Springwise
Guest
- Messages
- 28
- Reaction score
- 0
My buddy and I have visited Bozel Springs on the Chipola river in Marianna, Fla several times over the last year and a half. Recently, after a prolonged drought, we made our way upstream on the Chipola to find a most vexing situation. As we approached, we noticed the riverside spring across from the main spring run blasting an unusual amount of the cracklin blue water we remember so fondly. The small, usually covered spring just adjacent to the spring run was also uncharacteristiically clear. We assumed this was all due to the lack of river water in the Chiploa, which was low. As we approach the entrance at the terminus of the run we noticed how little flow there was. Deciding not to don the gear and walk it !00 yards in doubles without a peek at the rest of the system we made our way to the "top" spring. Brown. Stagnant. Nasty. An unknown large fish/gator/Bozel catfish ominously broke the luminescent sheen on the disgusting commode that was our beloved Bozel. Ewww.
Now I understand a spring being covered, even reversing, but why would Bozel 1 be dead, while 30 ft away Bozel 2 was pumping. Low, but pumping. We distinctly did not get the impression that there was any flow occuring under the layer of pooh, and as Bozel divers know, this spring basin is like a strainer as the water is pushed out about 10 different holes (only one of which leads under the land bridge to Bozel 2). So what gives? Has anyone else been here when this has happened? My theory is that the flow seen in Bozel 2 is actually artifact of what would normally be downstream, through too small fissure, backflowing up to Bozel 2 and creating the little discharge that was evident. I say this only because, inexplicably, the normally downstream vents are seemingly flowing at an increased rate. This was observed about mid-July. If anyone has been there after that please let me know what you saw. ty
Now I understand a spring being covered, even reversing, but why would Bozel 1 be dead, while 30 ft away Bozel 2 was pumping. Low, but pumping. We distinctly did not get the impression that there was any flow occuring under the layer of pooh, and as Bozel divers know, this spring basin is like a strainer as the water is pushed out about 10 different holes (only one of which leads under the land bridge to Bozel 2). So what gives? Has anyone else been here when this has happened? My theory is that the flow seen in Bozel 2 is actually artifact of what would normally be downstream, through too small fissure, backflowing up to Bozel 2 and creating the little discharge that was evident. I say this only because, inexplicably, the normally downstream vents are seemingly flowing at an increased rate. This was observed about mid-July. If anyone has been there after that please let me know what you saw. ty