During the period of the spring inventory along the Choctawhatchee River, surface water flow conditions played a significant role. During times of even average stage, the springs located within or adjacent to the river channel were difficult to locate. Part of the purpose of the inventory was to provide accurate position data so springs can be relocated, even under unfavorable conditions. The study period (11/1/2004 to 6/3/2005) was a period of above average precipitation and stage conditions. Figure 5 illustrates the Choctawhatchee River stage and precipitation measured at the USGS SR20 recorder station near Bruce, FL..

NWFWMD Ground Water Bureau staff made site visits to the 13 springs and made discharge and field water quality measurements where possible. The discharge measurements are presented in Table 1.


Table 1 – Spring Discharge Measurements.

Spring
Date
 Discharge (cfs)
Morrison Spring
11/2/2004
49.2
Vortex Spring
1/12/2005
11.5
Ponce de Leon Spring
1/12/2005
11.3
Thundering Spring
1/19/2005
0.02
Natural Bridge Creek After Rise
2/23/2005
18.7
Pate Spring
3/03/2005
0.42
Holmes Blue Spring
3/10/2005
9.59
Potter Spring
6/03/2005
25.1
Washington Blue Spring
6/03/2005
34.3
Weaver Spring (Surfical Aq.)
2/23/2005
0.07


The system has seven second magnitude springs (>10 to 100 cfs discharge). Holmes Blue Spring is classified as second magnitude because the average of historical flow measurments is over 10 cfs. One spring is classified as fourth magnitude (>0.22 to 1 cfs), and one is classified as sixth magnitude (1 to 10 gpm). Weaver Seep Spring, a Surficial Aquifer seep, is classified as fifth magnitude (>10 to 100 gpm). Some of the springs not measured may also fall into the third or fourth magnitude category. Jackson Spring was influenced by flow from Sandy Creek and was not measured. Wrights Blue Spring was flooded by Wrights Creek and could not be measured. Hidden Spring appeared to have a subterranean connection to Wrights Creek and could not be measured. Blue Run Spring discharges directly to the Washington Blue Spring run and could not be measured. Future discharge measurements may have some effect on the ratings of individual springs. The estimated total discharge for springs inventoried in the Choctawhatchee River basin is 160 cfs.

Discharge measurements recorded during the study period show that the Choctawhatchee River discharge increased from an average flow of approximately 8600 cubic feet per second (cfs) at US Highway 90 to 10400 cfs at State Road 20 to the south (Figures 6a and 6b). The majority of the increase in flow is attributable to the major tributaries of the Choctawhatchee along this section: Reedy Creek, Sandy Creek, and Holmes Creek. The Floridan Aquifer System contributes a minimum of approximately 1000 cfs to the Choctawhatchee and, during drought conditions, provides approximately half of the river's flow (Pratt, T.R. personal communication). In addition to the 160 cfs contributed by measured springs, the remaining sources for ground water flow contribution are the springs along Holmes Creek and diffuse sources such as seeps and sand boils located within the Choctawhatchee River and its tributaries.