The Washington Blue Spring Choctawhatchee spring pool is nearly circular and measures 111 ft in diameter from north to south. The vent is near the center of the pool and discharges from a fissure beneath a limestone ledge. The ledge has prominent bedding planes, and the limestone is soft and chalky. The depth measured near the vent is 22 ft. The water is clear and bluish and there is a large boil on the pool surface. Aquatic plants occur within the spring pool. High ground borders the south side of the pool and rises steeply to approximately 20 ft above the water surface, forming a bluff face with limestone and clay cropping out. A mixed pine and hardwood forest covers the high ground.
This region has changed considerably since the USGS topographic maps were updated. The spring run used to flow into lower Holmes Creek in the 1970’s. The Choctawhatchee River has since migrated eastward and captured Boynton Cutoff and lower Holmes Creek. Holmes Creek’s confluence with the Choctawhatchee River is presently farther upstream than the 1982 7 1/2 minute topographic maps depict. The wide spring run flows a total distance of 0.9 miles southwestward entering the Choctawhatchee River from the east approximately 1.8 miles downstream from the mouth of Holmes Creek. Deadhead logs, old docks and vessel remains from turn-of-the 19th century logging industry are abundant in and along spring run. Exotic aquatic vegetation is present in the spring run. Apple snails also are common. There may be additional springs along the spring run approximately 500 ft downstream where the run widens and there are deep circular pools along the run; however, there was no visible flow from these pools in August 2002. The authors also heard reports of a spring approximately 0.25 miles north of the spring run within Mill Lake. Flow from Mill Lake enters the spring run from the north 0.4 miles downstream from Washington Blue Spring Choctawhatchee.
The spring and its run are within the lowland floodplain of the Choctawhatchee River. This floodplain supports a mature cypress and tupelo forest.
The spring is undeveloped and surrounded by private land. It is used locally for swimming.
Washington Blue Spring Choctawhatchee is surrounded by private land, 5.5 miles northwest of Ebro. The spring run enters the Choctawhatchee River from the east side. The spring is accessible by boat. From the intersection of I-10 and SR 79 travel south 17.5 miles (28.2 km) to New Hope. At the intersection of SR 79 and CR 284 in New Hope, drive west (right) on CR 284 for 3.8 miles (6.1 km) and turn south (left) onto CR 284A. Travel 3.6 miles (5.8 km) ending at a boat ramp on Holmes Creek. From the boat landing head downriver approximately 3.5 miles (5.6 km) to the confluence with the Choctawhatchee River. The spring is 0.9 miles (1.4 km) upstream of the confluence.
