Phillip's Natural World: Ocala National Forest, Alexander Springs

Located at Lat. 29° 04’ 52.68” N., Long. 81° 34’ 33.18” W. (Levy Grant 39, T. 16 S., R. 27 E.). Alexander Spring is approximately 37 miles (59.5 km) east of Ocala in the Ocala National Forest. The National Forest currently leases out spring operations to a concessionaire so your America the Beautiful passes will not work here. There is a charge of $5.50 per person to enter the springs. If you have America the Beautiful pass and if you ask, they'll give you 50% off admission. Aside from the shameful selling of the National Parks and Forests which I won't get in to, this area is mostly unspoiled because it is remote.

Alexander Spring issues from a conical depression and has a large spring pool that measures 300 ft (91.4 m) north to south and 258 ft (78.6 m) east to west. The depth is 25 ft (7.6 m).

The bottom is mostly sand with limestone exposed near the vent. A vertical ledge running north to south occurs near the vent. There are multiple vents in a tight cluster. The water is clear and blue. There is a large boil on the pool surface over the vent.

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LYNGBYA CONTAMINATION

Like most springs in this part of Florida, the spring is now clogged with lyngbya. In the images above and below the lyngbya sways into the current from its perch on the bottom. It is not particularly robust this time of year but in a few months it will form dense mats in the Spring Creek that results from Alexander Springs.

Lyngbya is a genus of cyanobacteria, unicellular autotrophs that form the basis of the oceanic food chain.

Lyngbya species form long, unbranching filaments inside a rigid mucilagenous sheath. Sheaths may form tangles or mats, intermixed with other phytoplankton species. They reproduce asexually. Their filaments break apart and each cell forms a new filament.

Some Lyngbya species cause the human skin irritation called seaweed dermatitis.

Some Lyngbya species can also temporarily monopolize aquatic ecosystems when they form dense, floating mats in the water.

You can blame the lyngbya contamination on poop. Cow poop, human poop. . . too many people and cattle in the vicinity of these natural features.

While the waters of Alexander Spring show signs of deterioration due to the burgeoning population of Florida and the inattention by politicians to Florida's natural treasures (in favor of what Republicans collectively refer to as "economic growth," as if it was the 5th Gospel), the forest around the spring and Spring Creek is lovely and largely untouched aside from the ubiquitous trash, litter and other detritus of humans that is found in every nook and cranny of Florida today.

Native aquatic grasses are plentiful. Thin algae patches are present on limestone substrate. High ground to the south rises gently to 12 ft (3.7 m) above the water level. A rock wall forms the south shoreline.

There is a mixed hardwood and palm forest around the spring. Alexander Spring Run (aka Spring Creek) flows east approximately 8 river miles (12.9 km) until reaching the St. Johns River.

Alexander Spring is the only 1st magnitude spring in the federal parks and forests system, discharging approximately 60 million gallons of fresh water per day (or between 75 and 162 ft3 /s). Flow rates are influenced by a variety of factors including industrial withdrawals from the watershed and rainfall.

A 1st magnitude spring is defined as having an average flow rate >100 ft³/s (2800 L/s).

The Alexander Springs Wilderness was designated by Congress in 1984 and encompasses 7,941 acres (32 km²)

After Alexander Springs, there are only 26 other 1st magnitude springs in Florida to visit, and we're checking them all out this "winter."

Because it is so unique, we need to be vigilant in protecting the Ocala National Forest from development under the new administration in Washington.

We need to remind the administration that The Ocala National Forest protects the world's largest contiguous sand pine scrub forest, a desert-like environment atop ancient sand dunes that stood well above the waves of primordial seas, the Ocala National Forest is full of special places, from four major springs to hundreds of lakes and ponds, islands of longleaf pine, and sinuous waterways that breathe life into an otherwise arid environment. Botanical wonders as well as archaeological and historic sites are all protected in this vast wilderness area that is being rapidly encroached upon.

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