Post by jonsdigs on Oct 24, 2006 8:20:57 GMT -5
Spring has mystery drought
Earthquake, construction are listed as possible causes
By Bruce Ritchie
TALLAHASSEE 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.
Full Article
Earthquake, construction are listed as possible causes
By Bruce Ritchie
TALLAHASSEE 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.
Full Article
