Madison Blue Spring State Park Launch (FL 6)

Managed by Suwannee Riverkeeper of WWALS Watershed Coalition, Inc.

The first and only first-magnitude spring on the Withlacoochee River, or the Withlacoochee (north) River as it is sometimes known in Florida

The spring is an easy paddle in from the river.
Takeout from the spring is by steep stairs and a long boardwalk.
There is a parking fee, because this is a state park, Madison Blue Spring State Park.

There's almost always enough water in the river to paddle, but the park may be closed at very high water.

Downstream it's only 1.99 miles or about an hour paddle to Madison Boat Ramp.

Photo: John S. Quarterman, 2019-12-16.

http://wwals.net/maps/withlacoochee-river-water-trail/wrwt-map/wrwt-access/#Madison-Blue-Spring-State-Park-Launch

Get directions to this beach

COVID-19

Keep your distance from other people.

Practicing social distancing is still essential. Only go to the beach if you are able to keep 6 feet or 2 meters away from others. Follow the instructions provided by your local health authorities. If your community has asked that you remain indoors and away from others, do so. Spending a day in any crowded place is the worst thing we can do for our most vulnerable right now and will counter our efforts to curb the virus’s spread.

Water Quality

Passed water quality tests 60-95% of the time
Historical Status
This status is based on the latest sample, taken on May 20th, 2021. Suwannee Riverkeeper of WWALS Watershed Coalition, Inc. updates the status of this beach as soon as test results become available. These results were posted to Swim Guide on May 21st, 2021 at 9:07 PM.

For water quality icon legend, click:

Report Pollution

Monitoring Frequency

Source Information

The WWALS Watershed Coalition (WWALS) and Suwannee Riverkeeper staff and volunteers collect, process, and analyze water quality data for the Withlacoochee River.

Water is sampled weekly, year-round. Water is sampled for E. coli. The City of Valdosta samples three times a week down to the GA-FL line, and Madison Health samples once or twice a week below that. Farther downstream, other Florida agencies also sample after a sewage spill. Results are shared one to three days after sampling.

A beach is marked GREEN when sample results are below 126 E .coli / 100 ML water.

A beach is marked RED when a recent sample result is 410 E. coli/100 mL, or the geometric mean concentration (minimum of five samples) is equal to or above 126 E. coli / 100 ML water.

A beach is marked GREY when there are no current results, or there is no available information.

Test results are expressed as Most Probable Number (MPN) of E.coli per 100 ml by using the IDEXX Quanti-Tray/2000 MPN Table, and in colony-forming units (CFU) per 100 milli-Liters of water (cfu/100 mL).

To report a contamination issue, please use this form: https://forms.gle/ye2FdfaF6UknuxgH7
Or call: 850-290-2350 / send email to contact@suwanneeriverkeeper.org

Please visit http://wwals.net/issues/testing/ for more information.
Please visit for more http://wwals.net/ information.

Water Quality Graph