Wall Springs - Anderson Park 10/21/2016

Location: Wall Springs/Anderson Park

Date: 10/21/2016

Weather: 78º - 82º and breezy

This week we visited Wall Springs to look at an aquifer and then moved on to Anderson Park to see a sinkhole. 

At Wall Springs I was astounded to see just how clear the water that flowed up from the aquifer was and the beautiful blue/green it appeared as it flowed over the submerged vegetation. Aquifers are more constant in water temperature and nutrients than other bodies of water, support a mostly grazing food web, and are fairly alkaline due to limestone break down. (The Ogalala Aquifer in the Great Plains is the largest in the U.S.)

As we walked we came across a variety of fish species swimming in schools through the waters of the aquifer. We also encountered a Brazilian Pepper Tree, which is an invasive species; it secretes a chemical that stops the growth of other plant species and is a Hydra weed.

A confined aquifer is trapped in an area because it is under pressure, while unconfined aquifers are free of pressure so they can flow easily. Both types of aquifers can be found in Florida.

At Anderson Park we were able to get a closer look at a sinkhole. Sinkhole locations are determined by substrate and the over-burden on limestone. Knight’s Sinkhole at Lake Tarpon is connected to the groundwater, so there is little fluctuation of water level and is up to 200 feet deep.