A Year of Showing Up, Speaking Out, and Winning Together

In 2025, Protecting Florida Springs proved—again—that organized people can protect water, land, and wildlife, even in a tough political climate. This was a year of persistence, courage, and community. Members showed up month after month, took action when it mattered most, and delivered real results for Florida’s springs.

🌟 Wins We’re Celebrating

🏞️ Florida State Parks Protected
Thanks to coordinated advocacy, legislative testimony, and statewide action, Florida State Parks were defended from development. This major win reflects the tireless efforts of members who met with legislators, spoke at delegation meetings, and helped power the State Park Love Fest.
👏 Special thanks to Ryan Smart of the Florida Springs Council and our legislative advocates who kept this issue front and center.

💧 Mill Creek Sink & Santa Fe River Defended
One of the defining fights of the year, the Mill Creek Sink campaign brought together science, community voices, and relentless organizing. Developments threatening a direct conduit to the Floridan Aquifer were delayed and escalated for deeper review.
👏 Huge appreciation to Soorya Lindberg, Bryan & Vicky Buescher, for fearless leadership at Our Alachua Water, Bry Edgar and Carol White, social media divas of @ChicksOfTheWoods, for outreach and storytelling, and John Quarterman, the Suwannee Riverkeeper from WWALS, for scientific grounding and regional context.

🛑 Harmful Projects Stopped
Local advocacy helped defeat or stall multiple high-risk proposals, including:

• A manure composting site in Levy County
• A sand mine threatening water resources
• Additional wetland destruction proposals

👏 Thank you to Laura Catlow, founder of RURL, Residents United for Rural Levy, Joanne Tremblay and Rick Lanese with Our Santa Fe River, and Karen Lanese of the Florida Springs Institute, and our Levy County allies for staying vigilant and effective.

📜 Broken Water Policy Challenged
Members consistently challenged failing Basin Management Action Plans (BMAPs), submitting formal comments, attending DEP workshops, and supporting legal accountability efforts. This work ensured that the record clearly reflects what communities already know: the plans are not working.
👏 Deep gratitude to Ryan Smart, Florida Springs Council partners, and everyone who took the time to submit comments and attend long meetings.

🌱 Solutions Moved Forward
Protecting springs isn’t just about stopping bad ideas—it’s about building better ones. This year saw meaningful progress in soil health and regenerative agriculture conversations, along with hands-on river service days that modeled real stewardship.
👏 Thank you to Lauren Jorgensen and the Florida Soil Health Coalition for building bridges and expanding what’s possible.

🐻 Water, Wildlife & Wild Places Connected
Through participation in the Spare a Bear, Bag a Tag campaign, members helped reduce harm to wildlife while reinforcing the connection between healthy ecosystems, forests, and clean water.
👏 Appreciation to Bear Warriors United and everyone who rode the Bear Bus, rallied, and spoke out.

📊 By the Numbers (Because Your Efforts Add Up)

• 35 unique members actively participated
• 9 core partner organizations collaborated throughout the year
• 25+ meetings, hearings, service days, and actions
• 30+ formal letters, public comments, and submissions delivered

Plus many more neighbors, residents, and allies who joined issue-specific actions along the way.

💙 A Thank You to Our People

This work happened because of you—the members who:

• Took time out of busy lives to attend meetings
• Wrote comments and letters late at night
• Spoke at podiums even when it was uncomfortable
• Showed up for rivers, springs, parks, and wildlife

Together, you defended places that matter and strengthened a movement that will carry forward into 2026.

Florida’s springs are still here because people like you refuse to give up on them.

🌊🌲🐢