Plans filed to restore Blue Hole to natural state at Florida Caverns

Three state agencies have filed plans to fill in part of Blue Hole at Florida Caverns State Park and do away with the small beach that surrounds the popular but currently closed swimming hole.

The proposed work is an effort to restore Blue Hole and the surrounding land to its “natural configuration,”  according to the “Joint Application for Works in the Waters of Florida” filed last week with the Department of Environmental Protection.

The joint request was made by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Northwest Florida Water Management District, and DEP’s own Division of Recreation and Park (Bureau of Design and Construction).

Under the plan,  roughly one-quarter acre of the swimming area would be restored to its natural state, the way it looked before the spring was expanded by man to create a larger swimming area. The man-made beach created years ago around it would also be restored to its natural state.

The application indicates that “sod and hardwoods” would make up the majority of the vegetation to be planted.

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The proposed work area would begin at the existing retaining wall and proceed “waterward toward the creek,” one DEP official said.

Officials seeking permission to do the work indicated the beach has sent sand into the spring and the Chipola River stream that feeds the water body.
For almost a year, Blue Hole has been closed to swimming because a long-term drought, muddy conditions and bacteria levels have made it unsafe for that activity.

If conditions improve, the area could be re-opened to swimming. The restoration order being sought in the joint application do not indicate that the agencies want to close the Hole permanently.  In a portion of the application, agencies stated that, “The uses of the spring will remain as active and passive recreation area following the restoration project.”

Work on the project, if approved, could begin this October and would take an estimated six months to complete, according to information in the application.