Springs Protection

 Springs Fever

Here in North Florida we are blessed with an abundance of freshwater springs.  Not only are these springs the perfect way to cool you down on a hot summer day, but they are a great reminder that our water resources are all connected.  Many of our surface waters go underground to the aquifer via sinkholes (or swallets) and the water is then called groundwater. Most of us rely on groundwater for our drinking water.  Springs are where the groundwater comes to the surface to once again become surface waters.  Below is a map of the springs and swallets of the Lower Santa Fe River.

Our Springs need our help!  Water quality, clarity, and levels have been decreasing in many of our springs.  One culprit is nutrients- mainly nitrogen and phosphorus. Although plants and animals require nutrients- too much of a good thing can be dangerous.  Excess nutrients often come from fertilizers, septic systems, wastewater treatment plants, and agriculture lands. To learn more about protecting springs visit the Santa Fe River Springs Working Group website.

Even if you don't live near a spring you may be affecting the springs because the water that soaks into the ground at your house may travel through underground tunnels and caves to springs miles away. Also, when we use water to water our lawns, wash our clothes and dishes, etc.- we may be contributing to the lower water levels at nearby springs. 

Have you ever wondered where the water that soaks through your yard ends up?  Well, we have!  Alachua County Environmental Protection Department(ACEPD) contracted Karst Environmental to do a dye trace study to do just that.  Karst put harmless dyes into sinkholes and sampled nearby springs, wells, and Santa Fe River sample sites to determine where the water was going.  We learned that some of the water moves very fast through conduits (water filled caves)- it took only 12-13 days for some of the water and dye to travel 6 miles! This means that pollutants entering these sinkholes could quickly harm the springs.

ACEPD has received a grant from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection Department to conduct further studies to determine the springsheds for groups of springs on the Santa Fe River.  A springshed is an area contributing water to a spring or group of closely spaced springs. For example, if you lived in the springshed of Poe Springs water soaking into the ground at your house eventually ends up at Poe Springs!

Have you noticed the Springs Protection Area signs along local roadways?  These signs are to let citizens know that they are in a springshed and that the groundwater in that area is flowing to a spring. The signs were installed to educate people that their actions may harm the springs even if they think they are far away from the spring itself.