Overview

Aucilla Spring is a small but notable spring in the Wacissa Springs Group in Jefferson County, Florida. Although the name can be a little confusing, this spring is not the same as the larger Aucilla River rise system farther south. Instead, Aucilla Spring is one of the named springs associated with the spring-fed Wacissa River area.

This is not one of the better-known public swimming springs in Florida, and there is relatively little visitor-focused information available online. Its part of the Wacissa Springs Group, a dense cluster of springs that help form one of North Florida’s most beautiful spring-fed river systems.

Description

Aucilla Spring has been described as a relatively small spring pool, about 40 feet wide, with a maximum depth of roughly 3 feet. Two boils are present in the pool area, indicating visible groundwater discharge.

The spring run is short, approximately 120 feet long, and has been noted as containing hydrilla and other aquatic vegetation. This is common in parts of the Wacissa system, where clear water, shallow runs, and abundant sunlight can support dense aquatic plant growth.

Measured discharge in the SRWMD spring inventory was 8.81 cubic feet per second, making Aucilla Spring a third-magnitude spring.

Location and Setting

The closest access point is Wacissa Springs County Park on Wacissa Springs Road. From the county park, paddlers can access the clear, spring-fed waters of the Wacissa River and the surrounding spring group. The Wacissa River itself is one of the main paddling destinations in the area.

The surrounding area is part of a broad spring-and-river system connected with the Aucilla Wildlife Management Area. This region includes hydric hammock, cypress swamp, flatwoods, spring runs, and clear-water river habitat. Wildlife in the broader area may include wading birds, turtles, alligators, river otters, fish, and many species associated with North Florida wetlands.

The Wacissa Springs Group

Aucilla Spring is part of the larger Wacissa Springs Group, one of the major spring systems in North Florida. The group includes numerous named springs and vents that contribute flow to the Wacissa River.

The Florida Springs Institute describes the Wacissa Springs Group as a first-magnitude spring system made up of many springs flowing into the Wacissa River. The core spring area includes several larger and better-known springs, while smaller springs like Aucilla Spring add to the complexity of the system.

More Resources

• Suwannee River Water Management District – Springs of the Aucilla, Coastal, and Waccasassa Basins in Florida
• Florida Springs Institute – Wacissa Springs Group
• Wacissa Springs County Park
• Facebook post listing the spring
• Water quality data

Photo: Aucilla Spring. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), photo by Joe Davis. (link here)