Fanning Springs
Fanning Springs in Levy County is a second magnitude spring located in the Suwannee River Water Management District. It is designated as an Outstanding Florida Spring. Fanning was historically a first magnitude spring, but its discharge decreased to the second magnitude in the 1990s. The spring pool has steep sand and limestone banks and several small spring seeps flow into the pool from the banks. The shallow portions of the spring pool have native aquatic grass, and there is an abundance of ferns and moss on the slopes, pines and hardwoods on the higher grounds, and cypress and gum trees on both sides of the run. Some wildlife that can be spotted around the spring include white-tailed deer, red-shouldered hawks, pileated woodpecker, and barred owls. Aquatic life that has been present include musk turtles, bass, mullet, freshwater flounder, bowfin, and manatees. The spring ecosystem is seriously impaired due to elevated nitrate levels. Recreational opportunities that are available are boating, camping, fishing, hiking, paddling, swimming/snorkeling, and scuba diving at Fanning Springs State Park.
Belly flop contest, 1997.
Photo by John Moran.
Photo by John Moran.
In 2016, the Florida Legislature passed the Florida Springs and Aquifer Protection Act.
Fanning Springs is currently one of the twenty four Outstanding Florida Springs or Springs Groups that is considered “impaired”.
Historic images
The following images were provided courtesy of the State Archives of Florida. This incredible photographic library provides a window into the historic spring landscape, documenting changing spring and surface water levels, as well as human use and development in this special location.
Photo courtesy of the State Archives of Florida.
Photo courtesy of the State Archives of Florida.
State Archives of Florida.
State Archives of Florida.
Science Hub
This is the location for access to data related to this spring. Below, you will find links to reports, data, as well as maps and information from the Florida Springs Institute’s Blue Water Audit project about this particular spring or spring group.
The Blue Water Audit is a tool developed by the Florida Springs Institute to estimate and visualize the impact of human activities on the Floridan Aquifer. Using existing data from a variety of sources, the Blue Water Audit estimates nitrogen loading and groundwater withdrawals for the Florida Springs Region. These estimates are used to assign Aquifer Footprints – a Floridan Aquifer Nitrogen Footprint (water quality) and a Floridan Aquifer Groundwater Footprint (water quantity). Below are maps of the Blue Water Audit Floridan Aquifer Nitrogen footprint for the Fanning Springs springshed within the Suwannee River Water Management District, as well as a map of the land use within the Fanning Springs springshed. To find out more about the Blue Water Audit project and to learn how this tool was developed, visit Blue Water Audit.
DATA AND REPORTS
USGS – Water Data – Fanning Springs
FDEP – Nutrient and Dissolved Oxygen TMDL for Fanning Springs
SRWMD – Current Conditions – Fanning Springs
SRWMD – Lower Suwannee River MFL Establishment
EPA – How’s My Waterway – Fanning Springs
EPA – Waterbody Report – Fanning Springs
The Interactive Florida Springs Atlas was produced with generous support from the Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida. The Community Foundation of North Central Florida supported this project through generous support for our Blue Water Audit project.
