Cave Metering Project

GUE’s Woodville Karst Plain Project collaborated with the Florida Geological Survey, Florida State University and Northwest Florida Water Management District's (NWFWMD) to install seven oceanographic meters that measure water velocity, temperature, and electrical conductivity at various points within the Wakulla Springs Cave system. The meters were installed by GUE trained cave divers and are accessible for data downloads by cables running from the meters to the land surface through wells that have been installed into the cave system. Sampling tubes run through the same well casing, allowing water samples to be retrieved from points within the cave. Data from the meters is downloaded monthly by the Florida Geological Survey (FGS). The water sampling tubes have been incorporated into the Northwest Florida Water Management District's (NWFWMD) regular spring sampling program.

The dataset will be the first of its kind and will constitute the most detailed analysis of an underwater karst cave in existence. The purpose of the project is to collect long-term continuous measurements from within discrete conduits in the Wakulla cave system that contribute water to the discharge at Wakulla Spring. The data will allow scientists to determine the source of the water from each of the discrete conduits metered, thereby significantly increasing our understanding of the hydraulics of groundwater flow through the Woodville Karst Plain. The improved understanding can then be applied to efforts to protect Wakulla Spring and, more broadly, groundwater resources in Wakulla and Leon counties.



James McClean of the FGS checking the meter setups before deployment to B and C Tunnels in Wakulla Cave.

Click for a map and description of the meter locations.

See a Quick Time movie of a meter installation.

Example of a cave cross-section measurement.