FL H7005

Establishes the Florida Springs and Aquifer Protection Act, designating all historic first magnitude springs and six named springs as "Outstanding Florida Springs," requiring DEP to complete impairment assessments by July 1, 2018, adopt basin management action plans (BMAPs) within 2 years of initiation, and achieve Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) targets within 20 years with 5-, 10-, and 15-year milestones

Prohibits specific activities within delineated priority focus areas around Outstanding Florida Springs, including new domestic wastewater facilities of 100,000+ gallons/day unless meeting ≤3 mg/l total nitrogen, new septic systems on lots under 1 acre conflicting with remediation plans, new hazardous waste facilities, unapproved biosolids land application, and new agricultural operations not implementing best management practices

Requires water management districts to adopt minimum flows and levels (MFLs) for Outstanding Florida Springs via emergency rulemaking by July 1, 2017, with concurrent adoption of recovery or prevention strategies when flows are below or projected within 20 years to fall below MFLs, including a minimum 25% district funding commitment per project

Creates the Central Florida Water Initiative framework requiring DEP and three water management districts to develop a single multidistrict regional water supply plan, a unified hydrologic planning model, and uniform rules — including a single definition of "harmful to the water resources" and consistent permitting processes — with rulemaking initiated by December 31, 2016

Authorizes a pilot program for alternative water supply projects in restricted allocation areas, allowing Southwest Florida, South Florida, and St. Johns River water management districts to each designate one pilot project by July 1, 2017, with up to 50% district funding and a report on effectiveness due by July 1, 2020

Restructures the Northern Everglades and Estuaries Protection Program (Lake Okeechobee, Caloosahatchee River, and St. Lucie River watersheds) with 20-year TMDL achievement targets, 5-year evaluation cycles beginning March 1, 2020, biosolids disposal restrictions requiring net phosphorus balance demonstrations, and mandatory basin management action plans with milestones

Strengthens regional water supply planning by requiring at least 20-year planning periods, a 1-in-10-year drought planning standard, use of University of Florida BEBR population projections, technically and financially feasible project options, and comprehensive funding strategies sufficient to pay for all listed projects

Requires DEP to publish an online conservation lands database by July 1, 2017 — including a mobile application — with location, recreational opportunities, access points, and facilities for all state, federal, and local conservation lands open to public access

Enhances water conservation and monitoring by protecting permitted allocations from reduction when users implement documented conservation measures, requiring water usage monitoring for permits authorizing 100,000+ gallons/day from wells with 8+ inch diameter, and directing districts to promote cost-share for conservation technologies such as soil/moisture sensors and irrigation improvements

Mandates new accountability and transparency measures, including annual DEP progress reports (beginning July 1, 2018) on every TMDL, BMAP, MFL, and recovery/prevention strategy; priority-ranked project lists with cost estimates in all BMAPs and consolidated annual reports; enforceable BMP verification procedures with rulemaking initiated by January 1, 2017; and watershed grading reflecting impairment levels