Fanning Springs

Fanning Springs in Levy County is a second magnitude spring located in the Suwannee River Water Management DistrictIt 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 manateesThe spring ecosystem is seriously impaired due to elevated nitrate levelsRecreational opportunities that are available are boating, camping, fishing, hiking, paddling, swimming/snorkeling, and scuba diving at Fanning Springs State Park. 

Fanning Springs, 1989. Photo by John Moran.
Fanning Springs
Belly flop contest, 1997.
Photo by John Moran.
Fanning Springs, 2002. Photo by John Moran.
Fanning Springs, 2011. Photo by John Moran.
Fanning Springs, 2011. Photo by John Moran.
Fanning Springs, 2012. Photo by John Moran.
Fanning Springs, 2013. Photo by John Moran.
Fanning Springs, 2014. Photo by John Moran.
Fanning Springs, 2015. Photo by John Moran.
Fanning Springs, 2019. Photo by John Moran.
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Fanning Springs, 2015.
Photo by John Moran.
Fanning Springs, 2015. Photo by John Moran.
Fanning Springs, 2015. Photo by John Moran.
Fanning Springs, 2012. Photo by John Moran.
Fanning Springs, 2013. Photo by John Moran.
Fanning Springs, 2011. Photo by John Moran.
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In 2016, the Florida Legislature passed the Florida Springs and Aquifer Protection Act

As part of that law, the state of Florida developed a list of 30 springs that are either historic first-magnitude springs, or of other importance. The term Outstanding Florida Spring (OFS) refers to this list of 30 springs or spring groups. If water quality is found impaired, these springs require a Basin Management Action Plan (BMAP) to achieve water quality standards within a 20-year time frame.
 

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.

Fanning Springs, 1940. Photo courtesy of the State Archives of Florida.
Fanning Springs, 1967.
Photo courtesy of the State Archives of Florida.
Boaters on the Suwannee River, near Fanning Springs, 1961. Photo courtesy of the State Archives of Florida.
Camping at Fanning Springs, 1967. Photo courtesy of the State Archives of Florida.
Fanning Springs, 1967.
Photo courtesy of the State Archives of Florida.
Fishing near Fanning Springs, 1967. Photo courtesy of the State Archives of Florida
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Fanning Springs, 1940. Photo courtesy of the State Archives of Florida.
Fanning Springs, 1967.
State Archives of Florida.
On the Suwannee River, near Fanning Springs, 1961. State Archives of Florida.
Camping at Fanning Springs, 1967. Photo courtesy of the State Archives of Florida.
Fanning Springs, 1967.
State Archives of Florida.
Fishing near Fanning springs, 1967. Photo courtesy of the State Archives of Florida
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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

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.

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The Wacissa Spring Group lies at the northern end of the Aucilla Wildlife Management Area in Jefferson
County and forms the headwaters of the Wacissa River. Over twenty springs form a cluster that runs
along the river. A public boat ramp allows for easy access to the core of the spring cluster. This dense
core contains Log, Thomas, Wacissa #1-4, and Acuilla springs, which together form a large bowl of fast-
flowing water. Along the run, large patches of Coontail compete with beds of Hydrilla beneath the clear
water. The combined magnitude and isolation of the Wacissa springs make the location one of the most
pristine in the state, earning the system a spot on the list of OFSs despite none of the individual springs
flowing at the first magnitude.