Springs Fever: A Field & Recreation Guide to 500 Florida Springs.

Wekiva Springs

Levy County

Summary of Features

  • Scale - 2nd magnitude
  • Scenery - good
  • How Pristine? - land partly cleared around spring, building nearby, water extraction equipment at spring.
  • Swimming - no
  • Protection - unknown
  • Crowds - none
  • Access - none, private

Directions

From intersection of U.S. 19/98 and State Road 326 at Gulf Hammock in Levy County, drive 5 miles east on SR326 to entrance to spring on the left.

Spring Description

Wekiva Springs--not to be confused with Wekiwa Springs and its State Park in Apopka--is a set of three connected springs that together form the headwaters of the Wekiva River. JF was only able to get to within about 150 feet of the springs, so must rely on the descriptions provided by Rosenau et al. (1977):

The smallest of the three pools is about 40 ft long, north-south, and 20 ft wide. Flow is from a hole about 8 ft deep in the central part of the pool. This pool discharges southward down a narrow channel 185 feet long to the north end of the largest of the three pools.

The largest pool is about 125 ft long, north-south, by about 60 feet wide. It is deepest, about 30 ft near its northeast corner and there is a strong boil on the surface. The combined flow from the two pools discharges west to the third and intermediate size pool through a narrow channel 60 feet long. A narrow, natural rock bridge traverses this connecting channel near its upstream end. Two holes in the channel, each at least 30 feet deep, are near the bridge, one upstream and the other downstream. There was a strong boil over the downstream hole.

The third pool is nearly square, measuring 50 or 60 feet on a side, and has a small rock island in the middle. The island is connected to the east edge of the pool by a narrow natural rock bridge . . . A 15 feet-deep vent and boil are near the northeast corner of the pool. The combined flow from all three pools discharges from the southwest corner through a run which is the beginning of the Wekiva River (pp. 251-252)

Use/Access

The springs are owned by the Crystal Water Bottling Company and are closed to public access. A large gate prevents access. JF happened to visit on a day when the gate was open. He was allowed to take one quick photograph of the spring from the pump building before being evicted by a truck driver from the bottling company who was filling his tanker with water from the spring.

Springiana

In 1997, JF asked the employee at nearby Blue Spring about Wekiva. The man told JF that the landowner at Wekiva had allowed people to use Wekiva Spring for many years. Then, he was assaulted by some young men on the site, decided he did not need the aggravation or danger, and sold the spring to a water bottling company.

Personal Impressions

It is a great pity that this spring is cut off from public access and enjoyment. Had it not been sold to the bottling company, it would likely have ranked high on the state's list of sites worthy of acquisition. Even from a distance, it is beautiful.

Nearby Springs

Other Nearby Natural Features