florida springs /tags/florida-springs florida springs en-US SAąúĽĘ´«Ä± Wed, 18 Mar 2026 20:26:00 GMT Decades after a Florida canal project was abandoned, advocates are trying to reunite 3 rivers /environment/2026-03-18/decades-after-a-florida-canal-project-was-abandoned-advocates-are-trying-to-reunite-3-rivers Environmentalists want to permanently open a dam built for a canal that was supposed to cut through the middle of Florida from the Atlantic to the Gulf. The canal project was dropped more than half a century ago because of environmental concerns, but the dam was built and now some people want it removed or opened. That would drain a reservoir behind it, bringing back springs and helping with fish, manatees and wildlife crossings. Wed, 18 Mar 2026 20:26:00 GMT /environment/2026-03-18/decades-after-a-florida-canal-project-was-abandoned-advocates-are-trying-to-reunite-3-rivers Mike Schneider | Associated Press Florida’s 1,100 natural springs are under threat — a geographer explains how to restore them /environment/2025-10-07/floridas-1-100-natural-springs-are-under-threat-a-geographer-explains-how-to-restore-them 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. Tue, 07 Oct 2025 12:00:00 GMT /environment/2025-10-07/floridas-1-100-natural-springs-are-under-threat-a-geographer-explains-how-to-restore-them Christopher F. Meindl |The Conversation Florida's once-pristine springs threatened by pollution, development and climate change /environment/2025-08-29/floridas-once-pristine-springs-threatened-by-pollution-development-and-climate-change Florida boasts at least 1,000 freshwater springs, more than any other U.S. state. They are all under threats from agricultural pollution, stress from rapid development and from climate change that is altering rainfall patterns and causing sea level rise. Some places, such as the town of Zephyrhills in west-central Florida, have imposed moratoriums on specific kinds of new construction just to slow things down. Fri, 29 Aug 2025 17:31:00 GMT /environment/2025-08-29/floridas-once-pristine-springs-threatened-by-pollution-development-and-climate-change Curt Anderson, Marta Lavandier and Daniel Kozin | Associated Press Tails from deep: Mermaids from Weeki Wachee's past reunite for a nostalgic swim /arts-culture/2025-08-13/tails-from-deep-mermaids-from-weeki-wachees-past-reunite-for-a-nostalgic-swim A wish comes true for five former performers from the famed underwater park in Hernando County. Now in their 70s, they dipped into their younger aquatic days and shared memories. Wed, 13 Aug 2025 21:36:00 GMT /arts-culture/2025-08-13/tails-from-deep-mermaids-from-weeki-wachees-past-reunite-for-a-nostalgic-swim Sky Lebron New state rules to protect the Florida springs deemed inadequate in legal challenge /law-justice/2025-01-21/florida-springs-legal-challenge A springs-advocacy group is challenging newly proposed state rules, saying they will not adequately prevent water withdrawals that could harm what are designated as “Outstanding Florida Springs.” Tue, 21 Jan 2025 21:00:00 GMT /law-justice/2025-01-21/florida-springs-legal-challenge News Service of Florida Development is taking a toll on Florida's precious springs /npr-breaking-news/2025-01-17/development-is-taking-a-toll-on-floridas-precious-springs The state has been slow to adopt rules to protect Florida's endangered springs. While a boom in residential construction has increased the amount of groundwater being taken from the aquifers. Fri, 17 Jan 2025 10:00:59 GMT /npr-breaking-news/2025-01-17/development-is-taking-a-toll-on-floridas-precious-springs Greg Allen The race to capture Florida's diminishing landscape /environment/2025-01-15/painting-florida-diminishing-landscape Keith Padgett paints the winding rivers, waterside forests and old-timey shrimp boats of Florida’s rural Gulf Coast. Yet, like many other artists who paint landscapes of nature in Florida, Padgett fears the myriad of threats chipping away at the very subject of his work. Wed, 15 Jan 2025 12:00:00 GMT /environment/2025-01-15/painting-florida-diminishing-landscape Savannah Rude In new book, a geographer does a deep dive into springs in Florida /environment/2024-11-20/florida-springs-book University of South Florida geography professor Christopher Meindl spent a decade researching Florida springs. He just debuted first book Florida Springs: From Geography to Politics and Restoration. Wed, 20 Nov 2024 11:00:00 GMT /environment/2024-11-20/florida-springs-book Jimena Romero 'Stop issuing every single permit,' advocates say. Will Florida protect its fragile springs? /environment/2024-09-12/stop-issuing-every-single-permit-advocates-say-will-florida-protect-its-fragile-springs Florida's springs are threated by pollution and nitrogen runoff that lead to algae growth and interfere with habitat for manatees, fish, turtles and otters. Thu, 12 Sep 2024 17:00:00 GMT /environment/2024-09-12/stop-issuing-every-single-permit-advocates-say-will-florida-protect-its-fragile-springs Kerry Sheridan Advocates say so far, Florida’s new plans to heal polluted springs still fall short /environment/2024-06-26/advocates-say-so-far-floridas-new-plans-to-heal-polluted-springs-still-fall-short Last year an appeals court struck down Florida’s plans to restore polluted springs, siding with the advocacy group that said those plans were ineffective. Now, as the state works on revisions, advocates fear the pending changes will still fail Florida springs. Wed, 26 Jun 2024 16:30:00 GMT /environment/2024-06-26/advocates-say-so-far-floridas-new-plans-to-heal-polluted-springs-still-fall-short Molly Duerig