Emerging Waters Emerging Waters

Emerging Waters Springs of Northwest Florida

Econfina Blue Spring Washington County ©James Valentine Potter Spring, Washington County ©James Valentine An Overview Florida boasts more than 700 springs, among the largest when naturally acidic rain seeps into limestone formations, concentrations on earth. Springs are portals where water carving channels that hold and transport water. All of contained in the earth’s aquifers, often for years or decades, Florida’s first magnitude springs are karst springs. First rises to the surface and escapes in streams, lakes and coastal magnitude springs produce a minimum 64.6 million waters. Springsheds are contributing lands where water gallons per day (100 cubic feet per second ) or more. Many collects and seeps into the aquifer that feeds our springs. northwest Florida rivers are fed mainly by ground water Human activities in a springshed can harm our ground water under moderate to low flows, and under high flows receive but if preserved and protected, springs benefit our ecology, relatively more surface water. environment, economic well being and quality of life. Springs form unique ecosystems that cradle rare flora Florida’s springs are of two general types, karst springs and fauna, like the mountain laurel at Pitt Spring and the (where water pours from conduits and tunnels typically West Indian manatee of Wakulla Springs. Spring runs and dissolved from a limestone aquifer) and seeps (where spring pools often support endemic (native or confined) water oozes from the ground, typically from a surficial sand species, such as the Florida apple snail of Holmes Creek. aquifer). This brochure will focus on karst springs. Many spring heads are white sand bowls where water rises The majority of Florida’s inventoried springs are to the surface and supports aquatic life along its spring run. freshwater karst springs (about 600, though there are Here you can see darting minnows, hear birds warbling in countless uncatalogued seeps). Karst springs are created overhanging branches, find turtles sunning or wading birds hunting a meal.

Hydrology, geology, archaeology Springs are natural treasures of hydrology, geology and archaeology. Most northwest Florida springs form in two large karst plains, the Woodville Karst Plain and the Dougherty Karst Plain. The Woodville Karst Plain under- lies Wakulla and southern Leon counties and the Dough- erty Karst Plain underlies Jackson, Washington, Holmes and northern Bay and Calhoun counties. These porous limestone landforms are covered with a sand veneer. The permeable sand allows rain to percolate through and the many solution features quickly receive it, funneling it along cracks and tunnels towards our springs. These geologic and hydrologic features include springs, sinkholes, sinkhole lakes, swallets, disappear- ing rivers and caverns. Created over millions of years, these cavernous tunnels are mostly filled with water. An example is the Wakulla Spring vent, over 140 feet deep. Divers have tracked more than 20 miles of conduits lead- ing to Wakulla Spring, some with rooms 100 feet high by 120 feet wide and one cave penetrating 19,000 feet long (nearly 4 miles). Many springs provided water to prehistoric animals, nomadic tribes and early settlers. They are often reposito- ries of artifacts such as stone points and fossils like mast- odon bones.

St. Marks River Rise is one of northwest Florida’s largest karst springs.

Springs Inventory Findings Northwest Florida claims five first magnitude springs or spring groups and three dozen second magnitude springs, an abundance resulting from rainfall averages of 55 to 65 inches a year and an aquifer recharge rate of 15 Kris Barrios photo to 30 inches a year. The largest springs are St. Marks River Rise, Wakulla Spring, Spring Creek Group (all in Wakulla protect and preserve the quality of the springs, the District County), the Gainer Springs Group (Bay County) and Jackson has completed six spring inventories (most of which are on- Blue Spring (Jackson County). They pour forth hundreds line), www.nwfwmd.state.fl.us/pubsdata/techpubs.html. Fol- of millions of gallons a day. The Northwest Florida Water lowing are some key findings. Management District has inventoried springs across its 16 counties and has identified areas that contribute to the re- St. Marks, Wakulla River and Spring Creek charge of our springs. Delineation of these springsheds, and There are at least 51 springs located in the St. Marks/ education of people living, working or visiting these areas, Wakulla river basin. The Woodville Karst Plain within the is important to spring protection. basin is one of the richest sources of Floridan Aquifer springs To guard against degradation of these cherished resourc- in the state. The flow of the St. Marks River quadruples to an es, the District has preserved many springs and surrounding average 450 million gallons per day (mgd) after taking a half lands. By practicing responsible land management, repairing mile journey underground at Natural Bridge and resurging erosion and reducing nutrients from wastewater treatment as the St. Marks River Rise. and fertilizer use we can protect water quality and priceless Wakulla Spring, which forms the headwaters of the natural resources. This in turn preserves water supply, natu- Wakulla River, is the largest single terrestrial spring vent in ral beauty, recreation, wildlife and economic resources. North America. It measures 50-by-82 feet and produces an As part of the Florida Springs Initiative, a program to Canoeists enjoy Williford Spring run, Econfina Creek basin.

average 259 mgd or about 3,000 gallons a second. The District also measured five second magnitude springs, which discharge 6.4 mgd to 64.6 mgd. All of these springs contribute to the 30-mile St. Marks River, which discharges an average 725 mgd to Apalachee Bay. Southwest of Wakulla Spring, the first magnitude Spring Creek has several marine vents discharging to Apalachee Bay. Hydrologists encountered a mystery when Georgann Penson photo the vents temporarily stopped flowing in fall 2006. The greatly as it passes through the spring areas, within a mile District subsequently measured a doubling of discharge of State Road 20. from Wakulla Spring (to almost 390 mgd). One theory was The Gainer Springs Group south of Highway 20 measures that drought had lowered fresh ground water levels and a first magnitude 104 mgd on average (1,204 gallons per heavier salt water flowed into the vents, blocking fresh second). The District is preserving some 11 spring groups water flow towards the bay. rising from more than 36 vents, and working to reduce When sufficient rainfall resumed so did the fresh water human impacts and erosion. Located north of Panama flows from Spring Creek. These flows help protect aquatic City, Econfina Creek contributes a majority of Bay County’s nurseries of Spring Creek and the 450,000-acre Big Bend drinking water to Deer Point Lake Reservoir. Seagrasses Aquatic Preserve. Within the St. Marks basin, many surface water streams Chipola River are captured by swallets, created when streams erode and The Chipola River is fed by at least 63 springs in Jackson breach a confining layer of clay over porous limestone. County and northern Calhoun County. It has one first These swallets directly connect surface water with ground magnitude spring, Jackson Blue Spring, which averages 86 water, our region’s source of drinking water. mgd. However the drought of 2006 and 2007 dropped its The Wakulla River merges with the St. Marks River nine production to a low of about 18.2 mgd. This illustrates that miles below its dramatic spring head at Wakulla Springs springs are vulnerable to natural events such as drought State Park. The popular state park includes the first three that may be further exacerbated by human activities such as miles of the river and offers a diving platform, swimming pumping ground water for irrigation. area and guided boat tours. A tributary of the Apalachicola, the Chipola River also includes nine second magnitude springs and seven Econfina Creek third magnitude springs. All are located in Jackson and Econfina Creek’s ground water contribution zone northern Calhoun counties and account for an average encompasses a large portion of the porous Sand Hill Lakes 233 mgd contribution in river flow between highway US area. Under moderate and low flow, ground water 90 and SR 274. Major tributaries, Rocky, Dry and Spring makes up 85 percent of the stream’s discharge. To creeks, run from first or second magnitude spring groups. protect water quality from surface impacts, the District has The District has preserved over 7,000 acres along the purchased for preservation about 42,000 acres, or 95 Chipola River corridor. percent of the stream corridor and most of the high Several springs that discharge directly into the Chipola recharge, Sand Hill Lakes area. River and several spring ponds, however, were difficult to There are at least 39 individual spring vents located in measure individually. Shangri-La, Indian Washtub, Twin the middle Econfina Creek basin. Stream discharge increases Caves and Hole-in-the-Wall all rise into Merritt’s Mill Pond. Leaf Spring rises in the Chipola River and Waddell’s Mill Pond Spring rises in Waddell’s Mill Pond. Crack-In-the-Woods spring is at the head of an 80-foot run to the river and forms a 10-foot deep, 20-by-40-foot oblong pool. Of the 63 springs identified, 30 are located north of Interstate 10, and 33 are found below I-10, including five in Calhoun County. These were fissure type springs, as well as seep springs, in which ground water seeps into pools and creeks.

The first magnitude Jackson Blue Spring.

Choctawhatchee River and Holmes Creek Choctawhatchee River and Hol- mes Creek springs, like those of the Chipola River and Econfina Creek, are recharged through the Dougherty Karst Plain. The Choctawhatchee River basin includes the Marianna Lowlands, John Crowe photo a region of low wetland bays, which were created by erosion and dissolution in the karst plain. The rare Gulf sturgeon congregates at the Holmes Creek The District has preserved over 62,000 acres in the highly confluence with the Choctawhatchee River and female eels sensitive Choctawhatchee River area. The old growth bot- migrate into the upper stream from the Gulf of Mexico. tomland hardwood forests, marshes and tupelo cypress swamps here are internationally known for captivating Do No Harm Ivory billed woodpecker seekers. Many springs are popular swimming areas, such as There are at least 13 Floridan Aquifer springs located in Wakulla, Pitt, Williford, Jackson Blue, Ponce de Leon and the Choctawhatchee River basin, and there may be many Morrison. However, it is important to enter with respect and more that can be distinguished at lower river stages. The avoid eroding these delicate gems. Our daily activities can river is also fed by Pine Log Creek with 2 springs and Hol- adversely affect our springs for years to come. By picking up mes Creek with a remarkable 53 springs. trash, cleaning up oil spills, reducing use of fertilizers and not The lower reach of Holmes Creek swells with abundant disturbing sensitive areas, we can decrease adverse impacts springs. These increase flow in the stream and provide ha- and help preserve our precious springs. vens for fish, reptiles and mollusks. The highly permeable soils and solution features of karst areas make the associated Kris Barrios photo Cypress Spring, Washington springsheds and springs especially vulner- County. able to harmful activities on land, especially activities near intake conduits, sinkholes or vents. When contaminants reach the aquifer, the ability to filter, absorb or bio- logically remove contaminants is limited.

Photos (cover, introduction and poster photos), © James Valentine; text, Faith Eidse; maps, Ferdouse Sultana; design, Graphic Edge; editorial assistance, Kris Barrios, Ron Bartel, Leigh Brooks, Duncan Cairns, Britta Hays, Karen Kebart, Georgann Penson, Chris Richards, Lucinda Scott, Paul Thorpe, Nick Wooten. Produced by NWFWMD, 81 Water Management Dr. Havana, FL 32333-4712. Printed at __ each. Public Information Bulletin 08-01 For more see www.nwfwmd. state.fl.us/pubsdata/techpubs.html