(picture from the 70's)
Location:
Sulphur Springs is about 200 ft SW. of the intersection
of U.S. Hwy 41 and Waters Ave. It is located just south of the dog tracks
off Nebraska Ave and Bird St.
Description:
The site used to be a swimming pool and recreational
facility until closed and fenced due to contamination. Micheal Garman is
still conducting exploration there under a permit from the City of Tampa.
So far 3,200 feet has been explored and mapped. The spring pool has been
developed into a 50 ft circular swimming pool with concrete walls. The
pool has a maximum depth of about 30 ft and water level is controlled by
two toboggan flumes with fixed crest elevations on each side of a large
moveable steel stop-gate at the outlet. The run exits the pool to the south,
then flows southwest to the Hillsborough River 500 ft below the pool. At
low flow of the Hillsborough River the springs are pumped to augment Tampa's
water supply. The cave is reported to be some of the nastiest crap around.
The are several sinks in the are that may have been connected at one time
(see Tampa street overlay), but they have long been blocked due to trash
and dirt build-up (this is not the best area of town). The visibility is
reported to be 10-15 feet unless you start having the percolation get so
bad because you stayed in the same place for more than 30 seconds. I have
heard of divers coming out of the cave with not only a foul stench from
the contaminated water (and remember this is a source of our drinking water
in times of drought) but also with leeches attached. I probably would not
dive here, even with a rubber environmental suit. There is currently a
park restoration project underway here to restore the waterfront, although
the spring will still be closed due to health concerns.
Click here for the Sulphur Springs map
Click here for Tampa street map
with cave overlay
Sulphur Springs Survey Data
Copyright (c) 2022, Thomas L Johnson / TJ
