Springs Fever: A Field & Recreation Guide to 500 Florida Springs. 3rd Edition by Joe Follman and Richard Buchanan

Pumphouse Spring

Citrus County

Summary of Features

Scale -2^nd magnitude
How Pristine? - next to road in residential neighborhood, adjacent to pumphouse
Swimming - no
Protection - unknown
Crowds - none
Access - on private property, but may be viewed from the
Facilities - none
Safety - excellent
Scuba - no
Cost - free

Directions

From U.S. 19 in Homosassa, turn west onto Highway 490 (Halls River Road). After about ½ mile, turn left onto Fish Bowl Road. Go about 1 mile, passing entrance to Homosassa Springs State Wildlife Park, continuing over a spring run on a small bridge. 100 yards after the bridge, turn left onto Spring Cove Road. The spring is on the left, adjacent to a small building/pumphouse, at 9299 Spring Cove Road.

Spring Description

The spring is in a low spot in a deep subtropical forest area that is mostly developed for residential housing. The spring is 15-20 feet in diameter and surrounded on three sides by a low concrete retaining wall that forms it into a ¾ s quare. Water flows strongly from at least two points from crevices between exposed limestone rocks/boulders. There is algae on the limestone, and the water is 1-2 feet deep, clear, and has a sulfur odor.

The spring forms a run slightly wider than the spring that flows under Fish Bowl Road and into the Homosassa River. The run is joined by the flow of Echo Spring nearby. The spring is canopied by hardwood trees, and there is a small structure immediately adjacent to the spring that appears to be a building for pumping water.

Use/Access

The building next to the spring looks like a pumphouse, although JF did not hear the sound of pumping on date of visit in April 2001. The spring is in a neighborhood, and homeowners with houses along the run use it to access the Homosassa River. The water is probably too shallow at the springhead to support a boat, but the run is deeper and supplemented with the flow from Echo Spring nearby.
There is a chain-link fence in front of the building and spring, but the fence is not locked and the site is not posted.

Personal Impressions

The spring is attractive and worth a visit.

Nearby Springs

Homosassa Spring
Echo (perhaps Trotter or McClain or Abdoney?) Spring
Bluebird Spring
Crystal River/King’s Bay Springs Group
Chassahowitzka Springs Group
Rainbow Springs Group

Other Nearby Natural Features

Rainbow Springs State Park
Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge
Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge
Withlacoochie State Forest