OPEN FILE REPORT NO. 85


COLUMBIA COUNTY

 Columbia Spring


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Figure 22. Columbia Spring (photo by D. Hornsby).


Location Lat. 290 51' 14.8" N, Long. 820 36' 43.0" W (NW14 SE14 NE14 sec. 28, T. 7 S, R.
17 E). Columbia Spring is located 2 miles (3.2 km) northwest of High Springs on the Santa
Fe River and can be accessed by small boat. From High Springs, drive north on US 441/41.
Turn left at public access boat sign just before the Santa Fe River. Spring is in a cove on
the northeast bank of the river, 900 ft (275 m) downstream from the boat ramp.

Description Columbia Spring has an oval shaped pool that measures 75 ft (23 m) north to
south and 150 ft (46 m) east to west. Depth is 25 ft (7.6 m). Water is typically clear, but
was tannic in October 2001. It has a 30 ft (9 m) wide spring run that flows approximately
600 ft (183 m) westward to the Santa Fe River. There are native aquatic grasses in the
spring run and some algae is present on most substrates. Spring run has a jagged limestone
and sandy bottom. There is a 1-2 ft (0.5 m) tall man-made line of rocks that stretches across
the spring run about 90 ft (27 m) west of the vent. The entire spring and spring run are
within the lowland flood plain of the Santa Fe River. The flood plain in this area is heavily
forested with cypress and other swamp inhabiting hardwoods. The nearest high ground is
approximately 600 ft (183 m) east of the spring, and it rises to nearly 10 ft (3 m) above the
flood plain. It is generally forested with mixed hardwoods and pines. A house sits atop the
high ground to the east of the spring.

Utilization This privately owned spring is a local swimming hole with pristine surround-
ings.


Discharge November 1, 2001:


39.5 ft"/s