Madison Blue Spring State Park

Last updated

Madison Blue Spring State Park
IUCN category V (protected landscape/seascape)
USA Florida location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Usa edcp location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Location Madison County, Florida, USA
Nearest city Madison, Florida
Coordinates 30°28′54.17″N83°14′40.69″W / 30.4817139°N 83.2446361°W / 30.4817139; -83.2446361
Governing body Florida Department of Environmental Protection

Madison Blue Spring State Park is a Florida State Park, located approximately ten miles east of Madison on the west bank of the Withlacoochee River. It contains one of the state's 33 first magnitude springs. This title entails that the spring is discharging at least 2,800 liters of water per second.

Contents

History

The park was established after a private owner sold 38 acres at the spring in 2000. Prior to the property being sold Madison Blue Spring was utilized as a fresh water source for local inhabitants. This crystal-clear spring is about 25 feet deep, 82 feet wide, and includes a 150-foot spring run that pours into the Withlacoochee River. This rolling water stems from a 25 feet deep cavern. Florida State parks explains how this stream of water impacts 23.7% of flow of the Withlacoochee River, into the opposite direction. This then results in a swept river bottom along with the formation of a large arc of clear water.

Along the Withlacoochee River one can find distinct examples of karst topography, which includes Suwannee Limestone, of the Oligocene age. Subsequently, Nestlé bought 2 adjoining acres, and a preexisting, but unused, bottling permit. After contentious hearings, the state authorized Nestlé to move forward, and tax incentives were approved for Nestlé's construction of a bottling plant. The plant opened in 2004. Water from this operation is used for Nestlé's Deer Park and Zephyrhills bottled water brands. [1] Not only is Madison Blue Springs State a prime source for bottle planting but it also provides many recreational resources for individuals. These of which include birding, fishing, paddling, picking, diving, swimming, and tubing.

Features

Madison Blue Spring is known for its cool waters and underwater caves. The waters remain at a constant temperature of 72 °F (22 °C) year-round. Madison Blue Springs underwater cave systems are internationally known, meaning they attract a variety of divers nationwide. According to Florida State Parks, exploration of over 26,000 feet of underground passages has occurred. Within the spring, one can easily spot catfish, freshwater turtles, and sunfish. Yet, this is not the only marine life, below the surface within the intricate cave systems, three rather unique species of crustaceans exist and thrive. As reported by Florida State Parks, these include Hobb's cave amphipod, the pallid cave crayfish, and the swimming little cave isopod.

Related Research Articles

Ponce de Leon Springs State Recreation Area is a Florida State Park in Holmes County, Florida, USA. It is located in the town of Ponce de Leon. The park, which was created to provide public outdoor recreation and other park-related uses, was initially acquired on September 4, 1970, using funds from the Land Acquisition Trust Fund. Its self-proclaimed purpose is to develop, operate and maintain the property for outdoor recreation, park, historic, and related purposes, offering abundant opportunity for nature appreciation and wildlife viewing. Its primary recreational activities include swimming in the spring and hiking along the park's nature trails.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nestlé Pure Life</span> Brand created by Nestlé

Nestlé Pure Life is a brand of bottled water from Nestlé Waters globally and BlueTriton Brands in North America. The brand was first established in 1998 in Pakistan and is now available in 21 countries in Asia, the Americas, Africa, and Europe. In early April 2021, the sale of Nestlé Waters North America's bottling operations, including Nestlé Pure Life, to One Rock Capital Partners LLC and Metropoulos & Co. was concluded.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Florida State Road 6</span> State highway in Florida, United States

State Road 6 (SR 6) is an east–west route in Madison and Hamilton Counties, running from U.S. Route 90 (US 90) east of Madison to US 129 in Jasper, the last five miles (8 km) concurrent with US 41.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Manatee Springs State Park</span> State park in Florida, United States

Manatee Springs State Park is a Florida State Park located six miles west of Chiefland on SR 320, off US 19. Manatee Spring is a first magnitude spring that flows directly into the Suwannee River by way of a short run. Present also are swamps and hardwood wetlands along the Suwannee, along with many sinkhole ponds, including one with a cave 90 feet below the ground that connects to a popular divers' destination known as the catfish hotel.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wes Skiles Peacock Springs State Park</span> State park in Florida, United States

Wes Skiles Peacock Springs State Park is a 733-acre (297 ha) Florida State Park located on Peacock Springs Road, two miles (3 km) east of Luraville and on State Road 51, 16 miles (26 km) southwest of Live Oak, Florida. Activities include picnicking, swimming and diving, and wildlife viewing. Among the wildlife of the park are deer, bobcats, raccoon, squirrels, beaver and otters, as well as turkey, blue heron and barred owls. The park name commemorates the work of diver and explorer Wes Skiles. Prior to 2010 the park was known as Peacock Springs State Park. Amenities include a nature trail, six sinkholes, and Peacock and Bonnet Springs, with miles of underwater caves popular with cave divers. The two springs are tributaries of the Suwannee River. The park is open from 8:00 am till sundown year round.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rainbow Springs State Park</span> State park in Florida, United States

Rainbow Springs State Park is a Florida state park located on U.S. 41, 3 miles (5 km) north of Dunnellon, Florida. It comprises 1,459.07 acres (5.9046 km2) upland and 12.83 acres (51,900 m2) submerged. The most significant natural feature is the first-magnitude headspring basin, which produces up to 600,000,000 US gallons (2,300,000 m3) of fresh water per day, forming the Rainbow River. The looking-glass waters of Rainbow Springs come from several vents, not one large bubbling spring. The river itself supports a wide variety of fish, wildlife, and plants, many within easy viewing by visitors. In total, the park contains 11 distinct natural communities, including sandhills, flatwoods, upland mixed forests, and hydric hammocks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wekiwa Springs State Park</span> State park in Florida, United States

Wekiwa Springs State Park is a 7,000-acre (28 km2) Florida State Park in Apopka, Florida. It is located 20 minutes north of Orlando, off Interstate 4 at exit 94, near Altamonte Springs and Longwood. The park also contains the head water of the Wekiva River. It also serves as the headquarters of one of the state's five AmeriCorps Florida State Parks chapters.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Withlacoochee River (Florida)</span> River in Florida, United States

The Withlacoochee River or Crooked River is a river in central Florida, in the United States. It originates in the Green Swamp, east of Polk City, flowing west, then north, then northwest and finally west again before emptying into the Gulf of Mexico near Yankeetown. The river is 141 miles (227 km) long and has a drainage basin of 1,170 square miles (3,000 km2).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Big Bend (Florida)</span> Region of the state Florida, United States

The Big Bend of Florida, United States, is an informally named geographic region of North Florida where the Florida Panhandle transitions to the Florida Peninsula south and east of Tallahassee. The region is known for its vast woodlands and marshlands and its low population density relative to much of the state. The area is home to the largest single spring in the United States, the Alapaha Rise, and the longest surveyed underwater cave in the United States, the 32-mile (51 km) Wakulla-Leon Sinks cave system.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vortex Spring</span> Freshwater spring and recreational dive site in Florida

Vortex Spring is a commercially operated recreation, camping and dive park located near Ponce de Leon, Florida. It is the largest diving facility in the state of Florida.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Twin Rivers State Forest</span> State forest in Florida, United States

The Twin Rivers State Forest is in the US state of Florida. The 14,882-acre (60 km2) forest is located in North Central Florida, along the banks of the Withlacoochee and Suwannee rivers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rainbow River</span> River in Florida, United States

The Rainbow River is located in Dunnellon, Florida, United States, in the southwest corner of Marion County, about 20 miles (32 km) southwest of Ocala, 100 miles (160 km) northwest of Orlando and 100 miles (160 km) north of the Tampa Bay area. It is formed by a first-magnitude spring that is ranked fourth in the state for volume of discharge. In addition to the springs located at the headwaters, there are many smaller springs that discharge from numerous caves, rock crevices, and sand boils the entire length of the river.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ewens Ponds</span> Flooded sinkholes in South Australia

Ewens Ponds is a series of three water-filled limestone sinkholes in the Australian state of South Australia located in the gazetted locality of Eight Mile Creek, on the watercourse of Eight Mile Creek about 25 kilometres south of Mount Gambier and 8.4 kilometres east of Port Macdonnell. The ponds are popular with recreational divers due to underwater visibility of up to 80 metres. It has a large fish population including the endangered golden pygmy perch. Ewens Ponds has been part of the Ewens Ponds Conservation Park since 1976.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blue Hole (New Mexico)</span> Sinkhole used for scubadiving in New Mexico, United States

The Blue Hole of Santa Rosa, or simply the Blue Hole, is a circular, bell-shaped pool or small lake located along Route 66 east of Santa Rosa, New Mexico that is a tourist attraction and swimming venue, and one of the most popular dive destinations in the US for scuba diving and training. The Blue Hole is an artesian well and cenote that was once used as a fish hatchery.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nestlé Waters</span> Bottled water company

Nestlé Waters is a Swiss multinational bottled water division of Nestlé. It was founded in 1992.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">BlueTriton Brands</span> American beverage company

BlueTriton Brands, Inc. is an American beverage company based in Stamford, Connecticut. A former subsidiary of Nestlé, it was known between 2002 and 2021 as Nestlé Waters North America, Inc. and operated as the North American business unit of Nestlé Waters. It produces and distributes numerous brands of bottled water across North America including Arrowhead Water, Deer Park Spring Water, Ice Mountain, Pure Life, Splash, Ozarka, Poland Spring, and Zephyrhills.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park</span> State Park near Tallahassee, Florida

Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park is a Florida State Park in Wakulla County, Florida, United States. This 6,000 acre (24 km2) wildlife sanctuary, located south of Tallahassee, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and designated a National Natural Landmark.

Ice River Springs is a private label bottled water producer for retailers and food service operators and manufacturer of the Ice River Green brand of bottled water. The company runs a plastic recycling operation, Blue Mountain Plastics (BMP), that takes bottles collected by municipalities and produces food grade recycled PETE for its water bottles. As of 2020, the company was headquartered in Shelburne, Ontario. The recycling facility was also located in Shelburne and its nearest bottling plant was in Feversham, Ontario, 40km away. Its operations included locations across Canada and the Ice River Hialeah Gardens subsidiary in Florida, USA.

References