Lower Santa Fe and Ichetucknee Rivers (LSFIR) and Priority Springs Minimum Flows and Levels (MFLs)

Rule Purpose

The purpose of rule development is to strike the previously-adopted minimum flows for the Lower Santa Fe and Ichetucknee Rivers and Priority Springs (LSFIR) and adopt new minimum flows for the LSFIR and any associated recovery and prevention strategy. Department-adopted MFLs and applicable recovery and prevention strategies are effective in all applicable water management districts without the need for further rulemaking and generally affects water use permittees. The minimum levels and flows in this rule amendment would be used as a basis for imposing limitations on withdrawals of groundwater and surface water in the consumptive use permit regulatory process and for reviewing proposed surface water management systems in the environmental resource permit regulatory process.

The proposed rule will include minimum flows for the LSFIR and any associated recovery or prevention strategy required by section 373.0421, F.S.. The LSFIR includes six Outstanding Florida Springs as defined by 373.802(4), F.S., and is therefore subject to 373.805, F.S..