OPEN FILE REPORT NO. 85


 Santa Fe River Rise


Figure 27. Santa Fe River Rise (photo by T. Scott).


Location Lat. 290 52' 26.0" N, Long. 820 35' 29.9" W. (SW14SW 1 SW1 sec. 14, T. 7 S, R.
17 E). River rise is 3 miles (5 km) north of High Springs on the Santa Fe River within River
Rise State Preserve. Drive north on US 441/41 from High Springs and follow signs to the
river rise. During low water levels, spring must be accessed by land.

Description Santa Fe Rise is the re-emergence of the underground Santa Fe River. The
spring pool measures 175 ft (53 m) east to west and 165 ft (50 m) north to south. There is
a vertical limestone ledge on the northeast side of the pool, and the depth just south meas-
ures 49 ft (15m). The water color is typically that of the Santa Fe River, which may be tan-
nic or clear depending mainly on rainfall. No boil was observed during the October 2001
visit. The river flows southward from the vent and is approximately as wide (east to west)
as the spring pool. There is a narrow band of cypress growing around pool perimeter. There
are patches of duckweed around the periphery of the pool, and no aquatic vegetation could
be seen through the tannic water. Several hundred yards of the Santa Fe River below Santa
Fe Rise is choked with water hyacinth, and boat access to the rise is nearly impossible. Land
around the river rise quickly rises to approximately 8 ft (2.5 m) above water level and lev-
els off into a flat mesic hardwood hammock.

Utilization The Santa Fe River Rise is a pristine, state-owned natural area.

Discharge January 2, 2002: less than 75 ft3/s (D. Hornsby, pers. comm.).