FLORIDA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY


Group Location Lat. 280 42' N, Long. 820 34' W (both spring vents are located in the cen-
ter of sec. 26, T. 20 S, R. 17 E). The springs are 5.5 miles (9 km) southwest of the town of
Homosassa Springs on the Chassahowitzka River. From Homosassa Springs, drive south on
US 98/19 3.5 miles (5.8 km) from town. Turn west on CR 480 and follow down to the public
boat access area at the end, about 1.5 miles (2.5 km).

Group Description Chassahowitzka Springs form the headwaters of the Chassahowitzka
River, which flows westerly to the Gulf of Mexico approximately 6 miles (10 km) through low
coastal hardwood hammock and marsh. As many as five springs flow into the upper part of
the river (Rosenau et al., 1977). The entire river is tidally influenced.

CHASSAHOWITZKA MAIN SPRING Lat. 28 42' 55.9" N, Long. 820 34' 34.3" W (NE 1 NE
% SW % sec. 26, T. 20 S, R. 17 E). This spring is at the head of a large pool that measures
147 ft (45 m) north to south and 135 ft (41 m) east to west. Depth measured over the vent
is 13.5 ft (4.1 m). The spring is surrounded by lowland hardwood swamp forest with mixed
hardwoods, cypress, and palm. Water is clear and greenish. The spring run from
Chassahowitzka No. 1 Spring flows into the spring pool from the east. There is a boat ramp
with facilities on the southwest side of the pool. Aquatic vegetation is common, including
Hydrilla and algae. No limestone was exposed. Spring has sandy bottom. Boil is visible at
low tide.

CHASSAHOWITZKA NO. 1 Lat. 280 42' 58.3" N, Long. 820 34' 30.3" W (NW 1 NW 1 SE
% sec. 26, T. 20 S, R. 17 E). This spring issues vertically from a small cavern in bedrock
limestone. The spring pool measures 69 ft (21 m) north to south and 81 ft (25 m) east to
west. Depth over the vent is 8.3 ft (2.5 m). There is an inundated natural bridge of lime-
stone over the vent, causing two
entrances. A small tannic stream flows Table 7. Chassahowitzka Springs Group bac-
into the northeast side of the spring pool. teriological analyses.
There is a thin layer of algae covering | Bacteria Results (in #/100ml) I


most of the bedrock limestone bottom of
the spring pool. The surroundings are
low lying land heavily forested with
hardwoods and palm. The spring run
flows southwest approximately 350 ft


 Analyte Main No. 1
Escherichia coli 1 KQ 1 KQ
 Enterococci 1 KQ 1 KQ
 Fecal Coliform 1 KQ 1 KQ
 Total Coliform 1 KQ 20 Q


(107 m) and into Chassahowitzka Main
Spring pool. Several other spring vents boil up from the bottom of the spring run about half
way to the Chassahowitzka Main Spring pool.

Utilization Chassahowitzka Springs and River are within the Chassahowitzka National
Wildlife Refuge (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service). They are used for swimming, snorkeling,
and pleasure boating. Manatees frequent the springs and river year round, especially in
winter.

Discharge The average discharge from 1930 through 1972 (81 measurements) was 138.5
ft3/s (Rosenau et al., 1977). Current discharge estimate is provisional.

 Maximum (May 18, 1966) 197.0 ft3/s
 Minimum (July 8, 1964) 31.8 ft'/s
 October 15, 2001 53 ft3/s