Santa Fe Audubon Society concern for conserving and protecting the natural environment is expressed through involvement in regional water issues. Many fresh water lakes, rivers and springs in north Florida are in low level or low flow conditions because of excessive aquifer pumping combined with rainfall deficits. The lowered aquifer pressures resulting from this excessive pumping are also allowing salt water intrusion to develop on wells and springs near coastlines. To protect these natural systems from such deleterious anthropogenic impacts, we support and encourage water conservation and development of alternate water supplies.

Santa Fe Audubon Society Directors participate as Steering Team members on the North Florida and Southeast Georgia Regional Groundwater Model Development Steering Team assisting the St Johns River Water Management District, Suwannee River Water Management District and Florida Department of Environmental Protection in the development of a science based tool to assist regional water planning.

Santa Fe Audubon Society Directors participate as stakeholders in Clay-Putnam Minimum Flows and Levels Protection/Recovery Strategy Technical Work Group developing recovery strategies for Lake Geneva and Brooklyn Lake in Clay County and for Cowpen Lake in Putnam County, along with protection strategies for Lake Grandin in Putnam County.

Santa Fe Audubon Society maintains communication or participation with North Florida Regional Water Supply Partnership, North Florida Regional Aquifer Replenishment Initiative, FLOW, LAWA, and other local and regional efforts, as well as meeting with regional water users to encourage water conservation.