Citrus County is characterized by its lakes, rivers and springs with abundant freshwater marshes, flatwoods, hardwood forests and hummocks. The County is bordered on the West and North by the meandering Withlacoochee River, which flows northward from the Green Swamp in central Florida to the Gulf of Mexico. The river is relatively shallow and intermittently dotted with boulders and tree stamps along the way. Majestic cypress trees with their characteristic "knees" reach to the skies, along -with tall pine trees and water oaks, many hundreds of years old.
Aside from small residential clusters and a few old Florida fish camps, the river is in its natural state.
The Withlacoochee River feeds the Lake Tsala Apopka Chain of Lakes. Tsala Apopka is a large system of interconnected lakes that are divided by peninsulas and islands, stretching a distance of 22 miles. The lake chain is an age-old favorite of anglers from around the world who seek largemouth bass.
Geology of the watershed is relatively simple with thick sequences of limestone. Where limestone is near the surface, the thin veneer of sediment that covers the limestone consists of unconsolidated deposits of primarily quartz sand. These sands are marine terrace deposits and coastal dune trains.