Florida Group Fights Spring Protection Zones on Withlacoochee River

Withlacoochee River Spring Protection Zones

• 📌 New Springs Protection Zones (SPZs) were implemented last summer on the Withlacoochee River to prevent mooring, anchoring, or grounding vessels.
• 🎯 The goal of these zones is to preserve vegetation and protect wildlife along the 5.5-mile stretch between Rogers Park and the Headspring.
• ⚠️ The Withlacoochee River is currently the only spring in Florida with these specific SPZs.

Opposition to Current Restrictions

• 💬 A grassroots group, Save Our Boating Rights Florida, is pushing back against the current SPZs.
• ⚖️ They argue that the law is too narrowly written, focusing solely on harm caused by vessels.
• 💡 The group cites a 2022 Florida DEP study indicating that the majority of vegetation trampling in the area was caused by feet trampling, not vessels.

Legislative Efforts and Proposed Changes

• 🗣️ Save Our Boating Rights Florida worked with legislators to add an amendment to SB1388, also known as DeSantis' voter freedom initiative.
• 🚫 They do not want to remove SPZs entirely but advocate for a less narrow definition of harm.
• 📈 The proposed change would redefine harm from any single blade of eelgrass to significant harm predominantly by vessels, impacting water quality, wetlands, and wildlife.
• 🏛️ SB1388 has one more committee stop before potentially moving to the House.