Wacissa Springs Group
The Wacissa Springs Group is part of the Northwest Florida Water Management District and lies at the northern end of the Aucilla Wildlife Management Area in Jefferson County, where it forms the headwaters of the Wacissa River. The Wacissa Springs Group flows at the first magnitude and is designated as an Outstanding Florida Spring. It consists of a cluster of twenty springs that flow into the Wacissa River. Jefferson County’s Wacissa Springs Park has a public boat ramp allowing for easy access to the core of the spring cluster. This dense core contains Log, Thomas, Wacissa #1-4, and Aucilla springs, which together form a large spring run of fast-flowing water. Along the run, large patches of coontail compete with beds of hydrilla beneath the clear water.
In 2016, the Florida Legislature passed the Florida Springs and Aquifer Protection Act.
Wacissa Springs Group is currently one of twenty four Outstanding Florida Springs or Spring 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.
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 Wacissa Springs Group springshed within the Suwannee River and Northwest Florida Water Management Districts, as well as a map of the land use within the Wacissa Springs Group springshed. To find out more about the Blue Water Audit project and to learn how this tool was developed, visit Blue Water Audit.
*The Wacissa Spring Group Springshed extends into the Suwannee River Water Management District, as well as the Northwest Florida Water Management District.
DATA AND REPORTS
FDEP – Wacissa River and Wacissa Spring Group BMAP
FDEP – Nutrient TMDL for Wacissa River and Springs
USGS – Water Data – Wacissa River at Thomas Springs
SRWMD – Aucilla and Wacissa Rivers
SRWMD – Minimum Flows and Levels for the Aucilla River, Wacissa River, and Priority 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.
