A Crystal Ball of Water
With over 10,000 acres of Springs and spring runs; Springs are the rarest habitat type in Florida. With over 1,090 registered springs, Florida is home to one of the largest concentrations of springs in the world. These springs range in size and form, from small seeps to large, crystal-clear pools that can stretch for miles and provide a variety of ecological, economic, and recreational benefits to all those that use them. Some of the best known springs in Florida include Silver Springs, Wakulla Springs, and Weeki Wachee Springs, with many others that are equally important for their unique ecological features and cultural significance.
Bowls of Liquid Light
Florida's crystal clear springs and spring runs are among the rarest aquatic habitats on earth. Known as clear water systems, unlike most other rivers, sunlight can reach the bottom allowing for high rates of primary productivity or plant growth to occur.
Just like on land, plants underwater need sunlight, water and nutrients to grow. With plenty of sunlight, water and natural background levels of phosphorus and nitrogen; springs are able to support high levels of plant growth.
Plants provide energy for the entire ecosystem. High rates of plant growth in springs allows them to support an incredibly diverse array of organisms that rivals that of some of the world's most biodiverse ecosystems.
Wetland Ecologist Dr. Robert Knight discusses primary productivity in springs
A Blue Gill (Lepomis macrochirus) swims in a field of eel grass (Vallisneria americana) in the crystal clear waters of a Florida Spring - Photo by John Moran
Unique species
The Florida springs are home to a variety of invertebrate species, including snails, crayfish, and freshwater shrimp. Some of these species are unique to the Florida springs and are found nowhere else in the world. Additionally, the springs are home to over 14 species of turtles, including the Florida softshell turtle and the Suwannee cooter.
A Suwannee cooter (Pseudemys concinna suwanniensis) enjoys a swim - Photo by John Moran
Biodiversity in the Springs
Fish biodiversity in the Florida springs is incredibly rich supporting both a variety of freshwater and saltwater species with over 50 different species of fish being recorded in some of the larger springs. Iconic saltwater species such as Common Snook (Centropomus undecimalis), Sheepshead (Archosargus probatocephalus) and Atlantic Tarpon (Megalops atlanticus) can be found in springs closer to the coast while common freshwater species such as Largemouth Bass (Micropterus salmoides), Blue Gill Sunfish (Lepomis macrochirus) and Florida Gar (Lepisosteus platyrhincus) can frequently be found inland.
Striped Bass (Morone saxatilis) swim in a school in Silver Glen Springs - Photo by John Moran
How Springs are Connected
Each spring in Florida is connected to each other through the Florida aquifer system. Water flows freely through the underground passages and channels of the aquifer and emerges through the Florida springs. Each spring has its own spring shed. A spring shed is the area of land surrounding a spring that contributes water to it. The size of a spring shed can vary, depending on factors such as the geology of the area, the amount of rainfall, and the hydrology of the aquifer.
Though most estimates place the water that emerges from the springs as being thousands of years old, dye trace studies have shown that depending on its location water can move quite fast through the aquifers channels and emerge again in other springs miles away in a matter of weeks. Water from the Florida springs then flows out of the aquifer and into nearby rivers and streams, which flow into larger bodies of water such as lakes, estuaries, and the ocean.
Springs Activist Lucinda Merritt discusses the interconnectivity of the Florida springs
Springs in Decline
The decline of the Florida Springs is a complicated issue and does not have a single direct cause. Most experts agree that nutrient pollution, decreasing dissolved oxygen levels and the over-pumping of ground water are some of the primary causes.
One of the main causes of spring degradation is nutrient pollution, primarily from agricultural activities and urban development. These excess nutrients, primarily nitrogen and phosphorus, can come from agricultural runoff, stormwater runoff, and wastewater treatment plants. When these nutrients enter the springs, they can fuel the growth of algae and other aquatic plants, which can consume oxygen and create harmful algal blooms that can be toxic to fish and other aquatic life.
A lack of dissolved oxygen, or the oxygen present in the water, has also been cited as a cause for the decline of the Florida springs. Low oxygen levels cannot support the plant and animal life that keeps springs healthy in the same way that you couldn't breath in a room without oxygen. Grazers such as snails, freshwater clams and crawfish eat algae, keeping its population under control
Another major factor contributing to the decline in water quality in the Florida springs is the overuse of groundwater. As more and more people move to Florida, the demand for water has increased, leading to the over-pumping of groundwater. This can cause the springs to run dry, reducing the flow of water and altering the temperature and chemistry of the springs. In addition, over-pumping can cause the ground to sink, leading to the collapse of underground aquifers and the loss of water storage capacity.
Artist Margaret Tolbert discusses how her art recorded the changes occurring in the Florida springs
The Water in All of Us
The water from the Florida springs is our drinking water; any pollutants or chemicals that get into our water supply are eventually consumed by us.
The pollution of the Florida springs has direct impact on human health. Exposure to high levels of nitrogen and phosphorus can cause skin irritation, respiratory problems, and other health issues and have been linked to cancers.
Springs Activist Merrillee Malwitz Jipson discusses the springs relationship with our drinking water.
Water from the Florida springs is in all of us - Photo by John Moran
Saving our Springs
Efforts to save the Florida springs involve a multi-faceted approach that includes reducing nutrient pollution, protecting spring sheds through land acquisition and conservation, implementing regulatory measures, educating the public, and undertaking restoration projects. These efforts are aimed at improving water quality, maintaining the ecological health of the springs, and raising awareness about their importance. A coordinated effort from multiple stakeholders is needed to ensure the continued health and sustainability of these vital resources.
Photo by John Moran