Florida spring

Crystal Spring 1

A Magnitude 2 spring system, discharging approximately 30 million gallons of water per day (about 46 cubic feet per second) into the Hillsborough River. The spring pool is roughly oval, about 275 by 125 feet, with water flowing from multiple vents, sand boils, and openings, including a notable vent about 5 feet deep near a small island. The spring is part of the 530-acre Crystal Springs Preserve, a privately owned sanctuary focused on environmental education, with clear, blue-green water, aquatic vegetation, and wildlife. The water is clear and blue-green, with aquatic vegetation and wildlife like fish and wading birds. Public access for swimming ended in 1996. No specific gage height for water clarity is documented, but clarity is generally best during dry periods (late fall to early spring, October-April) when rainfall and runoff are minimal, reducing sediment in the spring.