Manatee County

[Signal 20]

Has anyone heard of or know of any active springs along the Manatee or Little Manatee River. From checking the topo maps of the area I see alot of small canals that flow off of the river and small looking runs that flow to the river. I live 30 seconds from the Manatee River and just wanted to know if anyone has knowledge of anything before I go out looking.

[Line Squirrel]

Has anyone heard of or know of any active springs along the Manatee or Little Manatee River. From checking the topo maps of the area I see alot of small canals that flow off of the river and small looking runs that flow to the river. I live 30 seconds from the Manatee River and just wanted to know if anyone has knowledge of anything before I go out looking.

Nope...but I do have a boat <G>

[WEPIV]

I was born and mostly raised in Bradenton and I can say that I never heard of any spring there. (That's not to say there's not one but no one ever mentioned seeing or swimming in one. When not doing the usual Gulf/Anna Maria Island swimming, we used to go to Lithia Springs near Valrico/Brandon as we considered that the closest public access spring.)
Also, Advanced Diver magazine is published from Bradenton so if there are any springs/sinks, etc. there I believe they would know about them....

[cavediver256]

I would suggest a long hard look, who knows what you might find......:yawinkle:

[curtschu]

I'm going to guess that it is too far south to have much chance of a good Karst window.

[Signal 20]

I'm going to guess that it is too far south to have much chance of a good Karst window.

Well, thats what i thought, however there are springs on the hillsborough river and alafia river which is very close to me...and warm mineral springs and salt springs are both further south from manatee

[FW]

Well, thats what i thought, however there are springs on the hillsborough river and alafia river which is very close to me...and warm mineral springs and salt springs are both further south from manatee
Not to mention they found some caves near Miami, and Mexico is way south of that :-D

Like Tony said, you have to *look*.

[SRQ]

I have county wall maps that locate and name 'springs' on them. All are on private property.
Also out on Fruitville rd their are several subdivisions that are touting spring fed lakes and one lake in particular off of 34th st, sSouth of Cortez rd in Bradenton looks promising.
I sent you an email - give me a shout sometime.
Warren

[WEPIV]

Signal 20 -- I like your user name. Been called that myself at times.... (Also, my brother is with BPD and I'm trying to get him to get scuba certified.)
As I mentioned earlier, I grew up in Manatee County and I never heard of anyone swimming or diving in any springs or sinkholes in or around Bradenton. Also, my grandparents used to live on a houseboat and we made many a boat trip all over the place down there including running up Manatee River in a smaller boat.
If there's a spring somewhere there it must be small and secluded....
I also spent a few minutes trying to find the Florida Geological Survey online as it used to be but I could not find it today.
http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/springs_of_florida/
I also looked at the Tampa Diving.com website and saw no sites listed for Manatee County.
http://www.tampadiving.com/sections/diving/cave_systems.asp
And, as I mentioned last night, Advanced Diver Magazine (Curt Bowen and crew) publishes from Bradenton and if indeed there are any "swimming holes" in Manatee County I feel confident they would know about it.
http://www.advanceddivermagazine.com/
Happy hunting...

Gene Page IV