SpringsWatch: Ponce de leon springs
This group is currently accepting new volunteers.
SPRINGSWATCH FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Our Ponce de Leon SpringsWatch team focuses on Ponce de Leon Spring located within Ponce de Leon Springs State Park in Holmes County. This second magnitude spring is a favorite swimming hole for local residents. Surrounded by a lush hardwood forest, the Ponce de Leon spring is a convergence of two underwater flows and produces 14 million gallons of water daily. The state park is bisected by Sandy Creek, a blackwater creek that runs through the park.
Volunteers with the Florida SpringsWatch program conduct monthly sampling sessions at Ponce de Leon Springs. Our Ponce de Leon SpringsWatch group collects data on water temperature, dissolved oxygen, specific conductance, vertical light attenuation, and aquatic vegetation. In addition to water quality monitoring, this group also conducts visual fish counts within the spring. A mask, snorkel, and fins are required for volunteers who wish to participate in the fish survey. (Click here to learn more about the fish commonly found in Florida springs.)
SpringsWatch offers participants a deep dive into understanding the ecology of Florida springs as well as a fun day on the water helping to generate research which supports them. To learn more about the data our volunteers are collecting, click on the monitoring summary below.
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PONCE DE LEON SpringsWatch Data
DISSOLVED OXYGEN
Dissolved Oxygen (DO) refers to the amount of “Free oxygen” dissolved in the water. Adequate concentrations of DO are necessary for rooted aquatic plants, invertebrates, and fish to prosper. Spring water typically has lower DO compared to river/surface water due to its underground origin, where groundwater is not in contact with the air and sunlight necessary for photosynthesis that produces oxygen.
SPECIFIC CONDUCTANCE
Specific Conductance is a measure of how easily an electrical current can pass through water. Since groundwater typically carries dissolved limestone, its specific conductance is higher than what is measured from surface water. Specific conductance levels are also influenced by the presence of pollution (nitrate-nitrogen from fertilizers), and salt from salt water intrusion.
TEMPERATURE
Due to the subterranean source of emerging groundwater, the temperature of Florida’s springs typically averages 72 degrees F (22 degrees C) across the state. Groundwater temperature is dependent on the average annual air temperature, so springs in North Florida are slightly colder than springs further south. Water temperature at river stations fluctuates more rapidly than at springs stations.
PONCE DE LEON SpringsWatch Data AND Monitoring Summaries
Become a citizen scientist And Help Protect Florida's Springs!
SPRINGSWATCH
COORDINATOR
The Florida SpringsWatch program is funded in part through generous support from the Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida, the Live Wildly Foundation, and the annual First Magnitude Springs Run hosted by First Magnitude Brewing Company
