FLORIDA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY


Figure 1. Old photograph of the bath house at White Springs, Hamilton County, 1920s.

spring runs. As water quality in the aquifer has declined, the flora and fauna associated
with the springs and cave systems have been negatively affected. The change in water qual-
ity is a direct result of Florida's increased population (increased eight-fold since 1940) and
changed land use patterns. These changes and subsequent degradation of our springs have
led to the efforts to save and restore Florida's treasured springs.

 In 1947, the Florida Geological Survey (FGS) published the first Springs of Florida bul-
letin which documented the major and important springs in the state (Ferguson et al., 1947).
This was revised in 1977, adding many springs previously undocumented and many new
water quality analyses of the spring water (Rosenau et al., 1977). The Florida Geological
Survey's report on first magnitude springs (this open-file report) is the initial step in revis-
ing the Springs of Florida bulletin. Nearly 300 springs were known in 1977. In 2001, at
least 700 springs have been recognized in the state and more are reported each year. To
date, 33 first order magnitude springs (>100 cubic feet per second 64.6 million gallons of
water per day) have been recognized in Florida, more than any other state or country
(Rosenau et al., 1977). Our springs are a unique and invaluable natural resource. A com-
prehensive understanding of the spring systems will provide the basis for their protection
and wise use.