the land. |
| 45 | (2) "Spring" means a point where groundwater is discharged |
| 46 | onto the earth's surface, including under any surface water of |
| 47 | the state, and excluding seeps. |
| 48 | (3) "Zone of influence" means the geographic area that |
| 49 | contributes most directly to the water quantity and quality of a |
| 50 | spring. |
| 51 | 369.404 Florida Springs Stewardship Task Force.-- |
| 52 | (1) The Florida Springs Stewardship Task Force is hereby |
| 53 | created and shall consist of eight members as follows: |
| 54 | (a) One representative from the Department of |
| 55 | Environmental Protection. |
| 56 | (b) One representative from the Department of Agriculture |
| 57 | and Consumer Services. |
| 58 | (c) One representative from the water management district |
| 59 | with the greatest number of first magnitude springs within its |
| 60 | jurisdiction. |
| 61 | (d) Two members appointed by the President of the Senate, |
| 62 | one of whom shall be a representative of the development |
| 63 | community and one of whom shall be a representative of a local |
| 64 | chamber of commerce. |
| 65 | (e) Two members appointed by the Speaker of the House of |
| 66 | Representatives, one of whom shall be a locally elected county |
| 67 | or municipal official and one of whom shall be a representative |
| 68 | of the environmental community. |
| 69 | (f) One member appointed by the Commissioner of |
| 70 | Agriculture who shall be a representative of the agricultural |
| 71 | community. |
| 72 | (2) Task force members shall be appointed no later than |
| 73 | August 1, 2007. Members shall choose a chair and vice-chair from |
| 74 | the membership of the task force. |
| 75 | (3) The task force shall: |
| 76 | (a) Collect and inventory all existing data identifying |
| 77 | zones of influence for each of Florida's 33 known first |
| 78 | magnitude springs and identifying land uses in these areas. |
| 79 | (b) Identify and compile a list of existing best |
| 80 | management practices for identified land uses. |
| 81 | (c) Identify any and all existing and reasonably expected |
| 82 | funding sources available to implement best management practices |
| 83 | that protect Florida's first magnitude springs and propose a |
| 84 | priority list of projects for the funding. |
| 85 | (d) Take public input and testimony regarding issues |
| 86 | related to spring protection, restoration, and preservation. |
| 87 | (e) Propose a program of increased emphasis on education |
| 88 | and outreach that encourages the implementation of best |
| 89 | management practices for agricultural and nonagricultural land |
| 90 | uses, including specific provisions for cost-share assistance |
| 91 | with the implementation of best management practices as well as |
| 92 | recognition of agricultural and nonagricultural landowners who |
| 93 | participate in the best management practices program. |
| 94 | (4) The task force shall submit a report summarizing the |
| 95 | data collected, public input and testimony, and the findings and |
| 96 | proposals of the task force to the President of the Senate and |
| 97 | the Speaker of the House of Representatives no later than |
| 98 | January 31, 2008. |
| 99 | (5) All state agencies are directed, and all other |
| 100 | agencies and local governments are requested, to render |
| 101 | assistance to and cooperate with the task force. |
| 102 | (6) The task force shall expire on January 31, 2008. |
| 103 | Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2007. |