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Finding the Source of Wakulla Spring

Finding the Source of Wakulla Spring. Todd R. Kincaid, Ph.D. © Kathleen Carr. Some Technical Background …. Wakulla Spring is listed as the 3 rd largest spring in Florida (Spring Creek, Silver Springs, Wakulla Spring) Wakulla is the largest “Single-Vent” Spring in Florida

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Finding the Source of Wakulla Spring

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  1. Finding the Source of Wakulla Spring Todd R. Kincaid, Ph.D. © Kathleen Carr

  2. Some Technical Background … • Wakulla Spring is listed as the 3rd largest spring in Florida (Spring Creek, Silver Springs, Wakulla Spring) • Wakulla is the largest “Single-Vent” Spring in Florida • Wakulla’s average flow is ~ 250 million gallons per day (average water consumption for 2.5 million people in the US) • Wakulla is among the largest springs in the world • Water quality at Wakulla Spring is in decline • In order to effectively protect Wakulla Spring, we must understand: • where the water comes from • how long it takes to reach Wakulla from the source(s) • how the water moves through the subsurface (aquifer) • Wakulla Spring discharges from what scientists call a “Karst Aquifer”

  3. - Courtesy Florida Geological Survey What is a Karst Aquifer? • usually limestone(FL is mostly limestone) • rock dissolves in water(sinkholes, caves, etc.) • water flow to springs • caves control water flow • rapid groundwater flow & surface water / groundwater exchange

  4. Disappearing stream Mixed water dischargefrom springs Flow from aquifer Flow Through Karst Aquifers

  5. What is the Woodville Karst Plain?

  6. Toe of Confining Layer 21 miles to Gulf Springs Wakulla –3rd largest Spring Creek - Largest Caves Leon Sinks Indian Sally Ward Wakulla Many More… > 8 miles across basin What is the Woodville Karst Plain?

  7. Disappearing Streams St. Marks River Shepard Branch Munson Slough Fisher Creek Black Creek Jump Creek Lost Creek What is the Woodville Karst Plain?

  8. Tracing the Water’s Flow • 2002: Fisher Creek – Leon Sinks • 1.2 miles in 56 hours • mean velocity: 0.51 miles/day • 2003: Black Creek – Leon Sinks • 1.6 miles in 76 hours • mean velocity: 0.50 miles/day • 2004: Emerald – Wakulla Spring • 10.6 miles in 7.1 days • mean velocity: 1.2 miles/day • 2004: Ames Sink – Indian Spring • 4.95 miles in 16 days • 2004: Ames Sink – Sally Ward • 5.35 miles in 17.5 days • 2004: Ames Sink – Wakulla • 5.8 miles in 22 days

  9. Wakulla K-Tunnel Wakulla AK-Tunnel Wakulla Vent Tracer Recovery & Analysis… Emerald Sink - River Sink Emerald Sink – Turner Sink 2270 m – 33.7 hrs 1620 m/day 1200 m – 5.74 hrs 5100 m/day

  10. Tracer Recovery & Analysis… Indian: 16 days Wakulla: 22.2 days Sally: 17.6 days

  11. Overflow Sinks … Eight-Mile Pond Oak Ridge Road Ranchero Road Ames Ames2 Kelly

  12. Wakulla Cave Metering

  13. Wakulla Cave Metering

  14. Wakulla Cave Metering

  15. Wakulla Cave Metering

  16. Wakulla Cave Metering

  17. Wakulla Cave Metering

  18. Groundwater What have we learned? A lot about the sources of water at Wakulla Spring … • Disappearing streams flow to caves. • Flow from surface to springs takes DAYS rather than decades. • Caves in the WKP are much more extensive than previously believed. • Groundwater velocities through conduits ranges from~ 400 – 5000 m/day • All Surface water north and northwest of Wakulla flows rapidly to Wakulla Spring • Nitrates are coming from groundwater from north – northeast

  19. The Science of Protecting Wakulla

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