Dry Spring on Fenholloway River (possible)
Taylor County
Summary of Features
  • Summary of Features
  • Scale - dry
  • Scenery - excellent
  • How Pristine? - some garbage in riverbed, otherwise very natural
  • Swimming - no
  • Protection - unknown
  • Crowds - none
  • Access - fair
  • Facilities - none
  • Safety - unknown
  • Scuba - no
  • Cost - free

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    Directions

    From the junction of U.S. 27/19 and U.S. 98 in Perry, drive south and east on U.S. 27 for 5-6 miles.  After passing the turnoff for Highway 30A and the entrance to the Buckeye cellulose plant, drive another mile and then turn right (SE) onto paved road.  Keep to the right and go a short distance to a one-lane bridge over the Fenholloway River.  Proceed on foot to the right (downriver or to the east) in or along the riverbed approximately 0.2 miles to the possible spring site.

    Spring Description

    On date of visit, a time of historic drought (Feb. 2001), the Fenholloway River was dry and had been so for at least several months.  (The riverbed was covered with leaves.)  Two spots were found that are the most likely spring sites; one is a deep depression in the riverbed with a hole at the bottom, and the other a dry run into the riverbed.  The pits in the riverbed might also be small sinkholes, another potential sign of a spring.

    The riverbed is lined with cypress, palmettos, and hardwood trees, and the bottom of the riverbed is about 15 feet below the top of the banks.

    Use/Access

    Local Springiana
    This supposed spring is indicated on page 52 of the Florida Atlas & Gazetteer (1997) at an estimated latitude of 30.04’40” and longitude of 83.29’59.”  It is not named or described in any other published sources the authors have found.  The two possible spring sites are at this estimated location.  Another visit will need to be made when the Fenholloway River is flowing to see (1) which of the two sites is the spring, (2) if another site is the spring, or (3) if indeed there is a spring at this location.

    Personal Impressions

    The dry riverbed is beautiful, despite the occasional bottle or mattress remnant.  Less than two miles below this site, the paper mill dumps 50,000,000 gallons of polluted wastewater into the Fenholloway River.  The pollution and restoration of this river are ongoing controversies in nearby Perry.

    Nearby Springs

    Other Nearby Natural Features