SRWMD recognizes April as Springs Protection Awareness Month

LIVE OAK, FLA., APRIL 4, 2025 – Our freshwater springs are an important part of life, not just in North Florida, but across the state, and protecting them is an important part of the mission of the Suwannee River Water Management District (District). 

That’s why the District recognizes the month of April as Springs Protection Awareness Month, an effort to enhance awareness about the importance of Florida’s springs and encourage residents and stakeholders to participate in their protection. 

The annual designation, which was adopted during the District Governing Board’s March meeting, highlights the District’s initiatives to reduce pollution and groundwater usage while minimizing other impacts on the springs through projects. Everyone is encouraged to take steps to make our springs healthy, sustainable, and accessible for all those who seek to use them. 

With more than 450 documented springs in the District, the Suwannee Valley is home to the largest concentration of freshwater springs in North America. 

“Our springs are what people think of when they think of ‘Natural Florida,’” said Hugh Thomas, executive director of the District “People from all over the world travel to visit these natural wonders. They have significant historical, economic, and recreational value to residents and visitors alike, and also provide 90 percent of drinking water for Floridians. 

The District is also home to 14 of the state’s 30 Outstanding Florida Springs. 

The state of Florida is renowned for its work in water quality assessments and restoration programs. Since the beginning of the Springs Grant Funding in 2014, more than $141 million has been allocated for 71 projects in the District. This funding has enabled the District to assist local governments and other stakeholders to identify and construct projects that are imperative to achieving restoration goals. In 2025, $5.4 million was awarded to two projects within the District that will aid in the recovery of protection of Florida’s springs.   

The mission of the Suwannee River Water Management District is to protect and manage water resources using science-based solutions to support natural systems and the needs of the public. Headquartered in Live Oak, Florida, the District serves 15 surrounding north-central Florida counties. 

For more information about the District, visit www.MySuwanneeRiver.com or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and X. 

###