Springs in the Chipola River Basin

There are a total of 63 springs identified in a 2003-04 study conducted by the North West Florida Water Management District with funding from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. In Jackson County, 30 of these springs are located north of I-10 and 28 are south of I-10. There are 5 more springs in Calhoun County. The springs can be categorized as typical fissure-type vents and those that discharge by diffuse percolation, which are called seep springs.
Discharge measurements of the Chipola River at US 90 indicated a base flow of approximately 300 cubic feet per second. At CR 274 west of Altha, the base flow is 800 cubic feet per second. The small surface water drainage streams emptying into the Chipola River cannot account for this increase. The major tributaries to the Chipola River are Rocky Creek, Dry Creek, and Spring Creek which all are spring runs for first and second magnitude springs groups.
One would expect that since much of the water in the Chipola River comes from springs that it would have clear water most of the time. This is not true, because the upper Chipola River runs through rich farmland, and the water traveling downstream is often muddy. Only at low water levels after an extended period without rain will the water be clear.