154 FLORIDA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY SIXTH ANNUAL REPORT. 



however, that of spouting is certainly the most striking and re- 

 Kiarkable. It is of interest to note that a similar spouting well has 

 been reported by Professor McCallie at Albany, Georgia.* 



In considering the use of wells for drainage purposes the re- 

 lation of the lake basin to the underground water level should 

 first be definitely determined. The effectiveness of the well is re- 

 duced as the water level is approached, and it is of course obvious 

 that the water in the lake can in no case be carried below the under- 

 ground water level. Many of the larger lake basins are known to 

 lii- very close to the water level. If the lake basin lies as low as the 

 permanent water level it is obvious that the water in the lake can 

 not be drained by wells, moreover since the effectiveness of the well 

 is affected by the near approach to the water level, it is hardly prac- 

 ticable to reduce the water in the lake quite to the permanent under- 

 ground water level. It must also be borne in mind that while the un- 

 derground water is a permanent supply the water level or water line 

 is not stationary, but varies with the seasons. The amount of varia- 

 tion for the locality concerned should be determined. 



The fact that a lake basin stands somewhat above the water line 

 at the close of a long dry season 's not proof that it will be found to 

 s^and above the water line after a season of heavy rainfall. In 

 some sections of the state the range of variation of the water line 

 has been found to be as much as ten feet, and may in some instances 

 exceed that amount. 



The relation between the level of the lake basin and the under- 

 ground water has been determined for a few of the lakes. Meas- 

 ui-ements of Alachua Lake were made in 1907 and again in 1909. 

 When measured in October, 1907, the water level in Alachua Lake 

 was found to be 2.01 feet above the level of the underground 

 water of the Vicksburg Limestone formation as determined from 

 the Gainesville City well.* When measured in November, 1909, 

 the water in the sink stood approximately 1.4 feet above the water 

 level in the limestone as indicated by the city well. At the time 

 these measurements were made the lake was at a low water stage. 

 The underground water level was likewise at a low stage. From 

 these measurements it appears that Alachua Lake during the dry 

 seasons at least is lowered by natural drainage through the sink 

 to or practically to the underground water level. During the rainy 

 season the water in the lake doubtless rises above this level, although 

 it must be borne in mind that the water line also rises during the 

 rsiny season, a fact that should be borne in mind when planning 

 drainage. 



*Science, Vol. 24, p. 694, 1906. 



*For a record of this well, see Bui. No. i, pp. 30 and 88-89, 1908. 



