Water Institute Affiliate Faculty Helps Communities See the Full Value of Florida Springs
Florida’s springs are among the state’s most treasured natural resources, supporting recreation, local economies, ecosystem health, and a strong sense of place for surrounding communities. Yet many of these benefits are difficult to measure, making it challenging for decision-makers and residents to fully understand what is at stake as springs face increasing pressure from groundwater withdrawals, land use changes, and nutrient loading.
New research led by Dr. Kotryna Klizentyte is helping communities better understand the full value of Florida’s springs by capturing their ecological, economic, and social benefits within a single framework. The findings, published in a comprehensive report examining springs across North Central Florida, provide new insights for conservation planning, communication, and decision-making. An Assistant Professor in the School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences and a Water Institute Affiliate Faculty member, Dr. Klizentyte recently shared key findings from the report at the Santa Fe River Springs Protection Forum. Open to the public, the forum is part of an ongoing effort coordinated by the Alachua County Environmental Protection Department to bring together citizens, government officials, and professionals to discuss challenges and opportunities for protecting local springs
During her presentation, “Quantifying the Economic Benefits of Springs in the Lower Suwannee and Santa Fe River Basins of North-Central Florida,” Dr. Klizentyte highlighted the importance of capturing the many ways springs benefit communities. Traditional estimates often focus primarily on visitor spending, which can underestimate the true value of these natural systems. As a result, many of the broader benefits springs provide, including ecosystem services, cultural significance, and community well-being, are often overlooked in decision-making.
To address this gap, Dr. Klizentyte and her collaborators developed an integrated framework that examines recreational use, economic contributions, ecosystem services, and public preferences within a single analysis. The research evaluated 15 springs across six North Central Florida counties, drawing on more than 12 years of data. The team also conducted a statewide survey that included a policy-framing experiment designed to better understand how Floridians perceive springs and respond to messages about their protection.
“Presenting these findings at the Springs Protection Forum was especially valuable because it brought together community members, resource managers, and decision-makers who are actively engaged in protecting Florida’s springs,” said Klizentyte. “Our research provides a more complete picture of the ecological, economic, and social benefits springs provide, and I hope the report can serve as a resource for communities and policymakers working to protect these systems for future generations.”
The research also provides important insights for conservation communication and community engagement. Findings suggest that outreach efforts may be more effective when they begin with a neutral ecological message rather than an economic one, focus on what is being preserved, use clear and accessible language, and connect spring conservation to community identity and pride of place.
By examining ecological, economic, and social values together, the framework offers communities, spring managers, policymakers, and other stakeholders a more complete understanding of why Florida’s springs matter. The findings can help inform conservation priorities, land-use planning, and long-term strategies to protect these iconic resources for future generations.
Access the full report here and view materials from the forum here.