Excerpted from another post eight years ago. This barely trickling spring is on Sugar Creek, which flows to the Withlacoochee River. It is a cautionary tale for overpumping groundwater.

Former Artesian Spring, Saunders Park, Valdosta, GA 2017-09-16, On Sugar Creek, Withlacoochee River

My father told me there used to be a bath house on River Street west of downtown Valdosta, fed by an artesian well. I remember decades ago there being tumble-down buildings. In recent years I never could locate them.

Turns out that’s because it became John W. Saunders Park, 1151 River Street, Valdosta, Georgia.

Now a pile of rocks, 2017-09-16, 15:44:40, –jsq for WWALS 30.8287022, -83.3021064

Scotti Jay led me to the spring, which is to the left as you face the amphitheater.

Scotti Jay at the spring, 2017-09-16, 15:44:44, –jsq for WWALS 30.8287022, -83.3021064

Water is supposed to come out of that pipe.

PVC pipe, 2017-09-16, 15:44:58, –jsq for WWALS 30.8337195, -83.2929070

If there were any water, it would flow down that channel.

Flow channel, 2017-09-16, 15:45:07, –jsq for WWALS 30.8337195, -83.2929070

Scotti Jay says the pools used to be where the playing fields are now, on each side of the walk to the amphitheater.

Entrance, Saunders Park, 2017-09-16, 13:43:40, –jsq for WWALS 30.8286020, -83.3007970

See also Barber Pool, early 20th century.
https://wwals.net/?p=38045

 -jsq, John S. Quarterman, Suwannee RIVERKEEPER®

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