OPEN FILE REPORT NO. 85


most substrates. The Table 54. Silver Springs Group bacteriological analyses.
spring is in a steep walled Bacteria Results (in #/100ml)
depression in the lime- Analyte Main Blue Grotto Reception Hall
stone. There was no visible Escherichia coli 1 KQ 48 Q 1 AKQ
boil on the water surface Enterococci 1 KQ 34 Q 1 AKQ
during the October 2001 Fecal Coliform 1 KQ 52 Q 1 AKQ
visit; however, divers Total Coliform 1 KQ 110 Q 1 AKQ
observed flow coming out of
the vent. The vent opening is a horizontal oval-shaped orifice in the base of a limestone
ledge on the northeast side of the spring pool. Most of the pool edge is a wooden retaining
wall. The west side of the pool is developed into glass-bottom boat docking. All nearby
uplands to the north, west, and south are developed into Silver Springs adventure theme
park.

RECEPTION HALL Lat. 290 12' 53.0" N, Long. 82 03' 05.7" W (NW1/4, N1/4, SW1/4 sec.
6, T. 15 S, R. 23 E). This spring is now referred to as The Abyss by most theme park per-
sonnel. It is located on the adjacent south side of the Silver River approximately 1,000 ft
(304 m) downstream from Main Spring. It is one of three side springs that form a larger,
conjoined spring pool. Reception Hall Spring pool is approximately 30 ft (9.1 m) in diame-
ter and 18.7 feet (5.7 m) deep. Water discharges from a vertical crack in the limestone. The
water is sky blue, and sand and shell particles are suspended in the issuing water. No boil
was visible on the surface of the spring pool during October 2001. An old boat is wrecked
and half buried on the north side of the pool. Aquatic vegetation is common around the out-
skirts of the spring pool. The area near the vent is bare sand around the limestone orifice.
Uplands to the south rise to nearly 6 ft (2 m) above the water and are forested with hard-
woods. To the north, on the other side of the river, the land is developed by the theme park.

BLUE GROTTO Lat. 290 12' 54.9" N, Long. 820 020 59.6" W (NE1/4, NW1/4, SW1/4 sec. 6,
T. 15 S, R. 23 E). This is the next spring pool east of the conjoined pool just mentioned. Blue
Grotto is also on the adjacent south side of the Silver River. It is about 300 ft (91.4 m) east
of Reception Hall Spring. The circular spring pool measures 105 ft (32 m) in diameter.
Depth over the vent is 21.6 ft (6.5 m). Water discharges vertically from an orifice in the
limestone. Sand and shell particles are suspended in the upwelling. A boil is visible on the
water surface. There is aquatic vegetation along the outskirts of the spring pool. Bare sand
surrounds the orifice. During the October 2001 visit, a 10-12 ft (3-3.6 m) alligator was lying
on the bottom near the vent with a dusting of sand and shell on its back. The water is clear
and sky blue. Along the south shore is a thin strip of hardwood and cypress trees. Just past
is a man-made spring channel called the Fort King Waterway. It flows parallel to the Silver
River and eastward. South of this channel rises high ground up to about 15 ft (4.5 m) above
water surface. On these banks is an animal zoo with exotic ungulate mammals and mon-
keys.

Utilization Land around the uppermost part of the Silver River is privately owned and
operated by Silver Springs Adventure Park. Glass-bottomed boat tours are common along
the uppermost part of the river, including these three springs.

Discharge November 15, 2001: 556 ft3/s.