Florida’s 1,100 Natural Springs Are Under Threat – a Geographer Explains How to Restore Them
- camilarosiaz
- 5 hours ago
- 3 min read
“Behold … a vast circular expanse before you, the waters of which are so extremely clear as to be absolutely diaphanous or transparent as the ether.” Naturalist William Bartram wrote these words in the 18th century as he gazed in wonder at Salt Springs, located in Ocala National Forest in what is now Marion County, Florida.
Gilchrist Blue Springs, located about 20 miles northwest of Gainesville, Fla., is a popular recreation site known for the clarity of its water. Christopher Meindl, CC BY
Springs are points where groundwater emerges at the earth’s surface, and Florida boasts more than 1,100 of them. North and central Florida comprise one of the largest concentrations of freshwater springs in the world. Many of these springs provide a home to a variety of wild animals and plants. But they are also canaries in the coal mine for Florida’s groundwater system, because they draw upon the same groundwater that many Floridians depend on for drinking water, farm irrigation and industrial use.
Right now, many Florida springs suffer from reduced flow and habitat loss, as well as excessive algae and heavy pressure from human use. Because most of the state’s springs are not monitored by any research institution or government agency, the full scope of the problem remains unclear.
The state Legislature has designated 30 Outstanding Florida Springs whose health must be protected under the Florida Springs and Aquifer Protection Act of 2016. But 24 of the 30 were impaired by pollution – primarily nitrogen – at the time of this designation, and today, their condition has not improved. In 2025, 26 of the 30 have been found to be impaired. Since 2011, the state of Florida has spent roughly US$357 million on springs restoration.
What should a healthy spring look like? Many springs feature a visible boil at the water surface above the spring vent, crystal clear water, submerged grasses waving in the current, and a range of fish, turtles, snails and other aquatic animals hiding in the grasses. Yet because many springs are changing slowly, changes in flow and water clarity can go unnoticed – a phenomenon some scientists call shifting baseline syndrome.
This 1925 photograph shows Sulphur Springs, a vibrant recreation attraction in the heart of Tampa. State Archives of Florida/Burgert Brothers, CC BY
Sadly, Sulphur Springs is a cautionary tale. Area sinkholes began feeding contaminated urban runoff to the spring in the mid-20th century, leading Tampa authorities to close the spring to swimming in 1986. This photo was taken in May 2025. Christopher Meindl, CC BY
Many Florida springs and their runs now suffer reduced flow, wear and tear from hundreds of thousands of visitors, and excess algae. While some springs have completely dried up, many more produce less flow than they used to. A state report published in 2021 found that water bottlers were permitted to extract just over 5 million gallons per day from Florida’s springs – a tiny fraction of the 2.3 billion gallons of groundwater pumped each day from the Floridan Aquifer. The most problematic reductions in spring flow are linked to agricultural irrigation, heavy urban, mining or industrial water use, or in some cases a long-term rainfall deficit.
Excess algae is another major concern. While algae naturally occurs in most springs, many now have so much that it clouds the water or blankets the soil and rocks. Rising nitrate levels are widely believed to fuel this growth, though reduced spring discharge and changes in dissolved oxygen may also play a role.
More than two-thirds of state-funded springs restoration projects over the past decade have focused on enhanced sewage treatment. While this can be beneficial, especially where human waste is clearly a problem, many springs need more than a single solution. Some require shoreline stabilization, others need reduced human pressure, algae removal or reintroduction of native vegetation. In other cases, purchasing land to prevent harmful development or retiring farmland could help.
Wacissa Springs is the head of the Wacissa River, which flows from just outside Tallahassee into the Gulf of Mexico. Matthew Zorn, CC BY
Restoring and maintaining the health of Florida’s 1,100 springs will require further study to tailor appropriate interventions to each one, along with reduced water and fertilizer use across the state.