Hidden within a small city park along the Scioto River is one of Dublin’s few remaining natural springs. Long before the modern city existed, this spring provided water to early settlers, including the Sell brothers, who arrived here around 1802, and likely served as a stop for Indigenous travelers along the river.
Today, this spot gives us a glimpse into how groundwater emerges at the surface and allows you to study a real example of a limestone-fed spring system in central Ohio.
Do not drink the water. It may appear clear, but it is not tested or treated for safety.
The Site
At the bottom of the hill, you’ll find a shallow pool of clear water, the spring outlet, surrounded by limestone fragments. The water flows a short distance before dropping down a small man-made waterfall into the Scioto River.
Background
The Sell brothers chose this site because it offered fertile ground for farming, abundant building stone, and proximity to the river, an important trade route in the early 1800s. The spring provided a reliable water source just below the hillside.
In 1991, the City of Dublin built a stairway so visitors could reach the spring safely. Later improvements added a paved path and a diversion channel that carries overflow water down to the river, along with a replacement of the original stairs.
The ground here is mostly limestone, with shale layers beneath. Limestone dissolves slowly over time, allowing groundwater to move through cracks and pores until it finds an outlet, what we see here.
What Is a Natural Spring?
A spring is a point where groundwater flows naturally from the subsurface to the surface. The flow occurs when underground pressure or gravity pushes water through permeable rock or fractures.
Common Spring Types
- Filtration Spring: Water seeps through porous soil or sand and emerges slowly.
- Fracture Spring: Water emerges through cracks or joints in rock.
- Tubular (Cave) Spring: Groundwater flows through underground conduits or caves before surfacing.
Flow Magnitude (Discharge)
| Magnitude |
Flow (US gal/min) |
Flow (Liters/sec) |
Description |
| 1st |
> 44,800 |
> 2800 |
Very large |
| 2nd |
4,480–44,800 |
280–2800 |
Large |
| 3rd |
448–4,480 |
28–280 |
Moderate |
| 4th |
100–448 |
6.3–28 |
Small |
| 5th |
10–100 |
0.63–6.3 |
Very small |
| 6th |
1–10 |
0.063–0.63 |
Tiny |
| 7th |
16 oz/min–1 gal/min |
0.008–0.063 |
Seep |
| 8th |
< 16 oz/min |
< 0.008 |
Barely flowing |
| 0 |
No flow |
0 |
Inactive |
Your EarthCache Tasks
Please answer the following questions based on your observations at the site. Send your answers to me through the Geocaching Message Center. A photo with the spring visible is welcome but optional. You do not need to wait for a reply before logging your find.
- Rock Identification
Look closely at the rock around the spring.
• What type of rock do you see (limestone, shale, sandstone, or other)?
• Give two observations that support your choice (for example: visible fossils, layering, or texture).
- Spring Type
Based on what you see, which type of spring best describes this one - Filtration, Fracture, or Tubular?
• Explain two observations that led you to that conclusion.
- Estimate Flow (Simplified)
Observe the spring’s flow visually.
• Describe whether the water appears still, trickling, flowing steadily, or gushing.
• Using the magnitude table above, estimate which class (for example, 0, 8th, 7th etc magnitude) best matches what you see.
• Briefly explain how you made your estimate. (No measuring tools required - base your answer on a visual observation)
- Water Quality
Why might this water be unsafe to drink today?
• Look around the area list two likely contamination sources and explain how each could affect the spring.
Learn More