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

What's New?
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is holding a public workshop for the LSFIR rulemaking on July 25, 2025, to which all persons are invited. Additional information and materials are posted in the table below. Written comments may be submitted to OWP_rulemaking@floridadep.gov.

What's New?

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is holding a public workshop for the LSFIR rulemaking on July 25, 2025, to which all persons are invited.

Additional information and materials are posted in the table below.

Written comments may be submitted to OWP_rulemaking@floridadep.gov.

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..

To receive notifications on upcoming public meetings and the department's activities related to the rulemaking efforts, visit the water policy subscription page.

Topic	Document
July 2025 Workshop Materials	Workshop Agenda Draft 2025 Implementation Strategy Draft Rules Rules 62-42.200 – 300, F.A.C. Subsection 62-42.300(6) – Monitoring and Reporting Requirements Subsection 62-42.300(7) – Conservation Requirements Subsection 62-42.300(8) – Offset Requirements Draft Forms Form 62-42.300(5) – No-Fee Noticed General Consumptive Use Permit Form 62-42.300(6)(a) – Water Use Pumpage Form (EN-50) Form 62-42.300(6)(b) – Annual Statement of Continuing Use Form 62-42.300(6)(c) – Flow Meter Accuracy Report Form (EN-51) Form 62-42.300(6)(d) – Alternative Method Flow Verification Report Form Form 62-42.300(7)(a) – Water Audit Form Form 62-42.300(7)(b) – Public Supply Annual Report Form 62-42.300(7)(c) – Water Conservation Five Year Report Form 62-42.300(7)(d) – Agricultural Water Conservation Measures Form 62-42.300(7)(e) – Water Conservation Plan Effectiveness Report
Notice of Workshop	Notice of Workshop (Published July 11, 2025) Notice of Workshop (Published March 22, 2022) Workshop Agenda (April 5th and 6th, 2022) Workshop Presentation (April 5th and 6th, 2022) Notice of Workshop (Published November 23, 2021) Workshop Agenda (December 10, 2021) Workshop Presentation (December 10, 2021)
Rule Notices	Notice of Rule Development and Workshop (Published July 17, 2024) Workshop Agenda (July 31, 2024) Workshop Presentation (July 31, 2024) Notice of Rule Development and Workshop (Published September 30, 2021) Workshop Agenda (October 14, 2021) Workshop Presentation (October 14, 2021) Notice of Rule Development (Published December 20, 2019)
Rule Drafts	Draft Regulatory Strategy (July 31, 2024) Part I – Regulatory Strategy (December 10, 2021) Part 2 - Regulatory Strategy (April 2022) PS Water Conservation Ag Water Conservation
Final Technical Report	Final Technical Report (January 2021)
Status Assessment	Status assessment (December 2022)
Next Scheduled Meeting	Rule Development Workshop July 25, 2025, 10:00AM at Suwannee River Water Management District Headquarters (Live Oak, FL) Webinar Registration: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/585978572817574999

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

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Rule Purpose