Alternative Text Description for FDEP Outstanding Florida Springs

TABLE OF CONTENTS

MAP OVERVIEW

This map displays the locations of Outstanding Florida Springs (OFS) as designated by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. The map identifies three specific spring locations across north-central and central Florida. Outstanding Florida Springs include all historic first magnitude springs and six additional named springs of ecological significance, representing some of Florida's most important freshwater spring resources.

GEOGRAPHIC CONTEXT

The map covers the state of Florida and adjacent portions of southeastern Georgia and southern Alabama. Major cities visible on the map include Jacksonville in the northeast, Orlando in central Florida, Tampa along the west-central coast, Gainesville in north-central Florida, and Tallahassee in the northwest panhandle. The Gulf of America appears along the western and southern coastlines. Reference cities such as Dothan, Alabama, and Brunswick, Georgia, provide northern geographic context. Additional Florida cities shown include Fitzgerald, Tifton, Albany, Valdosta, and Waycross in the north, and Ocala, Homosassa Springs, Clearwater, St. Petersburg, Lakeland, Hinesville, and Sarasota throughout the central and coastal regions.

KEY INSIGHTS

The three Outstanding Florida Springs shown on this map are distributed across north-central and central Florida in a roughly diagonal pattern from northwest to southeast. One spring is located in the region between Tallahassee and Gainesville in north-central Florida. The second spring appears near Homosassa Springs along the Gulf of America coast in west-central Florida. The third spring is positioned near Orlando in central Florida. All three springs are situated in the northern two-thirds of the state, with no Outstanding Florida Springs visible in southern Florida below the Tampa-Orlando latitude. This distribution suggests that Outstanding Florida Springs are concentrated in regions known for karst geology and significant groundwater-surface water interactions.

VISUAL ELEMENTS

FDEP Outstanding Florida Springs

This layer represents Outstanding Florida Springs as defined by Florida Statutes, including historic first magnitude springs and six additional named springs of ecological importance.

Outstanding Florida Spring Locations (green polygon outline with white fill)

Appearance:

Each spring location is depicted as an irregular polygon with a thick green outline and white interior fill. The polygons vary in size and shape, representing the geographic extent of each spring vent area.

Distribution:

Three spring locations are visible on the map, distributed across north-central and central Florida. The springs appear in interior and coastal areas within the state's karst regions.

Notable locations:

Spatial patterns:

The springs follow a northwest to southeast diagonal distribution pattern across the state. They are located exclusively in the northern two-thirds of Florida, avoiding both the southernmost peninsula and the western panhandle. The springs appear as discrete, isolated features rather than in clusters, suggesting individual spring systems rather than interconnected groups.

Overlapping Patterns

No overlapping patterns are visible among the Outstanding Florida Springs shown on this map, as each spring location is geographically distinct and separated from the others.

SYMBOL GUIDE

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

This map identifies Outstanding Florida Springs locations but does not display the associated spring runs. The statutory definition of Outstanding Florida Springs includes 30 total springs: 24 historic first magnitude springs and 6 additional named springs (DeLeon, Peacock, Poe, Rock, Wekiva, and Gemini). This map view shows only three of these designated springs, suggesting that scale, visibility settings, or the map extent may limit which springs are currently displayed. Submarine springs and river rises are excluded from the Outstanding Florida Springs designation. The water body identification numbers (WBIDs) associated with the spring vents are included in the dataset but are not visible on this map visualization.

DATA CONTEXT

Data Source:

The data is sourced from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) and represents Outstanding Florida Springs as defined by Section 373.802(4), Florida Statutes. The designation is based on the most recent Florida Geological Survey springs bulletin identifying historic first magnitude springs, plus six additional named springs specified in statute. The data layer is named SPRINGS_OUTSTND_JUL18.

Definition Query:

No definition query or filter criteria was provided for this map view.

Scale Information:

The map displays a regional view covering the entire state of Florida and portions of adjacent states. At this scale, individual spring features are visible as distinct polygons. The map is appropriate for understanding the statewide distribution of Outstanding Florida Springs rather than detailed examination of individual spring characteristics.

Coordinate System:

NAD_1983_HARN_Florida_GDL_Albers (WKID 3087)

Time Period of Content:

The data layer is dated July 2018 (as indicated by the layer name SPRINGS_OUTSTND_JUL18). The content reflects Outstanding Florida Springs designations as of that date.

Limitations:

While the statutory definition includes 30 Outstanding Florida Springs, only three spring locations are visible on this map view. The remaining 27 designated springs may not be visible due to map scale, display settings, or geographic extent limitations. The map identifies spring vent locations only and does not include the associated spring runs that are also part of the statutory OFS definition. Data gaps or incomplete coverage of all designated springs should be considered when interpreting this map.

Map Coverage:

The map extends across the full state of Florida from the panhandle in the northwest to the southern tip of the peninsula. The coverage includes adjacent portions of southeastern Georgia, southwestern Alabama, and waters of the Gulf of America. The northern boundary extends approximately to Valdosta, Georgia, while the southern boundary reaches below the Tampa-Sarasota latitude to include the full Florida peninsula.

The alternative text description of this map was AI-generated and may contain inaccuracies.