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

Unnamed Possible Spring

Columbia County

Summary of Features

  • Scenery - poor
  • How Pristine? - in back yard of house on river
  • Swimming - unknown
  • Protection - unknown
  • Access - none, private

Directions

From U.S. 27 in Ft. White, take Wilson Springs Road west about 4 miles to the spring and boat ramp on the Santa Fe River on Santa Fe River. Go downriver on the Santa Fe 2-3 miles, past 2 sets of small shoals and a hairpin turn. The spring is on the north (right) side of the river in a neighborhood after the dramatic river turn. Also located about 20 minutes' paddle upriver from the Oasis Spring boat ramp. To get to the Oasis boatramp: From Branford, drive east/south on U.S. 27 to junction with Highway 129/49. Turn south. Drive about 5 miles to Highway 138 and turn east. Drive 3.4 miles to NE 2nd Way. Follow 2nd Way for 2.6 miles to dirt road on right and the boat ramp.

Spring Description

The possible spring is about 100 feet from the river and forms an oval-shaped depression in the back yard of a red house on squared concrete pilings in a developed section of the Santa Fe River. On date of visit (January 2001), a time of drought, the pool was not flowing. However, there is a dry run of about 65 feet from the pool to the river, suggesting the site does flow and might therefore be a spring. The run cuts through natural bank along the river, which was about 8 feet above the river on date of visit. The run did not appear to be manmade and was not wide enough except for canoes. There was only a small puddle in the pool. The possible spring is in a cleared area behind a house along the river.

Use/Access

The possible spring is on private property and the land is posted. In times of normal water levels, the site is likely used for swimming--as a natural pool--by the landowners..

Personal Impressions

This spring is not described in any literature the authors have found. In their comprehensive spring compilation, Springs of the Suwannee River Basin in Florida (1998), Hornsby & Ceryak identify and catalogue another spring just 1-2 houses downriver from this site (COL917971, p.33), but did not include this site. JF and RB did locate COL917971, and it was a different spring. The authors will take another look at this site in a time of normal river flow to see if it is flowing and therefore a spring.

Nearby Springs

Other Nearby Natural Features