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Scientists try to find answer to Spring Creek's water flow woes
By Bruce Ritchie
DEMOCRAT STAFF WRITER
Spring Creek, Florida's largest springs group, has stopped flowing and no one seems to know why.
The spring, located about 35 miles south of Tallahassee along the Gulf coast, stopped flowing within the past three weeks, according to local residents and some scientists.
Scientists in the past have estimated that five times more water flows from Spring Creek's springs than from Wakulla Springs. Various studies have traced Wakulla Springs' water flow, but little is known about Spring Creek's water sources, said Rodney DeHan, a senior research scientist with the Florida Geological Survey.
There are various theories on what caused Spring Creek to stop flowing but no solid information, DeHan said.
The recent lack of rainfall doesn't seem to be the culprit, he said. Streams and wetlands in the region would have dried up first, DeHan said, and that hasn't happened.
Other theories are that a Sept. 10 earthquake in the Gulf of Mexico blocked a cave that carries water to Spring Creek. But that doesn't seem likely, DeHan said, because most springs have multiple caves and conduits that carry water to them.
For more on this story, read Tuesday's Tallahassee Democrat.
You guys are being funny but this is a big deal.
Spring Creek is a nursery for all kinds of fish.
The brackish water there is key for all kinds of fish in the bay.
Barry Bevis, Realtor and Owner of BigBendFishing.net
I liked it so much, I bought the company
It might be a big deal, but it might be part of a cyclical change that was neither caused nor can be affected by human efforts. I haven't seen anything conclusive either way.
I admit to knowing very little about what effects the dynamics of springs, but I do know that Spring Creek is capable of producing up to 2000 cfs (cubic feet per second). I think, if I recall correctly, Wakulla Springs produces about 400 cfs. The two are connected and the flow at Wakulla Springs has increased.
Was this caused by the offshore quake?
Was there an underground cave-in?
Is too much water being pumped out to serve the springs and the population?
If it's a manmade occurrence, what can be done to correct it, or are we going to try?
If it's a natural occurrence the bay is going to have to adapt, and it will, because I very highly doubt there's anything we can do.
Some reports are saying that Spring Creek is sucking saltwater in at high tide.
This is a tragedy. I hope this is only temporary. I love that area and have meandered through all the creeks and springs in them parts. To think that it has stopped perhaps forever gives me the chills and fills my heart with sorrow.....
Time is the most precious commodity we have in life, stay focused.
Another question comes to mind.
How long ago did this change in flow start?
I heard that when we got the high water from Dennis, the main boil at Spring Creek was sucking down so much water it formed a vortex. I also heard it was sucking down so much water it pulled down a 40' boat. I wonder if that much water going down caused a blockage that diverted the usual flow to other vents.
Earlier this past sumer I was at the Cold Hole (a little boil down the creek, east of the main boil) and noticed there wan't much flow, but didn't think much of it at the time. Something as simple as a lack of rain further north can cause this, but it's apparent that, that is not what's happening, with the increased flow at Wakulla Springs.
Hmm, now that I think of it, I wonder if a spring with that much flow gets blocked if another one will open up somewhere else.
I guess what I'm trying to say is, it's a dynamic planet.
Whether this change is bad, mostly depends on a person's point of view. The other thing is, it is probably going to be quite awhile before the determination can be made if this is really a bad change or just another adjustment.
Let's pour another cup of coffee and see what happens.
Over the years I have seen these springs flow rates change from time to time. I have never seen the flow this weak for such a long period of time(All year). If the aquifer level gets low enough the head pressure at the springs would slow.
With that said, Lake Jackson has been extremely low since 1998. I would think the aquifer elevation feeding the lake would be higher at the lake. If so the aquifer level may now be low enough to affect the springs. Was the Lake Jackson conditions a sign of things to come.
What could be next ? Wakulla Springs, What about Shepard Springs anybody been there lately.
If we were all crazy, Wouldn't that make us all normal.
Spring has mystery drought
Earthquake, construction are listed as possible causes
By Bruce Ritchie
DEMOCRAT STAFF WRITER
SPRING CREEK - Florida's largest spring has stopped flowing, and no one knows why.
Spring Creek, about 35 miles south of Tallahassee along Wakulla County's Gulf Coast, has stopped its "boiling" flow in recent months, according to area residents.
"It used to boil out a lot," but not anymore, Leon Gray said as he was casting a line Monday.
Spring Creek contains up to 14 springs. The flow is about five times greater than that of Wakulla Springs, according to the Water Resources Atlas of Florida, published in 1998.
One of the largest springs has been sucking in water at times, since at least June. The springs are surrounded by private property but are accessible by boat.
Scientists caution against using any estimate of Spring Creek's flow because, they say, it's difficult to measure. The difficulty involves having so many springs in an open bay that's influenced by tides.
Various studies have traced the routes of Wakulla Springs' water flow, but little is known about Spring Creek sources, said Rodney DeHan, senior research scientist with the Florida Geological Survey.
There are various theories on what has caused Spring Creek to stop flowing but no solid information, DeHan said.
Lack of rainfall wouldn't seem to be the cause, he said. Other streams and wetlands in Wakulla County would have dried up first, he said, and that hasn't happened.
Wakulla Springs includes caves more than 200 feet deep, and Spring Creek also is thought to draw from the same deep water, DeHan said. That deep aquifer, he said, isn't affected by changes in rainfall patterns.
Another theory, he said, is that a Sept. 10 earthquake in the Gulf of Mexico about 250 miles away somehow collapsed caves that carry water to Spring Creek.
But some local residents said the springs stopped flowing more than six months ago. And Harley Means, also with the Florida Geological Survey, said researchers collecting water samples June 12 reported seeing one of the main Spring Creek springs sucking in water.
In its 2004 report "Springs of Florida," the Florida Geological Survey said the spring sometimes reverses flow at high tide.
Another theory, DeHan said, is that mining or drilling for construction somewhere caused a tunnel to collapse, blocking water flow. But that seems unlikely, he said, because water typically flows to springs in Karst geology through multiple caves and conduits.
"All of this is just conjecture," DeHan said.
The state plans to spend $70,000 on a study to begin learning where Spring Creek gets its water, DeHan said. That study could begin as soon as February.
Half the money would be spent to measure flow, DeHan said. The other half would be spent on injecting dye into two sinkholes - at Lost Creek and Turner Sink - to determine whether groundwater there is flowing into Spring Creek.
The lack of flow may force researchers to rethink their strategy, DeHan said. They may have to drill wells closer to Spring Creek to see whether the dye comes out, and that could be expensive.
FSU oceanography professor Jeff Chanton said he wonders whether nearby oyster reefs and fish could be harmed by the lack of freshwater flow.
"I know where most of (the springs) are -there is nothing (flowing)," he said. "It is very disturbing, isn't it?"
