The Springs and Seeps of Tennessee What are Springs and Seeps? between the point where the water 3 percent of the Earth's fresh water Below the Earth's surface, enters the ground and the point is found in streams, lakes, and sometimes just inches, sometime where it comes to the surface. These reservoirs. The remaining miles, deep, lies 97 percent of our reentry points are usually through 97 percent is underground. Ground freshwater. This water may have porous layers of sand or gravel water is the safest and most reliable come from the last rain- or snowfall, sandwiched between harder, less source of available freshwater. It is or it could have been hidden deep in permeable, layers of soil or rock or the primary water source for the earth for a million years. through cracks and fissures in the 50 percent of the American Occasionally, rock formations underlying rock. Seep and spring population. In rural areas, intersect this vast underground water may remain underground for 95 percent of the people depend on network of reservoirs, permitting many years, or even centuries, before ground water for their water supply. these hidden pools of water to once it resurfaces. During this time again see the light of day. The spots underground it reaches a Rare and Unique Plants and Animals where water flows back to the temperature much cooler than typical Springs vary by their rate of flow, surface are typically known as seeps surface waters in the summer and whether the water is acidic or basic, or springs. much warmer in the winter. This is a whether it is hard or soft, and the significant characteristic of springs surface factors into which they Springs usually emerge from a single and seeps that is important to the emerge. One of the major factors point, while seeps emerge over a plants and animals that depend influencing plants and animals at larger area, having no well-defined on them. these sites is the amount of sunlight origin. Whether the surface water that reaches the springs. Shaded flow is a seep or a spring is Why Are Springs and Seeps springs are relatively unproductive, determined by the geology of the site Important? and the food chain in them is based on and the water pressure below the Springs are vital headwaters of many detritus. Open, sunny springs, on the surface. Seeps generally have a lower of our rivers. They provide important other hand, can be very productive, flow rate than springs and only rarely habitat for wildlife and plants. Their supporting a variety of algae and have a volume large enough to form a protection and maintenance ensure aquatic plants; many snails, stream. Springs, on the other hand, clean water for wildlife, plants, and us. crustaceans, fishes, turtles, and frogs; can be the source of a small trickle, a Springs are important to wildlife and a plethora of invertebrates. stream, or even a sizable river. The during the winter because their point where a spring's water meets movement often keeps the water from Seeps also are quite variable, the surface is called an emergence, a freezing. Springs often may provide primarily with respect to slope, soil rise, or a boil. The flow directly below the only available source of drinkable type, and volume of flow. AB with this point is called a run. Just as on water. Seeps are an important springs, the amount of sunlight the surface, underground water flows wetland type in Tennessee. They reaching the seeps has a major effect downhill. The force of this flow provide habitat for many wetland on the plant and animal communities depends on the elevation difference plant and animal species. Only that live there. Shaded seep communities are also mostly detritus- to impoundments, like farm ponds, based, with the primary energy input which alter the flow ofwater. The coming from the leaves and other introduction or invasion of exotic organic matter that falls into the pests, such as the noxious weed seeps. The typically permeable and Hydrilla and the zebra mussel, also saturated soils can support some threatens spring and seeps and their plant life and often support some distinctive inhabitants. crustaceans, such as crayfishes, and occasionally a frog or salamander. Often the water source itself is in jeopardy. Excessive water Open seeps support a greater variety withdrawal can lower the water table of plant life, including grasses, sedges, to a point where seeps and springs and club moss. Given the proper no longer flow. We are increasingly conditions, they can also support seeing our ground water, which carnivorous plants, such as pitcher includes springs and seeps, degraded plants and sundews. The greater the by toxic pesticides, fertilizers, and diversity of plant life in the seep, the other waste to the point where the greater the diversity of animal species water is no longer safe to drink and that can be supported by the is lethal to many plants and animals. seep ecosystem. Often the pollutant sources are many miles away from where the Several rare, threatened, and problem "surfaces." endangered species are found only in seeps and springs. Species like the What is Being Done to Protect federally endangered royal snail, These Rare Places? which is found in only two spring runs Federal, state, and private agencies in the entire world, are dependant on are working together to protect and the water quality and constant flow conserve these rare places. The and temperature of the springs that Nature Conservancy is working to support them. The federally protect the headwaters of Kelley endangered Tennessee yellow-eyed Creek in Williamson County, grass and the State's rare large- Tennessee. This pristine Highland leaved grass-of-Parnassus both Rim stream harbors a number of depend on limestone-rich seepage sensitive species and natural water from the calcareous rocks and communities, including a highly basic soil particular to this seep type. imperiled calcareous seep; Other rare species, such as the its limestone-rich ground water blackwater darter, Barren's provides habitat for rare species like topminnow, flame chub, and trispot the large-leaved grass-of-Parnassus. darter, are all similarly dependent on the unique conditions of the seeps, springs, and spring runs they inhabit. You Can Help Protect and Restore In addition, many species of Springs and Seeps salamanders are found in springs and Protect springs and seeps from seeps; some of them, like the spring chemical pollution, erosion from salamander, are not found in any roads and other construction, and other type of habitat. dredging and filling. Support the organizations that are working to Threats to Springs and Seeps protect and restore them. Tell your There are many threats to these rare friends and family about the Tennessee ecosystems. Spreading importance of springs and seeps. urbanization has left many springs and seeps buried below housing and Seeing is Believing! industrial development. Logging and Springs and seeps are found across road construction, without the proper the state. An excellent example of control of erosion, have led the once springs exist within the Short productive springs and seeps to Springs State Natural Area in Coffee become choked with sediment. County. You can also visit the Great Clearing vegetation from around a Smoky Mountains National Park or spring not only increases the the Big South Fork National River sediment but also can result in the and Recreation Area. temperature of the water going up to the point where the unique creatures it supports can no longer live there. Many seeps and springs are also lost Royal Snail (Pyrgulopsis ogmorhaphe) Status in the spring runs may be impacted The royal snail was listed as by siltation, poor land-use practices, Remember, what we put on endangered on May 18, 1994. increased development, logging, stream alteration, contamination from the land may eventually Description coal mines and septic systems, road enter the streams! Tell The royal snail is a tiny creature, and bridge construction, other forms afriend about the royal smaller than a pea, usually less than of nonpoint source pollution, and the snail. Protect water quality. 5 millimeters long. Its thin, pale shell lowering of the water table. Because is whorled and cone-shaped and the snail inhabits such a limited area, Participate in a local stream blends in well with the a toxic spill or vandalism could easily cleanup. Use biodegradable surrounding environment. cause its extinction. The invasion of soaps. Plant or maintain nonnative species into either of the native vegetation alongside Habitat spring runs it inhabits is also a threat, The royal snail is dependent on spring as nonnative weeds and zebra mussels springs and streams. ecosystems; it is known from only two could reduce suitable habitat and Conserve water. Take pride spring runs on public land in Marion disrupt the natural in Tennessee's wildlife! County, Tennessee. Both springs food chain. flow out of caves and are part of the Sequatchie River system. Royal Recovery snails are usually found in moist Recovery goals include protecting and calcium-rich ooze and on leaves and maintaining populations of the royal twigs in quiet pools downstream from snail and its habitat. the spring source. Role in the Ecosystem Very little is known about this rare snail; its reproductive behavior and food requirements are a mystery. Snails are used as food by other animals, including rodents and other snails. Life History Royal snails are believed to have a 1- year, or annual, life cycle, meaning that an individual snail reaches maturity, reproduces, and dies all in 1 year. Threats The royal snail is threatened by the potential degradation and alteration of the water and/or habitat of the Actual spring runs it inhabits.