List of major springs in Florida

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File:FlAlexanderSprings.jpg
Alexander Spring in Lake County

Geologists from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection claim that the U.S. state of Florida may have the largest convergence of freshwater springs on the planet, with over 700.[1] Hydrological springs are naturally occurring places where water flows from the aquifer (underground) to the surface. There are springs located within 21 Florida State Parks.

In the 1800s, the crystal clear water attracted development; 14 Florida cities have "Spring" in their name.[2] Spring names have been duplicated in different parts of the state, such as Gator[3] and Salt; Blue Spring was so common that the county name was added to differentiate between the seven locations.[4][5]

The first comprehensive study of Florida's springs was published in 1947. The next update was released 30 years later in the Florida Geological Survey Bulletin No. 31, Revised, "Springs of Florida".[6] In that 1977 Rosenau survey, there were sixteen offshore (under water) springs identified. All but two were situated on the Gulf coast. Since that time, scores of additional springs have been located and are being studied.[7] The most recent compendium of spring data is contained in the 2004 publication, Florida Geological Survey Bulletin 66, and identified 720 springs, of which 33 were first magnitude, 191 were second magnitude, and 151 were third magnitude.[7] Springs are identified by type: river rise (RR) is where a river emerges after flowing underground for a distance; a single spring (SS) has one underground source, but may flow through multiple rock fissures; a group spring (GS) has multiple underground sources; a sink (SK) is an opening in the Earth's surface that occurs from karst processes[8] and/or suffosion.[9]

Volume values listed are the most recent found, mostly after 2000, but water outflows have diminished significantly since the 1990s with drought conditions and increased pumping from the Floridan aquifer.[10] Water flow diminished and stopped completely at several locations, including White Springs and Worthington Springs, where tourists flocked to drink and soak in the mineral water beginning in the late 1800s.[1][11] The public water plant at Boulware Springs provided water for the city of Gainesville, Florida and the University of Florida until 1913, when reduced outflow required a new water source.[12][13]

Many of the springs listed herein are indicated as privately owned, which is a misnomer. "Private individuals cannot 'own' a spring that is along/accessible from a navigable waterway. They own the land around it above the normal high water mark."[14] Since the 1972 Clean Water Act (CWA) defined the term "navigable waters", the meaning has been litigated. Following U.S. Supreme Court rulings, the Federal Register published EPA's final definition on November 26, 2008. Section (3) states: "intrastate lakes, rivers, and streams which are utilized by interstate travelers for recreational or other purposes (are navigable waters).[15] Courts have ruled that "shallow streams that are traversable only by canoe have met the test".[16]

Mag[7] Spring name Outflow body[7] Type[7] County[7] Daily flow
in millions[7]
Temp[7] Own[7] Photo
1st Alapaha Rise Limited access Alapaha River RR Hamilton 383.9 US gallons (1,453 L) 70.3 °F (21.3 °C) P 100px
1st Alexander Ocala National Forest St. Johns River SS Lake 60.9 US gallons (231 L) 74.5 °F (23.6 °C) F Cave diving 100px
2nd Apopka Limited access Lake Apopka SS Lake 16.0 US gallons (61 L) 75.5 °F (24.2 °C) P Cave diving 100px
2nd Aucilla (Wacissa) Wacissa River GS Jefferson 189.4 US gallons (717 L) Volume is group 68.9 °F (20.5 °C) P Cave diving
2nd Baltzell Chipola River GS Jackson 31.5 US gallons (119 L) 67.7 °F (19.8 °C) S/C 100px
2nd Beecher Limited access St. Johns River SS Putnam 5.8 US gallons (22 L) 73.1 °F (22.8 °C) S 100px
1st Big Blue (Wacissa) Wacissa River GS Jefferson 189.4 US gallons (717 L) Volume is group 68.9 °F (20.5 °C) P Cave diving 100px
1st Blue Grotto (Silver) Silver River GS Marion 359.3 US gallons (1,360 L) Volume is group 74.3 °F (23.5 °C) P
2nd Blue Hole State park Chipola River SS Jackson 0.1 US gallons (0.38 L) 64.2 °F (17.9 °C) S 100px
1st Blue Hole (Ichetucknee) State park Ichetucknee River GS Columbia 130.2 US gallons (493 L) Volume is group 71.4 °F (21.9 °C) S Cave diving Ichetucknee Springs SP north springs02.jpg
4th Boulware Sweetwater Branch Creek SS Alachua 0.2 US gallons (0.76 L)[12] 72.0 °F (22.2 °C)[12] C FlBoulwareSpring.jpg
2nd Branford Suwannee River SS Suwannee 4.3 US gallons (16 L) 69.5 °F (20.8 °C) C 100px
2nd Buckhorn Main Limited access Alafia River GS Hillsborough 9.7 US gallons (37 L) 76.5 °F (24.7 °C) P 100px
2nd Bugg Limited access Lake Denham SS Lake 5.5 US gallons (21 L) 74.2 °F (23.4 °C) P 100px
1st Cedar Head (Ichetucknee)State park Ichetucknee River GS Columbia 130.2 US gallons (493 L) Volume is group 71.4 °F (21.9 °C) S
1st Chassahowitzka Chassahowitzka River GS Citrus 34.3 US gallons (130 L) 73.4 °F (23.0 °C) S Cave diving 100px
2nd Citrus Blue Withlacoochee River SS Citrus 10.5 US gallons (40 L) 72.8 °F (22.7 °C) P Cave diving 100px
2nd Columbia Limited access Santa Fe River SS Columbia 25.5 US gallons (97 L) 72.3 °F (22.4 °C) P 100px
2nd Copper Suwannee River GS Dixie 8.8 US gallons (33 L) 71.1 °F (21.7 °C) P 100px
NA Cow Limited access Suwannee River SK Lafayette NA 71.8 °F (22.1 °C) P Cave diving 100px
2nd Crystal SpringsLimited access Hillsborough River SS Pasco 30.0 US gallons (114 L)[17] 75.5 °F (24.2 °C) P 100px
2nd Cypress Limited access Holmes Creek
Choctawhatchee River
SS Washington 65.3 US gallons (247 L) 67.7 °F (19.8 °C) P 100px
2nd De Leon State park Spring Garden Creek
St. Johns River
SS Volusia 17.6 US gallons (67 L) 73.3 °F (22.9 °C) S Cave diving De Leon Springs State Park15.jpg
NA Devil’s Den None SK Levy NA 72.0 °F (22.2 °C) P Cave diving
2nd Devil’s Ear/Eye/Little Santa Fe River GS Gilchrist 17.8 US gallons (67 L) 72.6 °F (22.6 °C) P Cave diving 100px
1st Emerald (Gainer #2) Econfina Creek GS Bay 124.6 US gallons (472 L) Volume is group 70.5 °F (21.4 °C) P Cave diving 100px
2nd Ellaville Suwannee River SS Suwannee 26.3 US gallons (100 L) 73.2 °F (22.9 °C) P Cave diving 100px
1st Falmouth Karst fenster SS Suwannee 102.8 US gallons (389 L) 69.3 °F (20.7 °C) S 100px
2nd Fanning State park Suwannee River SS Levy 33.3 US gallons (126 L) 72.9 °F (22.7 °C) P Fanning Springs Park springs01.jpg
2nd Fenney Limited access Shady Brook
Lake Panasoffkee
SS Sumter 9.0 US gallons (34 L) 73.6 °F (23.1 °C) P 100px
2nd Fern Hammock Ocala National Forest Juniper Creek
Lake George
GS Marion 6.9 US gallons (26 L) 71.7 °F (22.1 °C) F 100px
1st Gainer #3 Econfina Creek GS Bay 124.6 US gallons (472 L) Volume is group 70.9 °F (21.6 °C) P/S Cave diving 100px
4th Gator Limited access Hammock Creek SS Hernando 0.2 US gallons (0.76 L) 65.5 °F (18.6 °C) P Cave diving 100px
2nd Gilchrist Blue Santa Fe River GS Gilchrist 6.9 US gallons (26 L) 72.8 °F (22.7 °C) P Cave diving 100px
2nd Ginnie Santa Fe River GS Gilchrist 37.6 US gallons (142 L) 72.5 °F (22.5 °C) P Cave diving 100px
4th Glen Hogtown Creek SS Alachua 0.1 US gallons (0.38 L) 71.8 °F (22.1 °C) P 100px
3rd Green Cove St. Johns River SS Clay 1.8 US gallons (6.8 L) 75.9 °F (24.4 °C) C 100px
2nd Guaranto Suwannee River SS Dixie 6.0 US gallons (23 L) 73.0 °F (22.8 °C) C 100px
2nd Hart Suwannee River GS Gilchrist 26.7 US gallons (101 L) 71.9 °F (22.2 °C) C Cave diving 100px
2nd Hernando Salt Limited access Mud River SS Hernando 21.3 US gallons (81 L) 74.9 °F (23.8 °C) P Cave diving 100px
Zero Holton Creek Rise Limited access Suwannee River RR Hamilton 0.0 US gallons (0 L) 71.8 °F (22.1 °C) S 100px
1st Homosassa State park Homosassa River GS Citrus 56.2 US gallons (213 L) 74.3 °F (23.5 °C) S 100px
2nd Hornsby Limited access Santa Fe River SS Alachua 32.9 US gallons (125 L)[10] 72.5 °F (22.5 °C)[10] P Cave diving 100px
2nd Hunter (Kings Bay) Crystal River GS Citrus 630.2 US gallons (2,386 L) Volume is group 73.4 °F (23.0 °C) C/P 100px
1st Ichetucknee State park Ichetucknee River GS Columbia 130.2 US gallons (493 L) Volume is group 71.5 °F (21.9 °C) S 100px
2nd Jackson Blue Merritt’s Millpond
Chipola River
GS Jackson 41.1 US gallons (156 L) 69.7 °F (20.9 °C) S/C 100px
2nd Juniper Ocala National Forest Juniper Creek
Lake George
GS Marion 5.3 US gallons (20 L) 71.6 °F (22.0 °C) F 100px
1st Kings Bay Crystal River GS Citrus 630.2 US gallons (2,386 L) Volume is group 73.2 °F (22.9 °C) S/P
1st Kini/Upper River Sink Karst fenster SK Wakulla 113.8 US gallons (431 L)[6] 69.8 °F (21.0 °C)[6] P 100px
Zero Kissingen Peace River GS Polk 0.0 US gallons (0 L)[6] 72.0 °F (22.2 °C)[18] P FlKissingenSpring.jpg
2nd Lafayette Blue State park Suwannee River SS Lafayette 29.7 US gallons (112 L) 71.1 °F (21.7 °C) S Cave diving 100px
4th Levy Blue Limited access Waccasassa River SS Levy 1.1 US gallons (4.2 L) 69.8 °F (21.0 °C) C 100px
1st Lime Sink Run State park Suwannee River SS Suwannee 111.8 US gallons (423 L)[14] 72.2 °F (22.3 °C) S 100px
2nd Lithia Major, Minor Alafia River GS Hillsborough 19.7 US gallons (75 L) 77.2 °F (25.1 °C) C 100px
3rd Little Limited access Weeki Wachee River SS Hernando 3.4 US gallons (13 L) 74.6 °F (23.7 °C) P Cave diving 100px
2nd Little River Suwannee River SS Suwannee 54.9 US gallons (208 L) 72.1 °F (22.3 °C) S Cave diving 100px
2nd Madison Blue State park Withlacoochee River SS Madison 46.1 US gallons (175 L) 70.3 °F (21.3 °C) S/C Cave diving Madison Blue Springs SP spring01.jpg
4th Magnolia Limited access Hammock Creek SS Hernando 0.3 US gallons (1.1 L) 74.3 °F (23.5 °C) P 100px
2nd Manatee State park Suwannee River SS Levy 99.5 US gallons (377 L) 72.5 °F (22.5 °C) S Cave diving Manatee Springs State Park Florida springs05.jpg
1st McCormick (Gainer #1) Econfina Creek GS Bay 124.6 US gallons (472 L) Volume is group 70.8 °F (21.6 °C) P Cave diving 100px
2nd Morrison Choctawhatchee River SS Walton 40.6 US gallons (154 L) 67.8 °F (19.9 °C) S/C Cave diving 100px
1st Natural Bridge State park Karst fenster St. Marks River SS Leon 98.2 US gallons (372 L) 68.1 °F (20.1 °C) P 100px
1st Nutall Rise Aucilla River RR Jefferson 232.7 US gallons (881 L) 70.3 °F (21.3 °C) P 100px
3rd Orange Limited access Orange Creek
Oklawaha River
GS Marion 1.9 US gallons (7.2 L) 74.0 °F (23.3 °C) P 100px
2nd Otter Suwannee River SS Gilchrist 3.1 US gallons (12 L) 72.7 °F (22.6 °C) P 100px
NA Paradise[19] None SK Marion NA 73.0 °F (22.8 °C) P Cave diving
3rd Peacock State park Suwannee River GS Suwannee 5.7 US gallons (22 L) 69.5 °F (20.8 °C) S Cave diving 100px
2nd Pitt Econfina Creek GS Walton 3.6 US gallons (14 L)[6] 71.6 °F (22.0 °C)[6] C 100px
2nd Poe Santa Fe River SS Alachua 3.9 US gallons (15 L) 72.5 °F (22.5 °C) C 100px
2nd Ponce de Leon State park Sandy Creek
Choctawhatchee River
GS Holmes 5.7 US gallons (22 L) 67.8 °F (19.9 °C) S Ponce De Leon SP06.jpg
2nd Rainbow State park Rainbow River
Withlacoochee River
GS Marion 409.8 US gallons (1,551 L) 74.1 °F (23.4 °C) S/P 100px
1st Roaring (Ichetucknee)State park Ichetucknee River GS Columbia 130.2 US gallons (493 L) Volume is group 70.0 °F (21.1 °C) S
2nd Rock Rock Springs Run Wekiwa River SS Orange 30.0 US gallons (114 L) 74.9 °F (23.8 °C) C 100px
2nd Rock Bluff Suwannee River GS Gilchrist 17.9 US gallons (68 L) 71.6 °F (22.0 °C) P Cave diving 100px
1st Rossetter Withlacoochee River SS Hamilton 0.0 US gallons (0 L) 76.6 °F (24.8 °C) S 100px
3rd Royal Suwannee River SS Suwannee 1.6 US gallons (6.1 L)[10] 72.7 °F (22.6 °C)[10] C 100px
2nd Running East, West Limited access Suwannee River GS Lafayette
Suwannee
18.2 US gallons (69 L) 71.8 °F (22.1 °C) P Cave diving 100px
2nd Salt (Marion) Ocala National Forest Lake George SS Marion 49.4 US gallons (187 L) 74.5 °F (23.6 °C) F 100px
2nd Sanlando Limited access Wekiva River SS Seminole 8.5 US gallons (32 L) 76.4 °F (24.7 °C) P 100px
2nd Santa Fe Limited access Santa Fe River SS Columbia 81.4 US gallons (308 L)[10] 73.0 °F (22.8 °C)[10] P Cave diving 100px
2nd Santa Fe Rise State park Santa Fe River RR Alachua 48.5 US gallons (184 L) 72.5 °F (22.5 °C) S Cave diving 100px
2nd Shangri La Limited access Merritt’s Millpond
Chipola River
SS Jackson 2.5 US gallons (9.5 L)[3] 69.7 °F (20.9 °C) P Cave diving 100px
1st Silver Silver River
Oklawaha River
GS Marion 359.3 US gallons (1,360 L) Volume is group 73.8 °F (23.2 °C) S/P 100px
2nd Silver Glen Ocala National Forest St. Johns River GS Marion 70.5 US gallons (267 L) 74.1 °F (23.4 °C) F 100px
1st Siphon Creek Rise Limited access Santa Fe River RR Gilchrist 77.6 US gallons (294 L) 72.4 °F (22.4 °C) S 100px
1st Spring Creek Apalachee Bay SS Wakulla 198.4 US gallons (751 L) 70.9 °F (21.6 °C) S/P 100px
2nd St. Marks Rise Limited access St. Marks River RR Leon 292.1 US gallons (1,106 L) 68.8 °F (20.4 °C) P 100px
2nd Starbuck Limited access Wekiva River SS Seminole 9.4 US gallons (36 L) 76.1 °F (24.5 °C) P 100px
1st Steinhatchee Rise Steinhatchee River RR Taylor
Dixie
226.2 US gallons (856 L) 70.0 °F (21.1 °C) S 100px
2nd Sun Suwannee River SS Gilchrist 4.5 US gallons (17 L) 72.7 °F (22.6 °C) P 100px
2nd Suwanacoochee Withlacoochee River SS Suwannee 0.3 US gallons (1.1 L) 69.9 °F (21.1 °C) S Cave diving 100px
2nd Suwannee Blue Limited access Suwannee River SS Suwannee 8.6 US gallons (33 L) 70.9 °F (21.6 °C) P 100px
2nd Suwannee Suwannee River GS Suwannee 9.1 US gallons (34 L) 72.5 °F (22.5 °C) S 100px
1st Tarpon Hole (Kings Bay) Crystal River GS Citrus 630.2 US gallons (2,386 L) Volume is group 73.2 °F (22.9 °C) C/P 100px
2nd Telford Suwannee River SS Suwannee 20.1 US gallons (76 L) 70.2 °F (21.2 °C) P 100px
2nd Three Sisters (Kings Bay) Crystal River GS Citrus 630.2 US gallons (2,386 L) Volume is group 73.3 °F (22.9 °C) P 100px
1st Treehouse Limited access Santa Fe River SS Alachua 25.8 US gallons (98 L) 71.4 °F (21.9 °C) P 100px
2nd Troy State park Suwannee River SS Lafayette 68.5 US gallons (259 L) 71.0 °F (21.7 °C) S Cave diving 100px
2nd Volusia Blue State park St. Johns River SS Volusia 56.2 US gallons (213 L) 73.6 °F (23.1 °C) S Cave diving 100px
2nd Vortex Blue/Sandy Creek
Choctawhatchee River
SS Holmes 4.5 US gallons (17 L) 71.6 °F (22.0 °C)[6] P Cave diving 100px
2nd Wacissa Group Wacissa River GS Jefferson 189.4 US gallons (717 L) Volume is group 68.90 °F (20.50 °C) S/P 100px
1st Wakulla State park Wakulla River SS Wakulla 252.02 US gallons (954.0 L) 70.2 °F (21.2 °C) S 100px
3rd Waldo Limited access Fenholloway River SS Taylor 0.7 US gallons (2.6 L) 74.5 °F (23.6 °C) P 100px
3rd Warm Mineral Myakka River GS Sarasota 5.5 US gallons (21 L) 86.4 °F (30.2 °C) P 100px
1st Weeki Wachee Weeki Wachee River SS Hernando 104.0 US gallons (394 L) 74.7 °F (23.7 °C) S/P Cave diving 100px
2nd Wekiwa State park Wekiva River SS Orange
Seminole
43.0 US gallons (163 L) 74.1 °F (23.4 °C) S 100px
3rd[20] Welaka St. Johns River SS Putnam 5.1 US gallons (19 L) 74.7 °F (23.7 °C) P 100px
2nd White Suwannee River SS Hamilton 26.1 US gallons (99 L) 68.0 °F (20.0 °C)[6] S 100px
2nd Williford Limited access Econfina Creek GS Washington
Bay
16.5 US gallons (62 L) 70.0 °F (21.1 °C) S 100px
3rd Worthington Santa Fe River SS Union 0.2 US gallons (0.76 L)[6] 68.0 °F (20.0 °C)[6] C 100px

See also

References

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External links