Fla. Admin. Code R. 62-42.300 (2026)

(1) Minimum Flows for Lower Santa Fe and Ichetucknee Rivers and Priority Springs (LSFIR)

(a) For purposes of this rule, the Lower Santa Fe River includes the watercourse from the Santa Fe River Rise to the confluence with the Suwannee River including the Lower Santa Fe River Priority Springs and associated spring runs; the Ichetucknee River includes the watercourse from the Ichetucknee Headspring to the confluence with the Lower Santa Fe River including the Ichetucknee River Priority Springs and associated spring runs. The Lower Santa Fe River and Ichetucknee River Priority Springs are set forth in Table 1-1 below.

Table 1-1. Lower Santa Fe and Ichetucknee River Priority Springs

River	Spring Name
Lower Santa Fe	Treehouse Spring (OFS)
Lower Santa Fe	COL101974
Lower Santa Fe	Columbia Spring (OFS)
Lower Santa Fe	Gilchrist Blue Spring
Lower Santa Fe	Devil's Ear Spring (OFS)
Lower Santa Fe	Siphon Creek Rise
Lower Santa Fe	Hornsby Spring (OFS)
Lower Santa Fe	July Spring
Lower Santa Fe	Poe Spring (OFS)
Lower Santa Fe	Rum Island Spring
Lower Santa Fe	Santa Fe River Rise
Ichetucknee	Ichetucknee Springs Group (OFS)

(b) Minimum Flows for the Lower Santa Fe and Ichetucknee Rivers and Priority Springs are as set forth in Table 1-2 below.

Table 1-2. Minimum Flows for the Lower Santa Fe and Ichetucknee Rivers and Priority Springs

Watercourse	MFL Compliance Point	Minimum P50 Flow in cubic feet per second (cfs)
Lower Santa Fe River and Santa Fe River Rise, Treehouse Spring, Hornsby Spring and Columbia Spring	Lower Santa Fe River at the HWY 441 gage/USGS Gage No. 02321975	502
Lower Santa Fe River and Poe Spring, COL101974 Spring, Rum Island Spring, Gilchrist Blue Spring, Devil’s Ear Spring, July Spring, and Siphon Creek Rise	Lower Santa Fe River at the Ft. White, FL gage/USGS Gage No. 02322500	1,167
Ichetucknee River and Ichetucknee Springs Group	Ichetucknee River at the HWY 27 gage/USGS Gage No. 02322700	346

(c) The Agencies shall assess the MFL status as described in section 373.0421, F.S., of the Lower Santa Fe and Ichetucknee Rivers and Priority Springs concurrently with the approval of each Regional Water Supply Plan (RWSP). The assessment shall include a review wherein (1) the current flows at the MFL Compliance Point(s) are compared to the adopted MFLs, and (2) reasonably projected future flows are compared to the adopted MFLs. For reasonably projected future flows, the Agencies will consider impacts from all projected water withdrawals within 20 years. Based on an analysis of the various stressors on the MFL Compliance Points, including but not limited to rainfall and water withdrawals, if the existing flow in a water body falls below, or is projected within 20 years to fall below, the MFL due to water withdrawals the Agencies shall review the Implementation Strategy in accordance with the requirements of sections 373.0421 and 373.805(4), F.S., and the Implementation Strategy shall be updated as necessary to achieve the MFL within 20 years of the effective date of this rule.

(2) Pursuant to Sections 373.0421 and 373.805, F.S., the regulatory measures in this rule are adopted as part of the Implementation Strategy for the Lower Santa Fe and Ichetucknee River. In accordance with Section 373.042(5), F.S., each district shall implement this rule without the district’s adoption by rule. These regulatory measures apply to all consumptive uses of water with withdrawal points within the North Florida Regional Water Supply Partnership (Partnership) area, which includes all of Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Clay, Columbia, Duval, Flagler, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Nassau, Putnam, St. Johns, Suwannee, and Union counties. Unless otherwise stated, these regulatory measures supplement the rules of the Suwannee River Water Management District (SRWMD) and the St. Johns River Water Management District (SJRWMD) for regulating consumptive uses of water in the Partnership area. Where explicitly stated, these rules supersede specifically identified rules of the Districts regulating the consumptive use of water in the Partnership area.

(3) Allocations of Water

(a) All Authorized Uses shall be considered consistent with the Implementation Strategy and will not be subject to revocation in whole or in part on the basis of this rule where the permittee is in compliance with this rule. Permits that do not meet the requirements within this rule will be subject to revocation in whole or in part. Nothing in this rule shall be construed to alter an Agency’s authority to enforce or modify a permit under circumstances not addressed in this rule.

(b) When necessary to provide reasonable assurance that the proposed use will be in accordance with the MFL or Implementation Strategy, quantities of water will be authorized in incremental amounts by year(s) based upon the projected need. For example, a stepped allocation may be provided in conjunction with implementation of an alternative water supply project that will make more water available for use. In such a case, as more water becomes available for use (and is needed) the annual allocation will increase.

(4) Where a residence is supplied potable water by a public supplier and such water is available for residential irrigation, no general permit by rule shall be authorized for private residential irrigation water use from a Floridan aquifer private well constructed after July 1, 2026 within the Partnership area. This subsection shall not apply to wells constructed prior to July 1, 2026. An applicant may seek a No-Fee Noticed General Consumptive Use Permit, Form 62-42.300(4), incorporated by reference herein, effective July 1, 2026, and available at http://flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-18920, or on the Department’s website at https://floridadep.gov/owper/water-policy/content/lower-santa-fe-and-ichetucknee-rivers-lsfir-and-priority-springs-minimum, from the applicable District where the conditions in the No-Fee Noticed General Consumptive Use Permit are met. “Available” means that a point of connection is at or immediately adjacent to the property boundary, and water for the use is able to be provided by a public supplier in sufficient volume and frequency to maintain the landscape. The No-Fee Noticed General Consumptive Use Permit shall have a duration of 10 years, is automatically authorized for the permittee and subsequent owners for the duration of the authorization, and is renewable. To continue using the permit after 10 years, the user must apply for renewal using Form 62-42.300(4).

(5) Upon July 1, 2026, unless otherwise provided by law, each permittee shall comply with the Monitoring and Reporting Requirements: Implementation Strategy for the LSFIR MFLs, adopted and incorporated by reference herein, effective July 1, 2026. Copies of the Monitoring and Reporting Requirements are available at http://flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-18921, or on the Department’s website at https://floridadep.gov/owper/water-policy/content/lower-santa-fe-and-ichetucknee-rivers-lsfir-and-priority-springs-minimum. As referenced in the Monitoring and Reporting Requirements: Implementation Strategy for LSFIR MFLs in this subsection, the following forms are incorporated:

(a) Water Use/Pumpage Report Form (EN-50), Form 62-42.300(5)(a), is hereby incorporated by reference, effective July 1, 2026, and available at http://flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-18922 or on the Department’s website at https://floridadep.gov/owper/water-policy/content/lower-santa-fe-and-ichetucknee-rivers-lsfir-and-priority-springs-minimum.

(b) Annual Statement of Continuing Use, Form 62-42.300(5)(b), is hereby incorporated by reference, effective July 1, 2026, and available at http://flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-18923 or on the Department’s website at https://floridadep.gov/owper/water-policy/content/lower-santa-fe-and-ichetucknee-rivers-lsfir-and-priority-springs-minimum.

(c) Flow Meter Accuracy Report Form (EN-51), Form 62-42.300(5)(c), is hereby incorporated by reference, effective July 1, 2026, and available at http://flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-18924 or on the Department’s website at https://floridadep.gov/owper/water-policy/content/lower-santa-fe-and-ichetucknee-rivers-lsfir-and-priority-springs-minimum.

(d) Alternative Method Flow Verification Report Form, Form 62-42.300(5)(d), is hereby incorporated by reference, effective July 1, 2026, and available at http://flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-18925 or on the Department’s website at https://floridadep.gov/owper/water-policy/content/lower-santa-fe-and-ichetucknee-rivers-lsfir-and-priority-springs-minimum.

(6) Upon July 1, 2026, unless otherwise provided by law, each Permittee shall comply with the applicable Water Conservation Requirements: Implementation Strategy for LSFIR MFLs, adopted and incorporated by reference herein, effective July 1, 2026. Copies of the Water Conservation Requirements are available at http://flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-18933, or on the Department’s website at https://floridadep.gov/owper/water-policy/content/lower-santa-fe-and-ichetucknee-rivers-lsfir-and-priority-springs-minimum. As referenced in the Water Conservation Requirements: Implementation Strategy for LSFIR MFLs in this paragraph, the following forms are incorporated:

(a) The Public Supply Annual Report, Form 62-42.300(6)(a), is hereby incorporated by reference, effective July 1, 2026, and available at http://flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-18934 or on the Department’s website at https://floridadep.gov/owper/water-policy/content/lower-santa-fe-and-ichetucknee-rivers-lsfir-and-priority-springs-minimum.

(b) The Public Supply Five-Year Water Conservation Report, Form 62-42.300(6)(b), is hereby incorporated by reference, effective July 1, 2026, and available at http://flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-18926 or on the Department’s website at https://floridadep.gov/owper/water-policy/content/lower-santa-fe-and-ichetucknee-rivers-lsfir-and-priority-springs-minimum.

(c) The Agricultural Water Conservation Report, Form 62-42.300(6)(c), is hereby incorporated by reference, effective July 1, 2026, and available at http://flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-18927 or on the Department’s website at https://floridadep.gov/owper/water-policy/content/lower-santa-fe-and-ichetucknee-rivers-lsfir-and-priority-springs-minimum.

(d) For all other use types, the CII/MD/LR Water Conservation Report, Form 62-42.300(6)(d), is hereby incorporated by reference, effective July 1, 2026, and available at http://flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-18928 or on the Department’s website at https://floridadep.gov/owper/water-policy/content/lower-santa-fe-and-ichetucknee-rivers-lsfir-and-priority-springs-minimum.

(7) Upon the effective date of this rule, unless otherwise provided by law, each Permittee shall comply with the Offset Requirements: Implementation Strategy for LSFIR MFLs, adopted and incorporated by reference herein, effective July 1, 2026, and available at http://flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-18929 or on the Department’s website at https://floridadep.gov/owper/water-policy/content/lower-santa-fe-and-ichetucknee-rivers-lsfir-and-priority-springs-minimum.

(a) Section 2.2 of the St. Johns River Water Management District Applicant’s Handbook: Consumptive Uses of Water, as incorporated by reference in paragraph 40C-2.101(1)(a), F.A.C., is incorporated by reference here, and available at http://flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-18930 or on the Department’s website at https://floridadep.gov/owper/water-policy/content/lower-santa-fe-and-ichetucknee-rivers-lsfir-and-priority-springs-minimum. This document describes the calculation of Demonstrated 2025 Demand for permittees and applicants within the SJRWMD.

(b) Section 2.3 of the Suwannee River Water Management District Water Use Permit Applicant’s Handbook, as incorporated by reference in subsection 40B-2.301(3), F.A.C., is incorporated by reference here, and available at http://flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-18931 or on the Department’s website at https://floridadep.gov/owper/water-policy/content/lower-santa-fe-and-ichetucknee-rivers-lsfir-and-priority-springs-minimum. This document describes the calculation of Demonstrated 2025 Demand for permittees and applicants within the SRWMD.

(8) The Department delegates to each District the authority to accept and grant, where conditions have been met, applications for extension pursuant to section 373.805(5), F.S.

Rulemaking Authority 373.026(6), 373.043, 373.171, 373.227, 373.250, 373.805, 373.813 FS. Law Implemented 373.016, 373.019, 373.023, 373.026, 373.042, 373.0421, 373.046, 373.086, 373.103, 373.106, 373.113, 373.116, 373.118, 373.171, 373.175, 373.216, 373.217, 373.219, 373.227, 373.228, 373.229, 373.236, 373.239, 373.243, 373.246, 373.250, 373.418, 373.451, 373.453, 373.62, 373.703, 373.705, 373.707, 373.709, 373.802, 373.805, 373.813, 403.064 FS. History–New 6-10-15, Amended 7-1-26, Technical Change 7-1-26, Reviewed 7-29-26.

Effective: 7/1/2026.