SpringsWatch: Wakulla River

Located 16 miles south of Tallahassee, Wakulla Spring is one of the largest first-magnitude artesian springs in Florida as well as the United States. Wakulla Spring lies within the Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park, which has been listed on the Natural Register of Historic Places and is designated a National Natural Landmark. Wakulla Spring forms the headwaters of the Wakulla River which flows for nearly 11 miles before merging with the St. Marks River in St. Marks, Wakulla County. Wakulla springs is historically renown for is natural beauty, and has been a favorite recreational site, as well as potable water source, for residents of Leon, Wakulla, and surrounding counties. However, the Wakulla river and springs have not been immune to human impacts, demonstrating reductions/reversals in flow as well as increased growth of invasive hydrilla and filamentous algae, likely related to increased groundwater withdrawals for urban use.

Volunteers with the Florida SpringsWatch program conduct monthly sampling along the Wakulla River. Our Wakulla group currently collects data for the following parameters: temperature, dissolved oxygen, specific conductance, vertical light attenuation, and sumberged aquatic vegetation (SAV) surveys. The SpringsWatch program is a great way to get out into the springs, learn, and volunteer. If you would like to learn more about the data our volunteers are collecting, click on the report link below!

This group is currently accepting volunteers. 

Click here to sign up or contact us for more information about upcoming SpringsWatch trips!