Hornsby Spring
Hornsby Spring was once a beautiful 1st magnitude spring, and one of the best springs in Florida.
Today Hornsby Spring has stopped flowing because of damage and over-pumping of the Florida Aquifer.
Hornsby spring also suffers from excessive nitrate pollution, caused by sewage, fertilizer and other contaminants.
The story of Hornsby Springs was told in a Tampa Bay Times article by the great environmental journalist Craig Pittman. It’s a must-read.
Hornsby Springs Details
Hornsby Spring is surrounded by private property, owned by a private religious compound called Camp Kulaqua.
Hornsby Springs is 1.5 miles north of High Springs. The Spring is about 300 ft northwest of the private camp entrance, surrounded by private property.
Hornsby Spring is one of many springs on the Santa Fe River. The spring is connected to the river by a beautiful, lush and shaded spring run.
The Hornsby Spring run is approximately one mile long. It’s about 15 feet wide in most parts and is approximately 5 feet deep. It appears to be navigable with canoe or kayak but there are some reports of possible obstructions.
The spring has a circular spring pool. The basin measures approximately 155 ft from north to south and 147 ft from east to west. There are docks and a blob water feature, used for playing.
The water is clear and slightly greenish blue. The depth at the spring vent varies, but is recorded as 34.5 ft.
The spring has an underwater limestone ledge on the north side of the spring. The ledge is under a floating walkway. There is an underwater cave system beneath Hornsby Spring, which has been explored and mapped to the east.
The spring basin and run have large amounts of algae and aquatic vegetation, as does the Santa Fe River.
Hornsby Spring flows occasionally after periods of heavy rainfall, when local water levels are high. But, there is reportedly no pattern of healthy, consistent flow like there was when the spring was healthy. When water flows there is sometimes a spring boil, or even two. One boil is located on the edge of the Santa Fe River floodplain.
The surrounding natural environment is lowland and Santa Fe River floodplain. It’s heavily forested with cypress, gum and maple. There is some high ground on the east side of the spring, about 6 feet above water level.
History of Hornsby Spring
Hornsby Spring was the site of important archeological discoveries, along with nearby Darby Spring.
Like many other springs in Florida, Hornsby Spring was used by prehistoric man for thousands of years before the first Europeans arrived in Florida. Mammoth and mastodon fossils were found, with stone tools and evidence of prehistoric human hunting.
A 1961 Florida Geological Survey explains the site’s significance and exciting discoveries. Artifacts show that prehistoric man may have herded animals into Hornsby Springs as a hunting tactic.
Prehistoric stone spear heads were found among mammoth and mastodon skeletons.
“In the springhead and spring run at Hornsby Springs fossilized mammoth remains have been and are being found, some in association with lithic (stone) artifacts.” “The ground surface at the basin surrounding Hornsby Spring was, like that of the Darby Spring site, littered with the chips and flakes of an extensive lithic (stone) workshop”.
Source
The 1961 archaeological report mentions that the archaeological site was bulldozed, apparently in the 1950s, to “build up” the surrounding land around the spring.
The construction destroyed much of the archeological site.
Camp Kulaqua
The religious compound surrounding Hornsby Springs was built in 1953. According to the Camp Kulaqua website, the location was chosen because of the beautiful Hornsby Springs.
The founders reportedly knelt together in prayer at Hornsby Springs, asking for guidance about whether they should buy the spring.
At that time, Hornsby was a healthy, natural spring. It had a strong, consistent water flow. It was a beautiful and beloved swimming hole. It was among the best of Florida’s springs, in a select group known as first-magnitude springs.
Besides being a first magnitude spring, Hornsby attracted other recognition. It was designated as an “Outstanding Florida Spring”; a special honor given to Florida’s best springs.
Being an “Outstanding” spring meant Hornsby spring deserved extra protection. It was unique, and very high quality. It should be protected.
Spring Health
Sadly the health of Hornsby Spring has seriously deteriorated over time.
Twenty years ago, “you used to could swim straight down 80 feet,” recalled Theresa Sroka, a former camper who’s now Kulaqua’s marketing director. “There was a floating dock in the middle and the lifeguard would sit on it, because it was so deep.”
But then the flow began slowing, and in 2003 it stopped.
Florida’s Vanishing Springs, by Craig Pittman
The formerly healthy, 1st magnitude spring has stopped flowing. At times, the spring’s water flow was measured as “zero”. It’s possible the spring may have even flowed backwards at times.
Why? The spring flow was drained by over-pumping water from the Florida Aquifer.
The pristine water was also contaminated with sewage, nitrates and phosphates. The pollutants fueled runaway algae blooms, health dangers and other problems. The pollution levels rose until the spring became unsafe for swimming.
“It became a stagnant pond,” said camp director Phil Younts. The water quality fell below what the health department required for swimming, so “we had to bus kids to other places to swim.”
Florida’s Vanishing Springs, by Craig Pittman
The pollution flowed from many sources. Some pollution came from the Camp Kulaqua water treatment system, septic tanks and other sources. It seeped into the ground, the aquifer, the spring, and the Santa Fe River.
Sewage Treatment
In 2015 government agencies got involved.
The Department of Environmental Protection and Suwannee River Water Management District stepped in to stop sewage and wastewater from flowing into the Santa Fe River.
A massive project removed failing septic systems and connected the city’s water treatment system.
This article from the non-profit group, Our Santa Fe River, details the project:
Suwannee River Water Management District, which has authorized a half million dollar grant, the waste treatment plant at Camp Kulaqua will now divert its wastewater into High Springs’ water treatment plant.
The camp has its own plant which allowed nitrate-laden effluent to enter first-magnitude Hornsby Spring, located on the property. Utilizing the city’s treatment facilities will allow the camp’s wastewater to undergo improved processing and disposal, saving the river from heavy doses of nitrates.
The SRWMD grant will fund the construction of the needed pumping station and 6,000 feet of a 6 inch pipe, which is estimated to require about a year to complete.
Our Santa Fe River
Government agencies paid $500,000 to fix Camp Kulaqua’s sewage system.
Ninety percent of the funding came from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. The Suwannee River Water Management District matched the remaining ten percent. Source
Camp Kulaqua (Alachua County): The Hornsby Spring Water Quality Improvement Project will reduce nutrient loading to Hornsby Spring by nearly 100 pounds annually. This project will remove Camp Kulaqua’s on-site wastewater plant and effluent disposal and install a wastewater line that will take the effluent to the City of High Springs wastewater treatment plant.
Source: Florida Department of Environmental Protection
These same threats — over-pumping and pollution — threaten all of our springs, our aquifer and our drinking water supply.
River Ranch Water Park
In the early 2000s, when Hornsby Spring stopped flowing and became unusable, Camp Kulaqua lost their swimming hole. So, they built a water park, River Ranch Water Park at a cost of $1.6 million.
Water for River Ranch is pumped up from the Florida Aquifer.
The water park is private and not open for public access, except for occasional “community days” when the public is allowed to pay a fee to enter.
Questionable Animal Zoo
Some online comments are critical of the camp because of the conditions in an onsite “zoo”, which is advertised on the camp’s website.
Large exotic animals, including a bear, tiger, lion and cougar, are kept in small cages. The cages appear to be very small, have concrete floors, and without grass or natural features or stimulus for the animals.
I grew up going to Camp Kulaqua and they really need to shut down their “zoo.” It’s basically a gross roadside type of zoo with super stressed out animals in very small enclosures. It was disturbing to see as a child and still upsetting as an adult. Please close this zoo down, it’s not how God intended animals to live.
Source
Nearby Springs
- Darby Spring
- Columbia Spring
- COL428981
- Treehouse Spring
- Santa Fe River Rise Spring
Nearby Parks
- Ichetucknee Springs State Park
- O’Leno State Park
- San Felasco Hammock State Preserve
- Devil’s Millhopper State Geologic Site
- River Rise State Preserve
- Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park
Sources
Florida Geological Survey of Darby and Hornsby Springs
Florida’s Vanishing Springs by Craig Pittman
Florida Geological Survey, Springs of Florida, Bulletin No. 66
A Stetson University professor blog reports a nice 2017 visit to Hornsby Springs and the Santa Fe River. Thankfully it looks like environmental work may be starting to have some positive impact.
Nearby Cities
- Gainesville
- High Springs
- Lake City
Region
Central Florida
Activities
- Archeology
- Canoeing
- Kayaking
- Paddle Boarding
Related Spring Group
Santa Fe River Springs
Contact Information
Camp Kulaqua: (386) 454-1351
Suwanee River WMD: (386) 362-1001
Florida DEP Recreation: 850-245-3029
