FLORIDA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY


MISSION SPRINGS Lat. 290 58' 34.4" N, Long. 820 45' 28.4" (SE 14 NW 14 SW 14 sec. 7, T.
6 S, R. 15 E). Mission Springs is comprised of two springs that emerge from the base of high
banks about 250 ft (76 m) east of the Ichetucknee River. A small spring vent, with very low
discharge, is located at the head of two shallow spring runs and is sometimes referred to as
Singing Springs. One of its small runs flows northwest and the other flows southwest. Both
meet the river approximately 250 ft (76 m) from each other. There is a high, forested island
with steep limestone banks on its north side is the two spring runs. Another spring, some-
times referred to as Roaring Springs, discharges forcefully out of a cavern in a limestone
ledge on the north side of the island into the northwest flowing run. At this point, the trick-
ling northwest run becomes a high velocity, turbulent run with swaying aquatic grasses.
Water quality was sampled for Roaring Springs. Its spring pool measures 10 ft (3 m) east
to west and 15 ft (5 m) north to south. Depth measured near the limestone ledge is 3 ft (1
m). The ledge rises steeply to approximately 12 ft (4 m) above the water level. Water is clear
and bluish. Algae coat the aquatic grasses in the spring run. The uplands east of the spring
rise to nearly 20 ft (6 m) above the springs and are heavily forested with mixed hardwoods
lower and pines on the hilltops. An historic Spanish mission once stood atop the high
ground approximately 200 ft (61 ft) east of the springs.

Utilization The springs, river, and surrounding forested land are owned by Ichetucknee
Springs State Park from the US 27 bridge northward. The park is a high quality natural
area that is partly developed and whose heavy public use is highly regulated in order to not
disturb the natural quality. Camping, hiking, swimming, tubing, and canoeing are some of
the activities that are offered in the state park

Discharge Historical discharge rate for Ichetucknee Springs Group was obtained from
Bulletin No. 31 (Rosenau et al., 1977).

 May 17, 1946 197.2 ft3/s
 October 3, 2001 186 ft3/s




 Table 16. Ichetucknee Springs Group bacteriological analyses.

 Bacteria Results (in #/100 mL)
 Analyte Main Blue Hole Cedar Head Mission
 Escherichia coli 1 KQ 1 KQ 2 Q 1 AKQ
 Enterococci 1 KQ 1 KQ 42 Q 1 AKQ
 Fecal Coliform 1 KQ 1 KQ 2 Q 1 AKQ
 Total Coliform 1 KQ 1 KQ 20 Q 1 AKQ