Florida Senate - 2009 SB 2120
By Senator Dean
3-01463-09 20092120__
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to the protection of springs; creating
3 the Florida Springs Stewardship Task Force; providing
4 legislative findings and intent; providing
5 definitions; providing for task force membership and
6 duties; requiring a report to the Legislature;
7 providing for assistance and cooperation from state
8 agencies and local governments; providing for
9 expiration of the task force; providing an effective
10 date.
11
12 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
13
14 Section 1. Florida Springs Stewardship Task Force.—
15 (1) INTENT.-The Legislature finds that:
16 (a) Florida's springs are valuable resources that provide
17 recreational and tourism opportunities, significant financial
18 benefit to local economies, and critical habitat for endangered
19 or threatened plant and animal species.
20 (b) The flow and water quality of Florida's springs are
21 direct reflections of the aquifer systems in Florida and
22 consequently are indicators of the condition of a significant
23 portion of the state's water resources.
24 (c) Cooperative efforts are best for identifying best
25 management practices for the protection, restoration, and
26 preservation of the state's water resources, including springs.
27 (d) The state's residents want to be good stewards of the
28 state's resources and through educational awareness programs
29 will voluntarily implement best-management practices into their
30 daily activities.
31 (2) DEFINITIONS.—As used in this part, the term:
32 (a) “Seep” means a place where the water table aquifer
33 intersects the land surface and flows onto the land.
34 (b) “Spring” means a point where groundwater is discharged
35 onto the earth's surface, including under any surface water of
36 the state, and excludes seeps.
37 (c) “Zone of influence” means the geographic area that
38 contributes most directly to the water quantity and quality of a
39 spring.
40 (3) TASK FORCE.—
41 (a) The Florida Springs Stewardship Task Force is created
42 and shall consist of nine members as follows:
43 1. One representative from the Department of Environmental
44 Protection, to be appointed by the Secretary of Environmental
45 Protection.
46 2. One representative from the Department of Agriculture
47 and Consumer Services, to be appointed by the Commissioner of
48 Agriculture.
49 3. One representative from the Department of Community
50 Affairs, to be appointed by the Secretary of Community Affairs.
51 4. One representative from the water management district
52 that has the greatest number of first-magnitude springs within
53 its jurisdiction, to be appointed by the executive director of
54 that water management district.
55 5. Two members appointed by the President of the Senate,
56 one of whom shall be a representative of the development
57 community and one of whom shall be a representative of a local
58 chamber of commerce.
59 6. Two members appointed by the Speaker of the House of
60 Representatives, one of whom shall be a locally elected county
61 or municipal official and one of whom shall be a representative
62 of the environmental community.
63 7. One member appointed by the Commissioner of Agriculture
64 who shall be a representative of the agricultural community.
65 (b) Task force members shall be appointed by August 1,
66 2009. Members shall choose a chair and vice chair from the
67 membership of the task force.
68 (c) The task force shall:
69 1. Collect and inventory all existing data the identifying
70 zone of influence for each of the state's 33 known first
71 magnitude springs and identifying land uses in these areas.
72 2. Identify and compile a list of existing best-management
73 practices for identified land uses and other water pollutant
74 controls.
75 3. Identify all existing and reasonably expected funding
76 sources available to implement best-management practices and
77 other water pollutant controls that protect the state's first
78 magnitude springs and propose a priority list of projects for
79 the funding.
80 4. Take public input and testimony regarding issues related
81 to spring protection, restoration, and preservation.
82 5. Propose a program of increased emphasis on education and
83 outreach which encourages the implementation of best-management
84 practices for agricultural and nonagricultural land uses and
85 other water pollutant controls, including specific provisions
86 for cost-share assistance with the implementation of such
87 practices as well as recognition of agricultural and
88 nonagricultural landowners who participate in the program.
89 6. The task force shall submit a report summarizing the
90 data collected, public input and testimony, and the findings and
91 proposals of the task force to the President of the Senate and
92 the Speaker of the House of Representatives no later than
93 January 31, 2010.
94 (d) All state agencies are directed, and all other agencies
95 and local governments are requested, to render assistance to and
96 cooperate with the task force.
97 (e) The task force shall expire on January 31, 2010.
98 Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2009.