The Boiling Flow of Weaver and Boiling Creeks

The Boiling Flow of Weaver and Boiling Creeks

 

 

 

When you think of clear, cool and crisp waters of Florida Springs your mind may wander to the springs of Central and North Fl such as Ginnie Springs or Blue Springs of Gilchrist county. However nestled in a paradise unto itself many miles away in Northwest Florida lies a different kind of cool and crisp. Among the pine barrens and coastal plains of Eglin Air Force Base Reservation lies several beautiful springs and waterways fed by billowing sand boils and seeps pumping cool water from the aquifer to the light above. Among these water ways are two that are very dear to my heart and will to explore the water world. Boiling Creek and Weaver Creek.
 

 

Weaver Creek and Boiling Creek's waters are born into the light by two similar sources. In Northwest Fl the aquifer is what you would label as a sand and gravel aquifer. The water source comes from seep areas and can be found upon the willingness to push through some heavy forest as the seep areas are typically lined with heavy forest growth due to healthy nutrients billowing from the earth. The fact the waters come from seep, or sand boils, often give the waters a tannin or amber hue. Although it is not aqua marine as its far off cousins, the water is still crystal clear and they stay a crisp 68 degrees all year long. Found within the vast land tracks of Eglin Air Force Base, one must obtain a recreational permit to gaze upon these amber strands of gold. Eglin AFB covers 90 square miles making it one of the largest military installations in the world. With that being said, the AFB employ and utilize many agencies to keep these recreational areas clean and clear of  trash, poachers and riff raff. Making these water ways some of the most protected in the entire state.

Although protected, they too share the potential fate as many of our other springs and sacred water ways throughout the state. Three years ago the region sustained heavy rains and suffered extensive flooding. Since this natural occurrence, Boiling Creek has not been able to bounce back to the clear waters it has always been known for. Flooding raised the creek's water level making the flow seep into the lower lying wetlands and swamps. The water rise allowed the darker swamp water to mix within the clearer waters, creating a darker color as well as silt and debris flowing through the new water level into the creek basin. Boiling Creek is still clear but not as clear as it once was. Time will tell whether or not Boiling Creek can cleanse itself and regain its sunny disposition all of us locals that know of it have come to love and appreciate.

Weaver Creek can be found approximately four miles to the west of Boiling Creek and is much clearer yet not as wide as the latter. It is faced with a different kind of threat, a man made one. The Weaver Seep is located in a sink hole about one mile from Highway 87 north of a small coastal town named Navarre. The DOT (department of transportation) is working on widening Hwy 87 from a two lane highway to a four lane highway, as it is the only hurricane evacuation route from Navarre. With doing so the DOT will bring the highway closer to the seep area. The very source of Weaver Creek's clear waters could be tainted with potential run off from the newly installed asphalt. When widening the highway system they will have to excavate and remove portions of forest, creating more of a potential threat. As in Boiling creeks fate time will tell whether or not Weaver will be effected or bounce back from this tragedy.

 

We must bear in mind that with out the voice and actions against the actions of others causing harm to these beautiful waters of gold and blue, they will disappear and in time just be a distant memory. We must keep and protect these flowing waters protected and teach younger generations to do the same. Without water there is no blue, no green, no life. Thank you. JMF