Jackson Blue Springs Condition Report

Printable View

10-08-2020 09:39 AM
DMoore

Jackson Blue Springs Condition Report

Jackson County Floridian: "Mill Pond drawdown begins Sept. 28 in Marianna.
Water level to drop 6 feet."

This was postponed due to the river levels but has now begun. From Saturday to Wednesday evening it has already dropped 1 1/2 feet and the flow is raging. I can't imagine what the flow will be like if it drops 6 feet as reported. During my 2 hour dive I'd estimate that it dropped an additional 3 inches based on the water level on the stairs.

Plan accordingly!

Wednesday evening conditions: Flow is very high, visibility is around 50-60 feet and milky @ 68 degrees.
10-10-2020 07:31 AM
v101

Dave - we are traveling to dive FL next week (Arrive Wednesday) so hope things will be ok for us to dive JB. thanks for update.
10-11-2020 05:07 PM
tflaris

I dove JB yesterday and today. Flow is blistering. It never let up for the 2600? penetration.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
10-12-2020 08:51 AM
DMoore

On Saturday, my dive buddy and I met Tony in the Rabbit hole (Lower Route) and yes... the flow is blistering. It's borderline dangerous in there. The flow is a lot worse since Wednesday (10/7) as the water level was down another foot. According to Stacy, they are dropping the Mill Pond just below the dive platform to do some repairs and after that will let it go back up. Fingers crossed it doesn't take two month to do.

Craig... JB is definitely still dive-able. Especially if you have a fast scooter. But be careful in there.
10-12-2020 09:43 AM
FW

Quote:

Originally Posted by DMoore

... JB is definitely still dive-able. Especially if you have a fast scooter.

Yes, but if you let up on the trigger, you might find yourself at the dam...

:rollguy
10-12-2020 10:17 AM
DMoore

No doubt Forrest!
10-19-2020 02:26 PM
v101

So did a lot of diving in JB as the other caves were not able to be accessed unless I took a flat bottom boat... the flow was highest i've seen in a long time. Getting in, had to have on highest setting to get in. Going down the rabbit hole was a S-L-O-W crawl, the flow was ripping so hard through that area it the small rocks were flying off the bottom and creating mini tornado's in the water... and coming out was a bit on the dangerous side.... I had to fish tail the DPV and go wide, to avoid being blasted against the first wall, as you go over the line, then as you go under it, you had to do the same technique to avoid getting blasted against the wall before you go up.
I was going to take a new DPV diver down there, and Im glad he didn't go w/ me.
10-19-2020 02:29 PM
v101

3 Attachment(s)

here are some pics of the water level

Attachment 21947 Attachment 21946 Attachment 21948
10-19-2020 04:23 PM
LMN

Cool, thanks for the report and pics. I was expecting a lower water level, it looks like 2 feet lower, maybe 3 at best.
10-19-2020 08:03 PM
patpicos

id be curious to see the surface at HITW and Twin (stagnant? outflowing?) but doubt any boat or kayak can make it
10-20-2020 12:01 PM
dogwatch

Quote:

Originally Posted by patpicos

id be curious to see the surface at HITW and Twin (stagnant? outflowing?) but doubt any boat or kayak can make it

I would be great to see aerial shots of the springs and their "runs" with the drawdown.
10-20-2020 02:39 PM
IowaCaveDiver

Quote:

Originally Posted by patpicos

id be curious to see the surface at HITW and Twin (stagnant? outflowing?) but doubt any boat or kayak can make it

Edd said there was a boil at HITW.

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk