Poe springs

[slackercruster]

Is Poe springs any good for open water divers?

 

[ucfdiver]

Is Poe springs any good for open water divers?

If memory serves me correctly, it's closed to diving. It's a decent sized spring, but shallow.

 

[SuPrBuGmAn]

Boat in from the river and its legal.

 

[ucfdiver]

Boat in from the river and its legal.

Just a forewarning to anyone who tries this, people have been hassled by police for going up the run at Blue Springs, which is just nearby. I wouldn't suggest pushing the legalities unless you're willing to pay and prove yourself right.

From my interpretation, Matt is correct, but it's just a warning.

Also Matt (or Kelly if you're reading this), how do things work if it's a state park? I know you can't paddle up Troy springs without being fined, nor sites like Wakulla. Do these rules extend to county parks? Figured you'd know better than me since you have a boat and dive the river often.

 

[SuPrBuGmAn]

Wakulla has been declared un-navigable, which puts it out of the reach of the waterways law. Thats of course, a BS assessment, but there's alot of money and corruption that went into that stance from a long long time ago(before the park owned the land there). The park could change it at this point, but why would they? It'd cut into there profit margins.

As for Troy... Dunno for sure, I've heard since its a state owned park they can restrict access to it, negating the free waterways act. Not sure if thats true or not. The waterways are state owned and free for the public to use, except where they decide to close it off... atleast thats how I understand it.



County Parks... They are usually state owned, but ran by the county. Not sure if the county would be able to take away the rights to a navigable waterway. I think not, just by looking at Jackson Blue and Morrison(both state owned and run by the county - but accessible by water - although both keep boats out of the basin now).

Poe and Blue Springs are privately owned, so you have the law on your side to boat up a navigable waterway. Keep a copy of the rulings with you is all I can say... be prepared to battle a citation if the local law wants to be a-holes, and keep in mind that some locals are crazy... I never.. EVER... start bringing up waterway acts looking into the barrel of a shotgun.

 

[JahJahwarrior]

Poe is privately owned? I thought they were a county park? They might be managed by an outside company though.

There was an article in the last few months about accessing the park by boat from the river. A person had gotten in trouble with the park at Poe for it, and he complained. I believe the ruling from the state offices said he had the right to access Poe from the river.

That said, Poe is pretty dinky compared to other parks nearby. Keep canoeing down to Ginnie and hop in from the river there. Much better dive. Bring a lock for your canoe or leave someone topside, or it might "walk off," and don't break the law by getting on their land without paying.

 

[siikik]

Troy is a state park but has a floating barricade where it meets the Suwanee and considering the last time I was there, which just happened to be when it was considered deep (by the ranger's standards), I could stand up in most of it... I don't know how "navigable" it would be under those conditions. The rangers do keep an eye on the place and make regular rounds.

Blue Springs is indeed privately owned and I've only been there once many many years ago. When I lived in the area a few years ago, Poe was a county park... and IMHO, barely worth swimming in. If you go through High Springs, ask the dive shop... they might know more. Logistically, Poe is not far from the county line and outside of the city limits of High Springs... so... if a deputy did have to come out, you could bet money he'd be anal about whatever you were doing. Blue Springs, while only just down the road from Poe, is in another county, but the above statement is just as applicable.



Ken

 

[slackercruster]

Thanks for all the feedback!

 

[SuPrBuGmAn]

Poe is privately owned? I thought they were a county park? They might be managed by an outside company though.

*shrugs* Maybe, but it doesn't matter as far as this thread is concerned. The result is the same... access is available by boat.

 

[JahJahwarrior]

Published Jun 24, 2009
SUMMARY
PREEMPTION ISSUES WE INVESTIGATED DUE TO PUBLIC CONCERNS:
· Park management verbally telling canoers/kayakers that they could not paddle into spring & spring run and would have to pay admission fee to swim
· 2 posted signs along the spring run that caused confusion – leading river users to believe the spring and spring run were private (“DESIGNATED SWIMMING AREA – NO BOATS BEYOND THIS POINT” + “POE SPRINGS PARK – ENTRANCE FEE - $5.00 PER PERSON&#8221
Both issues bulleted above can qualify as “unauthorized preemption” of SSL (Sovereign Submerged Lands)

RESULTS:
· Division of State Lands confirmed “THE STATE HOLDS TITLE TO THE SUBMERGED LANDS OF POE SPRING, POE SPRING RUN AND THE SANTA FE RIVER AT THIS SITE”
· Alachua County & Nature Quest was informed of the title determination – both agreed not to limit/manage/control public access to Poe Spring and the spring run
· County removed both signs from the spring run (signs had been put up prior to Nature Quest management) – I (DEP) visited site this morning and confirmed removal
· Informed county that they could not deposit “new sand” or “other fill” w/in 100’ of the spring & spring run to maintain the present man-made beach area

ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS:
1. Yes, the waters in the spring and spring run are for the public’s use and cannot be managed by another party without authorization
2. Yes, any lands “waterward” of the “ordinary high” along the Santa Fe River, the spring run, and the spring itself is SSL for public use (lawful) and cannot be managed by another party without authorization
3. Yes, the land submerged (bottom) in the spring and spring run is SSL for public use – public can “walk” up the spring run
4. Yes, the public has the right to park on the Santa Fe River bank (staying in water) & wade/walk or swim up into the spring run and spring. Yes, the public can paddle up into the spring run and spring.
5. SEE DISCUSSION BELOW

DISCUSSION:
At different times the fixed ordinary high water line can fall below water levels (i.e. floods) or can be above water levels on dry bank (i.e. drought) – a good rule of thumb is for the public to stay in the water column with their vessel and feet – along the mostly level river, spring bottom. Walking along the exposed sloping banks of rivers and springs contribute to bank erosion and potentially gets the user into an issue with the surrounding property owner. We ask the public to respect private property and use care when paddling into springs with swimmers/divers/children present. Alachua Co and Nature Quest stated that they will approach individuals for admissions if they walk above the top of the bank – i.e. to use the restroom or picnic facilities. They understand that paddlers will be along the banks when exiting their vessels to go for a swim.

Hope this helps - call if any questions,

Carmine Oliverio

Florida Department of Environmental Protection
Northeast District - Live Oak Field Office
Submerged Lands / Environmental Resources Permitting - Compliance & Enforcement
(386) 362-0417

^more info about Poe.