Summary of Features
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Directions
From Zephyrhills, go south on U.S. 301 about 2 miles. Go left (continuing
south) onto Crystal Springs Road about 2 miles to the spring, which is
on the right (west) side of the road.
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 pool is roughly oval and about 275 by 125 feet in diameter.
Water flows from a several vents, sand boils, and openings along the lower
edges (outside) of the pool and in the run below the pool. There
is a large vent in the south end near a small island. This vent is about
5 feet deep, and the flow creates a slick on the surface. A pipe was visible
amid the limestone opening, extracting water from the spring. There
is a small cavern system associated with the spring that has been measured
to 85 feet. The general pool depth is 3-5 feet, and there is a dam
at the north end to raise the water level in the pool. There are concrete
and riprock retaining walls along the edge of much of the pool. There is
a concrete viewing/swimming platform with steps at the south end and a
walkway around the pool and over the dam.
Water spills over the dam into the original spring run, where is it immediately joined by the flow from a creek and forms the headwaters of the Hillsborough River. Water in the spring is clear and blue/green. Aquatic vegetation covers much of the bottom, and fish, wading birds, snakes, and some algae may be seen. Hardwood, pine, and cypress trees are along the banks of the spring. Native plants, including trees, ferns, pickeral, and lizard's tongue, have been planted along the edges of the pool to give it a more natural appearance and to help prevent erosion and runoff into the pool.
According to Champion & Starks, Crystal Spring provides a large portion of the flow of the Hillsborough River during the dry season; from 1980-1985, 50-80 of the Hillsborough River's flow was from Crystal Spring (May 2001, p. 7). Nitrate levels in the spring are above naturally occurring background levels; citrus fertilization has been identified as the most likely source of nitrate in the basin (FDCA/DEP, 2002, p. 13).
Use/Access
The spring pool was first created in the 1920s, when a basin was dynamited out of the limestone. Water has been extracted from the pool for generations.
Personal Impressions
JF loved visiting Crystal Springs as a boy and young man, taking his
bride-to-be and later his children there to enjoy the clear and cool water.
He saw an otter in the run just below the dam on his last visit in the
early 1990s. At that time, water was being taken from the spring
but it was still open to the public. JF spoke with the preserve manager,
who noted the owners are very interested in being good stewards of the
site and allowing groups--especially students--to use the preserve as a
platform for learning and environmental study.
Nearby Springs
Contact Information
Crystal Springs Preserve
P.O. Box 190
Crystal Springs, FL 33524
813-715-9707