Boulder Springs
N 28° 52.303 W 081° 27.004
17R E 456109 N 3193856
Boulder Springs is a little known natural, free flowing spring within the Seminole Forest Wildlife Management Area west of Sanford, Fl. As proof of your visit, please post a picture of the spring.
Waymark Code: WM5FM2
Location: Florida, United States
Date Posted: 01/01/2009
Views: 29
Boulder Spring is a 5th magnitude spring. The spring head is a small pool in an area of limerock outcrop, with large limestone boulders in the spring pool and run. Water flows from vents at the base of the hillside and in sand boils in the spring run as it flows about 0.3 mile toward the northwest to Sulphur Run.
Discharge at Boulder Spring was measured by St. Johns River Water Management District (SJRWMD) in 2003 and 2005. The mean and median discharge was 0.19 cubic feet per second.
The age of water discharging from Boulder Springs was determined by measuring the concentration of tritium, carbon-14 and carbon-13 in the spring discharge in March 2005. Boulder Springs had a tritium concentration of 0.51 tritium units, a carbon-14 concentration of 29 percent modern carbon, and a delta carbon-13 value of –9.78 parts per thousand. The tritium concentration suggests that the water is between 40 and 70 years old. The carbon-14 concentration of 29% modern carbon can result from the reaction of rainfall with calcite, dolomite, and soil organic matter and from the mixing with Lower Floridan water.
Enter the forest off State Rd 46, 5.3 miles west of Interstate 4. Travel north on Sand Rd 3.2 miles to the T intersection of Pine Rd and Grade Rd. Turn left on Grade Rd and go west about 1 mile, to Sulpher Rd. Travel north on Sulpher Rd about 8/10 mile to the parking area, then walk north, northeast along the trail for about .35 mile, then bushwhack a couple hundred feet to the spring.
Near the entrance to the forest, you'll find a pay station. You'll need to grab an envelope, drop in a buck, and hang the envelope stub on your mirror, regardless of what mode of transportation you choose to utilize during your visit. Ahead of you, you'll see a locked gate. If you call the Division of Forestry, at (352) 360-6675, you can get a free vehicle access permit, including the gate combo. If you do this ahead of time, they'll E-mail it to you. If you aren't into planning, you can call them from the gate, (during banker's hours), and they can fax it to a quaint little sporting goods store in nearby Sorrento for a small fee. You'll need to leave this permit on your dashboard.
Public or Private Land?: Public
Public Land Fees?: Yes, $1.00
Private Land access?: Seminole Forest State Forestry Division - 2.00 per person access fee and vehicle access permit required (access code provided) Call Division of Forestry, at (352) 360-6675
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Visit Instructions:
Please post an original picture of the springs no GPS necessary along with your observations of the spring. What wildlife you saw if any and the condition of the springs. Water level was high, low. The area was clean, trashy ect. Any other knowledge or experiences you have had with this paticular spring that would help document it's history.