Summary of Features Scale - 3rd magnitude (est.) Scenery - fair-good How Pristine? - in housing development, semi-cleared, but fairly pristine Swimming - no Protection - unknown Crowds - none Access - private Facilities - none Scuba - no

Quick Directions
Shortly past GIL928971 on north side of Santa Fe River on lot past house with pontoon boat.

Full Directions
From Fort White, drive south on State Road 47 about five miles to bridge over the Santa Fe River and put in at boat ramp (going downstream). After about 20 minutes, or shortly after passing the downstream run of GIL928971, look on north (right) side of the river for a house with a pontoon boat. The spring is about 150 feet inland from the river between two houses and below several other houses set further inland.

For maps, latitude/longitude data, driving directions, satellite imagery, and topographic representations as well as weather conditions at this spring, go to Greg Johnson's informative "Florida Springs Database" web site at the following address:  http://www.ThisWaytothe.Net/springs/floridasprings.htm#Florida

Spring Description
The spring is in a low floodplain area between houses in a riverside development. It is about 150 feet north of the river and forms a circular pool. This pool was only 9 feet in diameter on date of visit in January 2001 and was murky and not flowing. The owner of the adjacent property told the authors that the spring did flow under normal conditions and that the water was clear under those conditions. The depth of the pool could not determined.

The area around the spring was partially cleared, but there were cypress trees and other hardwoods on the site. The spring run is about 100 yards long, parallel to the river, and passes under a footbridge behind 1-2 houses before joining the Santa Fe River. It appeared that the run would normally be a few inches to one foot deep.

Use/Access

The spring and run are on private property. The authors were invited by a landowner to see the spring. He said the development above the spring was named after the spring. The landowner said there was no general use of the spring, as it was too small for swimming and did not attract large enough fish for fishing.

Local Springiana

• The authors cannot find reference to this spring in any published document. In their book, A Canoeing and Kayaking Guide to the Streams of Florida. Volume 1, North Central Peninsula and Panhandle, Carter & Pearce identify a spring they call Northbank as being "about one-half mile downstream from State Road 47 on the right bank" (p. 141). Hugging the right bank and looking very carefully, the authors did not see this spring. Cedar Spring is well more than ½ mile from the put-in at the 47 bridge. Cedar Spring is also not on the bank but rather well inland. In Springs of Florida, Rosenau et al. also identify a Northbank Spring and declare it is "about 1 mile downstream from State Hwy 47" (p. 106)—about the site of Cedar Spring. Rosenau et al. also note that Northbank has "numerous small vents" which JF and RB did not see. Northbank and Cedar Springs may be the same spring.

In a severe drought, there was not much to see of this spring. However, it was interesting to find a spring that does not appear to have been identified officially. In periods of normal water levels, the spring would likely be very attractive if perhaps mucky.

Nearby Springs

• 47 Boatramp Spring, GIL928971, GIL928972, COL928971, Wilson Spring

• Ichetucknee Springs State Park
• O’Leno State Park
• River Rise State Preserve