SPringsWatch: Santa Fe River
This group is not currently accepting new volunteers. If you would like to join the wait list, complete the volunteer application below.
SPRINGSWATCH FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
The Santa Fe River flows through the Springs Heartland of North Central Florida and is the discharge point for at least 36 named springs. Located in parts of Alachua, Columbia, and Gilchrist counties, the Lower Santa Fe River and springs attract paddlers, tubers, divers, snorkelers, swimmers, and boaters. Residents of these counties depend on a healthy river and springs system for their water supply, livelihood, and recreational enjoyment.
The Lower Santa Fe River is home to many named springs. Gilchrist Blue, Rum Island, and Ginnie Springs are among the most popular and are open to the public. At both spring and river stations, Santa Fe SpringsWatch volunteers collect monthly data on water temperature, dissolved oxygen, specific conductance, vertical light attenuation, water clarity via vertical Secchi disk measurements, and aquatic vegetation. This group also conducts LakeWatch sampling as part of the University of Florida’s IFAS Extension.
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 or dashboard links below.
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Santa Fe River 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.
Santa Fe River 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
