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# #N 4ALL4IMBERS 2ESEARCH 3TATION ,AND #ONSERVANCY4HE 'EORGIA #ONSERVANCY AND4HE #ONSERVATION &UND COMBINED THEIR EFFORTS TO PRODUCE THE /CHLOCKONEE2IVER A PUBLICATION THAT INTRODUCED MANY READERS TO ONE OF&LORIDA AND 'EORGIAS
MOST OVERLOOKED RIVERS4HESE SAME CONSERVATION PARTNERS HAVE ONCE AGAIN WORKED TOGETHER TO INTRODUCE READERS TO ANOTHER CRITICAL RESOURCE IN THE 2ED (ILLS REGION THE !UCILLA 2IVER4HOUGH SMALL IN SIZE THE !UCILLA 2IVER MORE THAN MAKES UP FOR THIS BYVIRTUE OFITS STUNNING BEAUTY BOUNTIFUL NATURAL RESOURCES AND ITS hNOWYOU SEE IT NOWYOU DONTv VANISHING ACT INTO SUBSURFACE LIMESTONE CAVERNS IN &LORIDA AND 'EORGIA
-ANY ORGANIZATIONS ARE WORKING TO CONSERVE THE !UCILLA 2IVER AND ITS WATERSHED )N &LORIDA ALONE MORE THAN  ACRES OFmOODPLAIN AND OVER  MILES OFRIVER FRONTAGE HAVE BEEN PURCHASED BY STATE AGENCIES AND THE 3UWANNEE 2IVER7ATER -ANAGEMENT $ISTRICT WITH THE GOAL OFPROTECTING ONE OF&LORIDAS
MOST OUTSTANDING RIVERS )N FACT THE !UCILLA 2IVER AND ITS NEARBY COMPANION THE 7ACISSA 2IVER ARE AMONG ONLY  OFlCIALLY DESIGNATED /UTSTANDING &LORIDA7ATERS OUT OFMORE THAN  RIVERS LAKES AND ESTUARIES IN THE STATE )N ADDITION TO PUBLIC ACQUISITION OFLAND IN THE !UCILLA 2IVER7ATERSHED PRIVATE LANDOWNERS HAVE CONSERVED MORE THAN  ACRES IN &LORIDA AND 'EORGIA IN CONSERVATION EASEMENTS HELD BY THE4ALL4IMBERS ,AND #ONSERVANCY THE 3UWANNEE 2IVER7ATER -ANAGEMENT $ISTRICT AND4HE .ATURE #ONSERVANCY .EVERTHELESS THERE IS STILL MORE TO DO .ON
POINT SOURCE POLLUTION FROM URBAN AND RURAL LANDSCAPES SEPTIC TANK FAILURES AND LITTERING OFPUBLIC GATHERING PLACES ON THE RIVER ALL POSE A THREAT TO THIS TREASURE )FYOU WOULD LIKE TOJOIN EFFORTS TO PROTECT THE !UCILLA 2IVER AND ITS WATERSHED CONTACT

ONE OFTHE FOLLOWING ORGANIZATIONS

4ALL4IMBERS 2ESEARCH 3TATION  ,AND#ONSERVANCY

FOSTERS EXEMPLARY LAND STEWARDSHIP THROUGH RESEARCH CONSERVATIONAND EDUCATION4HE 4ALL4IMBERS ,AND #ONSERVANCY IS THE LARGEST

REGIONAL LAND TRUST IN &LORIDA AND 'EORGIA WITH

OVER  ACRES UNDER CONSERVATION EASEMENT #ONTACT  (ENRY"EADEL$RIVE 4ALLAHASSEE &, 
  
 WWWTALLTIMBERSORG

4HE #ONSERVATION &UNDFORGES PARTNERSHIPS TO

PRESERVE OUR NATIONS OUTDOOR HERITAGE
n !MERICAS LEGACY OF WILDLIFE HABITAT WORKING

LANDSCAPES AND COMMUNITY OPEN
SPACE #ONTACT 3OUTHEAST /FlCE 0/ "OX  4UCKER '! 
  
 WWWCONSERVATIONFUND

4HE 'EORGIA #ONSERVANCY IS A

STATEWIDE ENVIRONMENTAL

ORGANIZATION WHOSE JOB

IS TO MAKE SURE THAT 'EORGIANS HAVE HEALTHY AIR CLEAN WATER

UNSPOILED WILD PLACES AND COMMUNITY GREEN

SPACE NOW AND IN THE FUTURE #ONTACT .ORTH-AIN 3TREET -OULTRIE '!  
 WWWGEORGIACONSERVANCYORG !TLANTA OFlCE  7EST0EACHTREE 3TREET 3UITE !TLANTA '!   

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# 1HY "ECAUSE THE !UCILLA 2IVER

 lCKLE AND MYSTERIOUS UNKNOWN AND UNKNOWABLE

CANT MAKE UP ITS MIND WHETHER ITWANTS TO BE A RIVER A SWAMP OR AN AQUIFER

&OR EXAMPLE IN THE -IDDLE !UCILLA THE RIVER DECIDES TO BECOME A FAST mOWING STREAM WITH STEEP 
FOOT LIMESTONE RIVERBANKS AND SOME OF THE ONLY RAPIDS FOUND IN THE &LORIDA 0ANHANDLE !BOVE THIS AREA THE RIVER AND ITS TRIBUTARIES ELECT TO BE WHAT MOSTWOULD DESCRIBE AS A BROAD SWAMP !ND IN SOME LOCATIONS

ONE IN 'EORGIA AND SEVERAL IN &LORIDA

WHAT IS A MAJOR SUBSTANTIAL RIVER DISAPPEARS ENTIRELY INTO THE EARTH AS IFTO GO UNDERGROUND TO THINK FOR A WHILE THEN REAPPEARS  TIMES OVER SEVERAL MILES IN A CRISIS OFINDECISION BEFORE lNALLY MAKING UP ITS MIND TO BE A RIVER AND mOW TO THE SEA
4O EXPERIENCE THE RIVER FROM ITS SWAMPY BEGINNINGS TO WHERE IT FEEDS A SALT MARSH IN THE 'ULFOF-EXICO REQUIRES A SOLID FAITH !ND A DETAILED SET OFMAPS

"UT BE IT RIVER SWAMP OR AQUIFER THE !UCILLA UNDOUBTEDLY SUPPLIES A GREAT VARIETY OFFREE BENElTS TO HUMANS AND THE NATURAL WORLD )T

SERVES AS mOOD CONTROL IT PURIlES SURFACE WATERS IT PROVIDES NURSERY AND SANCTUARY FOR lSH AND WILDLIFE AND IT RECHARGES THE UNDERGROUND
WATER SUPPLY4HE !UCILLA IS ALSO A TREASURE TROVE FOR ARCHEOLOGISTS WHO STUDY HUMANKINDS EARLYBEGINNINGS AND AN OUTDOOR LABORATORY FOR BIOLOGISTS WHO LABOR TO UNDERSTAND AND PROTECT

OUR lNITE NATURAL RESOURCES !ND LASTLY THE RIVER IS A SOURCE OFSPIRITUAL RENEWAL WHEN USED FOR RECREATION AND APPRECIATED FOR ITS BEAUTY

4HE LATTER QUALITY IS WHAT THREATENS IT MOST 9OU DONT HAVE TO BE A REAL ESTATE AGENT TO KNOW THAT THE ENTIRE &LORIDA 0ANHANDLE REGION IS UNDERGOING A TSUNAMI OFNEW RESIDENTS AND DEVELOPMENT 7HILE THIS WAVE RAISES PROPERTY VALUES A CORRESPONDING EFFECT IS THE REDUCTION ALTERATION DEPLETION AND LOSS OFTHE NATURAL WORLD AND ITS FREELY SERVED UTILITARIAN BENElTS 4HAT IS UNLESS WE TAKE STEPS TO PROTECT THE NATURAL WORLD WHICH SERVES US SO WELL 

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# 7 cz!Sjdibse!K/!Mfo{Bvdjmmb!Sjwfs!Tjol INTO UNDERGROUND CHANNELS KARST REGIONS ARE PARTICULARLYVULNERABLE TO POLLUTION FROM ANIMAL
WASTE BECAUSE POLLUTANTS SEEP QUICKLY INTO THE GROUNDWATER AND SPRINGS UNDERNEATHv

! VARIETY OFNATURAL FACTORS GOING BACK MILLIONS OFYEARS HELPED CREATE THE KARST ENVIRONMENT THROUGH WHICH THE !UCILLA mOWS &IRST IS THE LARGE VOLUME OFPRECIPITATION THAT FALLS IN THE
AREA WHICH PRODUCES A CHEMICAL REACTION THAT SLOWLY DISSOLVES THE CARBONATE ROCK 3ECOND IS THE EFFECT OFTHE SALTWATER OFTHE 'ULFOF -EXICO WHICH COMES IN CONTACTWITH THE AQUIFER AND CHEMICALLY INmUENCES THE KARST ENVIRONMENT4HIRD THE WETLANDS AND MARSHES OFTHE REGION INTRODUCE CARBON DIOXIDE INTO THE ENVIRONMENT RESULTING IN FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OFA KARST LANDSCAPE !ND lNALLY THE HISTORIC RAISING AND LOWERING OFSEA
LEVELS IN THE REGION

OVER THE LAST TWO MILLION YEARS PRODUCED A CHEMICAL WASHING MACHINE EFFECT ON THE LIMESTONE AS WATER TABLES MOVED UP AND DOWN

4HE !UCILLA 2IVER7ATERSHED IS ONE OFFOUR WATERSHEDS THAT DElNE THE /CHLOCKONEE 2IVER "ASIN WHICH IS ONE OF'EORGIAS  MAJOR RIVER BASINS )N &LORIDA THE !UCILLA 2IVER IS MANAGED BY THE 3UWANNEE 2IVER7ATER -ANAGEMENT $ISTRICT4HIS REGION CONTAINS THE LARGEST DENSITY OF SPRINGS IN THE WORLD WITH MORE THAN  IDENTIlED SPRINGS4WENTY
ONE SPRINGS ARE GRADED AS hlRST MAGNITUDEv WHICH MEANS THEY DISCHARGE MORE THAN ONE HUNDRED CUBIC FEET OFWATER PER SECOND )N THE 3UWANNEE 2IVER SYSTEM THERE ARE  IDENTIlED SPRINGS AND IN THE !UCILLA7ACISSA %CONlNA &ENHOLLOWAY 3TEINHATCHEE AND7ACCASASSA WATERSHEDS APPROXIMATELY  SPRINGS HAVE BEEN LOCATED ! TOTAL COUNT IS PROBLEMATIC BECAUSE MANY SPRINGS ARE FOUND IN THE STREAMBED AND ARE ONLYVISIBLE DURING EXTREMELY LOW mOWS

3CIENTISTS ESTIMATE THAT THE TOTAL DISCHARGE OFALL THE $ISTRICTS SPRINGS IS MORE THAN  BILLION GALLONS A DAY WHICH IS EQUAL TO THE VOLUME OFTHE -ISSISSIPPI 2IVER mOWING PAST -INNEAPOLIS -INNESOTA ON AN AVERAGE DAY

)N THE !UCILLA7ATERSHED THERE ARE SEVEN lRST MAGNITUDE SPRINGS INCLUDING7ACISSA 3PRING WHICH GIVES BIRTH TO THE 7ACISSA THE MAIN TRIBUTARY OFTHE !UCILLA !DDING TO 7ACISSA 3PRING ARE APPROXIMATELY OTHER SPRINGS FOUND IN THE lRST  MILES OFTHE 7ACISSAS HEADWATERS

7HERE THEY MEET FOUR MILES FROM THE COAST THE 7ACISSA ADDS VOLUME TO THE !UCILLA WHICH THEN mOWS TO !PALACHEE "AY WHERE IT DISCHARGES AN ANNUAL AVERAGE OF CUBIC FEET OFFRESHWATER PER SECOND4HE !UCILLA 2IVER BASIN ALSO PLAYS A ROLE IN ADDINGWATER VOLUME
TO THE UNDERGROUND AQUIFER WHICH SEEPS FRESH
WATER INTO THE 'ULFOF-EXICO ADDING UP TO  PERCENT OFALL FRESHWATER mOWBY SOME ESTIMATES 4HE COMBINATION OFFRESH AND SALTWATER CREATES THE IDEAL CONDITIONS FOR SUPPORTING THE PRODUCTIVE TIDAL MARSHES THAT ARE NURSERY HOME AND FEEDING GROUNDS FOR lSH AND SHELLlSH4HE NORTHEASTERN COAST OFTHE 'ULFOF-EXICO WHILE ONLY  PERCENT OF&LORIDAS COASTLINE COMPRISES  PERCENT OFTHE STATES PRECIOUS TIDAL MARSHES WHICH SUPPORT &LORIDAS MULTI
MILLION DOLLAR SEAFOOD RECREATION AND TOURISM INDUSTRIES



# 22 21 Tqjoz cbdlfe!Pscxfbwfs! )Hbtufsbdbouib!fmjqtpjeft*

### !*OURNEYTHROUGHTHE!UCILLA 7ATERSHED 

# !EOGRAPHERS REPORT THAT THE WATERSHED DRAINS APPROXIMATELY  SQUARE MILES OFWHICH  PERCENT ARE IN &LORIDA AND  PERCENT IN 'EORGIA4HE MAJORITY OFSURFACE mOW COMES FROM RAINFALL4HE REGION IS AFFECTED BYWEATHER PATTERNS THAT FORM DUE TO THE INmUENCE OFTHE 'ULFOF-EXICO4HOMASVILLE 'EORGIA RECEIVES AN ANNUAL YEARLY RAINFALL OF INCHES A YEAR AND FURTHER SOUTH IN THE &LORIDA 0ANHANDLE THE WATERSHED RECEIVES  INCHES OFRAIN A YEAR4HIS IS ENOUGH TO CREATE STREAMS AND RIVERS AS IT DROPS ON THE ROLLING TOPOGRAPHY OFSOUTHWEST 'EORGIA AND NORTH &LORIDA

4HUS THE !UCILLA IS BORN FROM THE SKYIN A SUNNY SOUTHWEST 'EORGIA COTTON lELD SEVEN
AND
A
HALF MILES NORTHEAST OF4HOMASVILLE IN THE DISTINCTIVE TERRAIN KNOWN AS THE 2ED (ILLS )FITS HEADWATERS

WERE LOCATED SEVERAL HUNDRED FEET TO THE WEST NORTH OR EAST THEYWOULD INSTEAD mOWWESTWARD INTO THE /CHLOCKONEE 2IVER OR EASTWARD INTO THE 3UWANNEE 2IVER )NSTEAD IT MAKES ITS WAY GENERALLY SOUTH FOR TEN MILES FORMING THE EDGE OFTHE4HOMASVILLE !IRPORT BEFORE CAPTURING /LIVE #REEK AND OTHER STREAMS THAT DRAIN OFFTHE
EASTERN URBAN HALFOFTHE CITY OF4HOMASVILLE4HE !UCILLA AND THESE CREEKS ADD CHARACTER TO 2ED (ILLS HUNTING PLANTATIONS NAMED !UCILLA 0INEFAIR /SCEOLA AND 2ODINA UNTIL THE RIVER UNEXPECTEDLY DISAPPEARS UNDERGROUND INTO THE (OWELL 3INKS

!S STATED EARLIER LIME SINKS AND SPRINGS ARE MAJOR NATURAL COMPONENTS OFTHE TERRAIN THROUGH WHICH THE !UCILLA mOWS4HE RIVER FEEDS

AND IS FED BY

BOTH IN A COMPLEX RELATIONSHIP THAT IS NOT FULLY DOCUMENTED UNDERSTOOD OR APPRECIATED BY THE PUBLIC /UR MAPS OFRIVERS ARE TWO DIMENSIONAL WHICH IS USUALLY SUFlCIENT "UTWHERE A RIVER mOWS OVER THE SWISS CHEESE
LIKE LIMESTONE LANDSCAPE OF3OUTH 'EORGIA AND .ORTH &LORIDA

A 
$ SUBTERRANEAN MAP WOULD MAKE MORE SENSE AND BRING US A LITERALLY DEEPER UNDERSTANDING !T (OWELL 3INKS THE !UCILLA EITHER DISAPPEARS
TO EMERGE FURTHER DOWNSTREAM OR ADDS VOLUME
TO THE &LORIDAN AQUIFER OR BOTH .O ONE REALLY KNOWS PRECISELY $URING HIGH WATER THE !UCILLA ESCAPES TO THE NORTH OFTHE SINKS AND mOWS ALONG THE RAILROAD BED UNTIL ITJOINS THE -ASSE "RANCH AND HEADS SOUTHEAST BEFORE IT DISAPPEARS INTO A 
MILE
LONG BY 
MILE
WIDE SWAMP KNOWN AS THE !UCILLA 2IVER $RAIN OR 3WAMP AT THE CORNER OF4HOMAS AND "ROOKS COUNTIES (ERE IT CROSSES THE STATE LINE INTO *EFFERSON #OUNTY AND BECOMES A &LORIDA RIVER

7ITH ITS MODEST ORIGINS  MILES FROM &LORIDA THE !UCILLA HAS THE SMALLESTWATERSHED IN 'EORGIA

ONLY  SQUARE MILES

AND ALMOST ALL OFIT CONTAINED IN4HOMAS #OUNTY -ANY 'EORGIA WATERSHED MAPS IGNORE IT ENTIRELY AND REPRESENT IT AS PART OFTHE /CHLOCKONEE 2IVER 7ATERSHED THOUGH IT mOWS TO !PALACHEE "AY WITHOUT TOUCHING ITS NEIGHBOR 3OME BOOKS CLAIM THE RIVER mOWS  MILES OTHERS 

4HE RIVER IS AS UNKNOWN AS ANY IN &LORIDA

OR 'EORGIA PERHAPS BECAUSE IT DOESNT COME CLOSE TO ANY MAJOR POPULATION CENTERS 7HERE IT BEGINS NEAR4HOMASVILLE POPULATION  IT IS GENERALLY AN IGNORED CREEK /N ITS WAY TO THE COAST IT PASSES BY THE 'EORGIA
TOWN OF"OSTON POPULATION  AND THEN THE SMALL &LORIDA SETTLEMENTS OF,AMONT AND .UTALL 2ISE CONSISTING OFA FEW HUNDRED PEOPLE BEFORE IT REACHES THE MARINE ESTUARY Tqjefs! Mjmz)Iznfopdbmmjt!pddjefoubmjt*



# 24 23 Uif!Bvdjmmb! Sjwfs!ofbs TofbeÖt!Tnplfipvtf!MblfUif!Bvdjmmb!Sjwfs!ofbs!Mbnpou-!Gmpsjeb RIVER BANK FESTOONED WITH RESURRECTION FERNS AND TANGLED NETWORKS OFNATIVE GRAPE VINES AND POISON IVY %LSEWHERE ) IDENTIlED TURKEY OAKS AND LONGLEAFPINE CYPRESS AND TUPELO SWAMPS BEECH AND MAGNOLIA GROVES AND HOLLY SWEETGUM HICKORY IRONWOOD mOWERING CHERRY &LORIDA WILLOW AND MANY OTHER SPECIES 3MALLER SPECIES SUCH AS POSSUMHAW AND &LORIDA ASH GREW IN THE UNDERSTORY AND REDTOP PANIC GRASS YELLOW STAR GRASS AND mOWERING FERNS THRIVED AS GROUND COVER

) NOTICED ON THE ELEVATED BANK A RECENT HIGH
WATER MARKLOCATED  FEET ABOVE THE SURFACE OF THE WATER 2USTY lSHHOOKS DANGLED MID
AIR FROM LINES ATTACHED TO TREE BRANCHES AS IFTO CATCH BIRDS AND NOT CATlSH ,IKE MOST BLACKWATER STREAMS THE !UCILLA AND ITS TRIBUTARIES mUCTUATE WIDELY AND A LAZY AND OBVIOUS RIVER CHANNEL AFTER A &LORIDA TORRENT CAN QUICKLY RISE TO BECOME A FAST MOVING AND CONFUSING STREAM WITH MULTIPLE CHOICES FOR GETTING DOWNSTREAM

2ECREATIONAL lSHING HERE IS EXCELLENT FOR LARGEMOUTH AND 3UWANNEE BASS REDBREAST SUNlSH CHANNEL CATlSH AND BOWlN 4URKEY QUAIL AND BEAR ARE FREQUENTLY HEARD AND SOMETIMES SEEN IN THE WOODS

4HOSE LOOKING FOR MORE THANJUST BREATHTAKING SCENERY ON THEIR CANOE TRIP WILL lND SEVERAL SETS OFSHOALS SOUTH OF,AMONT AS THE RIVER DROPS DOWN THE #ODY 3CARP INTO THE 'ULF#OASTAL ,OWLANDS $ISTRICT #ONGRATULATIONS 9OUJUST FOUND &LORIDAS PREMIER WHITEWATER EXPERIENCE $EPENDING ON WATER LEVELS TWO LIMESTONE ROCK DAMS CAN MAKE FOR A NERVOUS CHALLENGE IFONE IS INEXPERIENCED OR TRAVELINGWITH CHILDREN BUT SANDYBANKS MAKE PORTAGING THEM EASY

3OUTH OFTHE RAPIDS BOATERS WHO DONT KNOW THE RIVER THEY ARE ON AND PLAN TO MEET THEIR FRIENDS AT THE MARSH DOCKWILL BE IN FOR A SURPRISE !PPROXIMATELY MILES SOUTH OF,AMONT AND  MILES NORTH OF !PALACHEE "AY THE RIVER DISAPPEARS INTO

A 
FOOT HOLE AND PLUNGES UNDERGROUND 9OU ARE NOW AT THE !UCILLA 2IVER 3INKS

&OR THE NEXT  MILES OR SO THE RIVER WILL mOW UNDERGROUND IN A NETWORK OFCAVERNS CONNECTED
TO THE SURFACE IN A SERIES OFLIMESTONE hSINKSv AND hRIVER RISESv ,IKE A STRING OFIRREGULAR RIVER PEARLS APPROXIMATELY  ELLIPTICAL SHAPED WATER BODIES INDICATE WHERE DEEP UNDERGROUND THE RIVER HAS DECIDED TO mOW 3OME OFTHESE SINKS ARE  FEET DEEP

7ITH THEIR UNIQUE BIOLOGICAL CONDITIONS SINKS AND THE CAVERNS THEY CONNECT TO CREATE THEIR OWN MINI
ECOSYSTEMS 3EVERAL SPECIES OFRARE AND IMPERILED CAVE DWELLERS INHABIT THE UNDERGROUND ENVIRONMENTS OFTHE REGION INCLUDING (ORSTS

CAVE CRAYlSH (OBBS CAVE ISOPOD (OBBS CAVE AMPHIPOD AND THE 7OODVILLE CAVE CRAYlSH !LTHOUGH NOT ESPECIALLY COMMON SOME SPECIALIZED PLANTS ARE FOUND AROUND SINKS AND SPRINGS SUCH AS THE RARE 6ENUS
HAIR FERN

&OUND IN THE hNATURAL BRIDGEv SECTION OFTHE RIVER THESE WATERING HOLES HAVE A FASCINATING NATURAL AND HUMAN HISTORY ALL THEIR OWN 3OME

ARE VERY ROUND AND OTHERS LOOKLIKE CURVED GASHES IN THE EARTH 7ITH STEEP SANDYBANKS AND DEEP WATER PHYSICALLY ACCESSING SOME OF THESE HOLES IS NOT EASILY DONE "UT THE BANKS

ARE POPULAR WITH LOCALS WHO USE THE AREA AS Gsbhsbou!Xbufs!Mjmz)Oznqibfb!pepsbub*



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# 34 33 /FFSHORE THE !UCILLAS WATERS HELP TO SUPPORT

AN IMPORTANT NURSERY GROUND FOR lSH AND SHELLlSH $UE TO THE SHALLOW mAT TOPOGRAPHY OFTHE LOW
ENERGY COASTLINE WHERE THE !UCILLA
ENTERS !PALACHEE "AY AN EXTENSIVE ESTUARINE COMPLEX HAS BEEN ABLE TO DEVELOP WITH MILES OFSALT MARSH SEAGRASS BEDS KELP BEDS OYSTER BARS AND LIMESTONE OUTCROPPINGS AUGMENTED BY TIDE CHANNELS WHICH SUPPORT ABUNDANT lSHERIES )T IS PART OFTHE LARGEST AQUATIC PRESERVE IN &LORIDA THE 
ACRE "IG "END 3EAGRASSES !QUATIC 0RESERVE 3PORT lSHERMEN HERE ANGLE MAINLY FOR SEA TROUT AND REDlSH BUT ALSO TARPON BULL SHARK 3PANISH MACKEREL COBIA BLUElSHJACK CREVALLE AND mOUNDER 

### (ISTORY5NCOVERED -EGAFAUNA 0ALEO
)NDIANS 3PANISH #ONQUISTADORS ANDTHE!UCILLA2IVER 

# 1HEN DID PEOPLE lRST ARRIVE IN .ORTH !MERICA 7HATWERE THEY LIKE 4HE !UCILLA 2IVER BECAUSE OFITS UNIQUE FEATURES IS HELPING TO SOLVE THIS MYSTERY

!MATEUR COLLECTORS AND ARCHEOLOGISTS HAVE LONG KNOWN OFTHE ABUNDANCE OFBONES AND )NDIAN ARTIFACTS IN THE RIVERS AND SINKHOLES OF&LORIDAS KARST REGION )N  LED BY $R 3 $AVID7EBB AND*AMES 3 $UNBAR THE 5NIVERSITY OF&LORIDA AND THE &LORIDA -USEUM OF.ATURAL (ISTORY INITIATED THE !UCILLA 2IVER 0REHISTORY 0ROJECT TO LEARN lRSTHAND ABOUT PREHISTORIC HUMANS IN THE REGION4HE DISCOVERY OFNEARLY  INUNDATED PALEO
INDIAN SITES IN

A SHORT SECTION OFTHE RIVER CONTAINING SOME OFTHE EARLIEST KNOWN EVIDENCE OFMAN ON THE .ORTH !MERICAN CONTINENT HAS MADE THE RIVER INTERNATIONALLY SIGNIlCANT AND ONE OFTHE MOST IMPORTANT ARCHEOLOGY SITES IN .ORTH !MERICA
4HOUGH SCIENTIlC EVIDENCE IS ABUNDANT FOR ICE AGES AND mUCTUATING SEA LEVELS IT IS HARD
TO IMAGINE THE EARTH IN EARLIER TIMES WHEN GLACIERS WERE GRINDING ACROSS THE !MERICAN -IDWEST AND THE COASTLINE WAS A HUNDRED MILES AWAY FROM ITS PRESENT POSITION
%IGHTEEN THOUSAND YEARS AGO SEA LEVEL WAS LOWER AND THE &LORIDA 0ENINSULA WAS MORE THAN TWICE ITS CURRENT SIZE AND .ORTH !MERICA

WASJOINED WITH EASTERN !SIA BY A LAND BRIDGE KNOWN TODAY AS "ERINGIA NEAR !LASKA4HE lRST !MERICAN )NDIANS AND &LORIDIANS WERE DESCENDED FROM PEOPLE WHO CROSSED HERE AND RAPIDLY SPREAD INTO .ORTH !MERICA
!PPROXIMATELY  YEARS AGO HIGHER TEMPERATURES RESULTED IN MELTING ICECAPS WHICH LED TO RAPID SEA LEVEL RISE INCREASED PRECIPITATION AND MUCH GREATER VOLUME IN .ORTH !MERICAS RIVERS4HIS CHANGE PAUSED ROUGHLY  YEARS AGO UNTIL RECENTLY WHICH ENABLED THE DEVELOPMENT OFCOASTAL MARSH ECOSYSTEMS AND MORE EXTENSIVE HUMAN DEVELOPMENT THAT CONTINUES TO THIS DAY

4EN THOUSAND YEARS AGO THE &LORIDA COASTLINE

WAS LOCATED  MILES AWAY FROM ITS PRESENT POSITION 3CIENTISTS HAVE DISCOVERED A BURIED RIVER DRAINAGE SYSTEM INDICATING THAT APPROXIMATELY  TO  MILES OFFSHORE FROM TODAYS COAST

AND NOW UNDERWATER

THE !UCILLA 2IVER COMBINED WITH THE /CHLOCKONEE 3T -ARKS Sptf!Wfswbjo !)Wfscbob!dbobefotjt*Sbqjet!pg!uif!Njeemf!Bvdjmmb 

### ,AND0RESERVATION 

# !EORGIA IS AHEAD OF&LORIDA IN SUBMITTING ITS4-$,S BUT &LORIDA IS IN FRONT OF 'EORGIA IN THE AREA OFLAND PRESERVATION A KEY COMPONENT IN PROTECTINGWATER QUALITY IN THE !UCILLA 2IVER7ATERSHED &IRST &LORIDA HAS THE h&OREVER &LORIDAv PROGRAM RUN BY THE &LORIDA $EPARTMENT OF%NVIRONMENTAL 0ROTECTION WHICH WILL SPEND  BILLION IN TEN YEARS TO SAVE THREATENED AND SENSITIVE LANDS 3ECOND THE STATE HAS AN EXCELLENT INVENTORY PROGRAM THAT HELPS IT TO ASSESS AND RANK THE LANDS THAT ARE MOST IN NEED OFPROTECTION4HIRD &LORIDAS !UCILLA 7ATERSHED HASJUST A FEW MAJOR LAND OWNERS WHO ARE NOW SELLING OFFTHEIR FOREST LANDS SO THE
STATE HAS AN EASIER TIME MAKING TRANSACTIONS

)N THE WATERSHED THE &LORIDA &OREVER PROGRAM HAS SPENT YEARS OFEFFORT AND  MILLION
TO PURCHASE MORE THAN  ACRES IN THE 7ACISSA AND !UCILLA WATERSHED INCLUDING THE COMPLETE LENGTH OFTHE 7ACISSA AND  MILES OFRIVER FRONTAGE ON THE !UCILLA !PPROXIMATELY  ACRES REMAIN THAT THE STATE WOULD LIKE
TO ACQUIRE MUCH OFIT IN (IXTOWN 3WAMP4HE 3UWANNEE 2IVER7ATER -ANAGEMENT $ISTRICT ALSO PITCHED IN WITH ITS PURCHASE OFALMOST  ACRES AND  MILES OFRIVER FRONTAGE !LSO HELPING ARE PRIVATE LANDOWNERS IN THE WATERSHED ,AND OWNERS HAVE VOLUNTARILY ELECTED TO PLACE MORE THAN  ACRES OFTHEIR PLANTATIONS AND OTHER LANDS INTO CONSERVATION
EASEMENTS WITH THE4ALL4IMBERS ,AND #ONSERVANCY AND4HE .ATURE #ONSERVANCY IN ORDER TO PERMANENTLY PROTECT THE ECOSYSTEM !DDITIONALLY &LORIDA HAS THE h/UTSTANDING &LORIDA7ATERv /&7 PROGRAM WHICH DESIGNATES CERTAIN WATERS WORTHY OFSPECIAL PROTECTION BECAUSE OFTHEIR NATURAL ATTRIBUTES -OST /&7S ARE ALREADY AREAS UNDER SOME FORM OFPROTECTION BECAUSE THEY ARE STATE OR FEDERAL PARKS INCLUDINGWILDLIFE REFUGES PRESERVES MARINE SANCTUARIES ESTUARINE RESEARCH RESERVES CERTAIN WATERS WITHIN STATE OR NATIONAL FORESTS SCENIC AND WILD RIVERS AND AQUATIC PRESERVES

/F&LORIDAS  RIVERS LAKES AND ESTUARINE AREAS ONLY RIVERS ARE DESIGNATED AS h3PECIAL7ATERSv CATEGORY OF/&74HE !UCILLA AND7ACISSA ARE TWO OFTHESE

7HILE IT IS CERTAINLY POSSIBLE TO lND LARGER LONGER AND MORE FAMOUS RIVERS IT IS HARD TO lND MORE FASCINATING COMPLEX AND BEAUTIFUL RIVERS THAN THE !UCILLA AND7ACISSA4HEY ARE WORTH OUR STUDY RESPECT AND PROTECTION SUPPLY CONTACT RECREATION SWIMMING AND AQUATIC LIFE SUPPORT lSHING	 !CROSS THE NATION STATES ARE IN DIFFERENT STAGES OF SETTING4-$,S AND ASSESSING THEIR WATERS

)N 'EORGIA  MILES OFTHE !UCILLA7ATERSHED

WERE LISTED IN &EBRUARY AS hIMPAIREDv OR NOT FULLY SUPPORTING ITS DESIGNATED USE WHICH IS OFlCIALLYh!QUATIC ,IFE (ARVESTINGv OR MORE SIMPLY hlSHINGv4EN MILES ON THE !UCILLA 2IVER

FROM -ASSE "RANCH TO THE "ROOKS #OUNTY LINE NEAR "OSTON AND  MILES OF/LIVE #REEK

FROM DOWNTOWN4HOMASVILLE TO 53 (IGHWAY  HAVE EXCESSIVE FECAL COLIFORM LOW
AMOUNTS OFDISSOLVED OXYGEN AND ABNORMAL LEVELS OFNITROGEN ORGANIC CARBON AND PHOSPHORUS NUTRIENTS !CCORDING TO THE4-$, REPORT /LIVE #REEKS PROBLEMS RELATE TO URBAN RUNOFF WHEREAS THE !UCILLAS PROBLEMS STEM FROM

A BROADER SUITE OFNONPOINT SOURCES INCLUDING RUNOFFFROM AGRICULTURE AND URBAN AREAS

$ISSOLVED OXYGEN ISSUES FOR 'EORGIAS PORTION OFTHE RIVER HAVE BEEN IMPACTED BY DROUGHTS AND THE FACT THAT BLACKWATER
STREAMS ARE NATURALLY LOWER IN OXYGEN

&ECAL COLIFORM IN OUR RIVERS CAN HAVE MANY
SOURCES !NIMAL WASTES FROM AGRICULTURAL OPERATIONS LEAKING SEPTIC SYSTEMS NON COMPLIANTWASTE TREATMENT PLANTS AND RUN
OFF FROM SPRAY
lELD WASTEWATER TREATMENT SYSTEMS ,OOKING AT THE NUMBERS IT COULD BE THAT THE 4HOMASVILLE AREA HAS A COMBINATION OFALL FOUR OFTHESE ISSUES4HOMAS #OUNTY ONE OFTHE MOST PRODUCTIVE AGRICULTURAL REGIONS IN THE STATE WITH

A  MILLION ECONOMIC IMPACT HOSTS MORE THAN  CHICKENS  BEEFCATTLE AND DAIRY COWS  HORSES  PIGS AND  GOATS ,IVESTOCK FREQUENTLY USE STREAMS FOR WATER AND COOLING AND CAN DIRECTLY CONTAMINATE A STREAM

&ROM  TO 4HOMAS #OUNTYS NUMBER OFSEPTIC SYSTEMS GREW  PERCENT FROM 
TO  WHICH MAYBE A SIGN OFPOPULATION INCREASES OUTPACING THE EXPANSION OFSEWAGE SYSTEMS !CCORDING TO THE %NVIRONMENTAL 0ROTECTION $IVISION OF'EORGIA "OSTON 0OND A PERMITTED FACILITY THAT FEEDS ON AVERAGE  GALLONS OFTREATED WATER A DAY INTO !UCILLA #REEK HAS HAD lVE VIOLATIONS BETWEEN*ANUARY AND*ANUARY

)N &LORIDA WHERE4-$, EFFORTS ARE NOT AS FAR ALONG AS 'EORGIA THE !UCILLA 2IVER AND !NDERSON "ASIN $RAIN ARE TAGGED AS hIMPAIREDv
WATERS FOR DISSOLVED OXYGEN BY THE %0! BUT
NOT BY THE STATE OF&LORIDAS $EPARTMENT OF %NVIRONMENTAL 0ROTECTION4HE FEDERAL AGENCYS DATABASE
DRIVEN MAP OFIMPAIRED WATERS SHOWS A 
MILE STRETCH OFTHE !UCILLA AS BEING IMPAIRED FROM 2AYSOR #REEK TO*ONES -ILL #REEK 3UWANNEE 2IVER7ATER -ANAGEMENT $ISTRICT OFlCIALS BELIEVE THE LOW DISSOLVED OXYGEN LEVELS

ARE NATURALLY OCCURRING CONDITIONS FOUND IN BLACKWATER AND SPRING
FED RIVER SYSTEMS

4HE RIVER ALSO IS FOUND ON THE NATIONAL lSH CONSUMPTION ADVISORY LIST FOR MERCURY 4HE AUTHORS OFTHE LIST RECOMMEND AGAINST EATING MORE THAN ONE MEAL A WEEK OFlSH FOR REDBREAST AND SPOTTED SUNlSH LARGEMOUTH BASS BOWlN AND GAR &LORIDA IS STUDYING THE BASIN IN ORDER TO SET MINIMUM LOW mOW -,& GUIDELINES BY WHICH

ARE INTENDED TO PROTECT THE RIVER AND COAST FROM EXCESSIVE USE OFTHE WATER RESOURCE Bnfsjdbo!Bmmjhbups! ) B mmjhbups!njttjttjqqjfotjt *



# 3: 39LEFT EAST ONTO 53  UNTIL YOU CROSS THE !UCILLA 2IVER 4URN LEFT ON THE SECOND PAVED ROAD 32  OFF53  $RIVE APPROXIMATELY  MILES ON PAVEMENT UNTIL IT
TURNS INTO A DIRT ROAD 4AKE A LEFT EAST AT THE lRST DIRT CROSSROAD #ONTINUE FOR APPROXIMATELY  MILES GOING STRAIGHT WHERE THE ROAD FORKS 4HE ROAD DEAD
ENDS
AT 'OOSE 0ASTURE 2ECREATION !REA


### Bvdjmmb!Sjwfs!Dbopf!Usbjm
4:11!Dpnnpoxfbmui!Cmwe-!NT!8:6-!Ubmmbibttff-!GM 4HE !UCILLA 2IVER #ANOE4RAIL IS OFlCIALLYDESIGNATED AS PART OF&LORIDAS 3TATEWIDE 3YSTEM OF'REENWAYS AND4RAILS /FlCIALLY MILES INLENGTH CANOERS ANDKAYAKERS WILL EXPERIENCE THE DARK COFFEE
COLOREDWATERS OFABLACKWATER RIVER SURROUNDEDBY HIGH LIMESTONE BANKS BOTTOMLAND FORESTS AND CYPRESS
GUM SWAMPS !N EXCELLENT lSHINGRIVERFORLARGEMOUTH AND 3UWANNEEBASSTHE!UCILLAHAS SOMEOFTHE&LORIDA 0ANHANDLES BEST AND ONLY WHITEWATER AS THE !UCILLA 2IVER RUNS OVER SHOALS AND THE REMAINS OFTWO OLDROCKDAMS !LLIGATORS TURTLES SNAKES ANDFROGS ARE COMMON SIGHTS AS ARE RIVEROTTERS HAWKS AND AVARIETYOFWADINGBIRDS #HECKFORmOWLEVELS BEFORE MAKINGYOUR TRIP 6ERYHIGHWATERBROADENS THE RIVER AND CAN MAKE THE MAIN CHANNEL DIFlCULT TO lND ,OWWATER PRODUCES MORE SHOALS

4HE lRST SECTION WHICH RUNS  MILES STARTS SOUTH OFTHE 53  "RIDGE  MILE SOUTHEAST OF ,AMONT 4HE TAKE OUT IS AT THE #2  "RIDGE APPROXIMATELY  MILES SOUTHWEST OF ,AMONT 4HE SECOND SECTION GOES SOUTH FROM HERE APPROXIMATELY  MILES TO THE #ABBAGE 'ROVE AREA &OR THE TAKE OUT TAKE 32  SOUTH FROM ,AMONT

 #ROSS THE !UCILLA 2IVERBRIDGE 4URNWESTJUSTBEFORE #ABBAGE 'ROVE &IRE 4OWER #ONTINUE  MILE AROUND lRST BEND TO THE LEFT AND
TURN ONTO DIRT LOGGING ROAD ON THE RIGHT &OLLOW THIS ROAD  MILES TO ITS END ! TRAIL TO THE RIGHT LEADS TO LANDING #ONTINUING FURTHER SOUTH A BOATER WILL RUN OUT OFRIVER WHERE THE !UCILLA 2IVER DIVES UNDERGROUND WWWDEPSTATEmUSGWT


### Gmpsjeb!Usbjm0Bvdjmmb!Sjwfs!Usbjm0Bvdjmmb!Sjwfs!Tjolt! Usbjm
4:11!Dpnnpoxfbmui!Cmwe-!NT!8:6-!Ubmmbibttff-!GM 4HIS TRAIL IS A 
MILE EXTENSION SPUR OFFTHE &LORIDA 4RAIL RUNNING FROM .UTALL 2ISE TO THE !UCILLA 2IVER 3INKS AREA AND BORDERING SEVERAL MILES OF THE !UCILLA 2IVER 4HIS TRAIL IS AN EXCELLENT WAY TO GET TO KNOW THE CURIOUS PHENOMENON OF LIMESINKS AND WITNESS WHERE THE !UCILLA GOES UNDERGROUND BEFORE EMERGING AT .UTALL 2ISE TO mOW UNINTERRUPTED TO !PALACHEE "AY *UNGLE
LIKE SCENERY OFOAK PALMETTO GUM AND MAGNOLIA DRAPED WITH 3PANISH MOSS AND GRAPE VINES MAKE FOR A MEMORABLE HIKE

4HE PATH IS MARKED WITH &LORIDA 4RAIL SIGNS MAKING IT EASY TO lND YOUR WAY 4HE TRAILHEAD BEGINS ON THE WESTERN SIDE OFTHE !UCILLA 2IVER "RIDGE ON 53  AT .UTALL 2ISE AND THEN GOES EAST FOR  MILES ON THE SHOULDER OFTHE HIGHWAY UNTIL IT
TURNS NORTH ON 0OWELL (AMMOCK 2OAD &ROM HERE YOU HIKE ALONG A GRADED ROAD UNTIL THE TRAIL TURNS TO THE WEST INTO THE FOREST !T APPROXIMATELY MILE  HIKERS
START TO ENCOUNTER THE SERIES OF SINKS BEGINNING WITH 4WIN 3INKS AND 3ARASINKS !FTER CROSSING A DIRT ROAD AND WALKING NORTH YOU lND #HOCOLATE 3INK .EW 3INK -OSQUITO 3LAP 3INK AND (URRY 5P 3INK !FTER ANOTHER DIRT ROAD YOU lND +ITCHEN 3INK ,ONG 3UFFERING 3INK 2YAN 3INK $RAGONmY 3INK AND7ATTS 3INK !FTERTHE NEXTROAD YOU lND &RINK 3INK 3UNSHINE 3INK AND ,ONG 3INK AND THEN

CROSS ANOTHER ROAD TO "REAKDOWN 3INK /N THE OTHER SIDE OF'OOSE 0ASTURE ROAD

ARE 2OADSIDE 3INK /VERmOW 3INK 6ORTEX 3INK AND THE 3ILVER "LAZE 4REE A  COMMEMORATION OFTHE COMPLETION OFA MAJOR CONNECTION TO THE &LORIDA TRAIL4HE TRAIL CONTINUES ANOTHER  MILES ALONGTHE EASTBANKOFTHE RIVER !T APPROXIMATELY MILE  THE TRAIL ENDS NEAR A CAMPSITE JUST SHORT OFTHE 7ALKER 3PRINGS "RIDGE AND TWO MILES EAST OF#2  WWWmORIDATRAILORG


### Fdpoßob!Sjwfs!Tubuf!Qbsl!
5495!Fdpogjob!Sjwfs!Spbe-!Mbnpou-!Gm/!43447/!)961*!:33.7118 4HE PARK CONSISTS OF  ACRES OF PINE mATWOODS OAKPALM FORESTS AND SALT MARSH AND IS USED AS AJUMPING OFFPOINT FOR SALT WATER lSHING DOWNSTREAM AND FRESHWATER lSHING UPSTREAM 4HE PARK FEATURES A BOAT RAMP PICNIC FACILITIES HIKING BIKING AND HORSEBACK TRAILS AND CABINS FOR RENT WITH REFRIGERATORS AND MICROWAVES #ABINS CAN BE RESERVED BY CALLING  
 %QUESTRIANS MUST REGISTERWITH THE PARK OFlCE PRIOR TO USING A TRAIL ,OCATED IN4AYLOR #OUNTY AT THE END OF3TATE 2OAD  SOUTH OF53  WWWmORIDASTATEPARKSORG



### Xblvmmb!Tqsjoht!Tubuf!Qbsl
661!Xblvmmb!Qbsl!Esjwf-!Xblvmmb!Tqsjoht-!Gm/!43438 )961*!335.6:61 4HIS STATE PARK PROVIDES THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPERIENCE ONE OF &LORIDAS NATURAL SPRINGS JUST A FEW MILES AWAY FROM THE !UCILLA 2IVER BASIN 7AKULLA IS ONE OF THE LARGEST AND DEEPEST FRESHWATER SPRINGS IN THE WORLD AND IT PLAYS HOST TO AN ABUNDANCE OF WILDLIFE INCLUDING ALLIGATORS TURTLES DEER AND BIRDS 2IVERBOAT AND GLASS BOTTOM BOAT TOURS ARE OFFERED WHEN CONDITIONS ARE APPROPRIATE 4HE PARK FEATURES HIKING BIKING AND EQUESTRIAN TRAILS SWIMMING PICNIC FACILITIES A PLAYGROUND AND ROOMS AT THE HISTORIC 7AKULLA 3PRINGS ,ODGE BUILT IN  BY lNANCIER %DWARD "ALL ,OCATED  MILES SOUTH OF4ALLAHASSEE ON 3TATE 2OAD 
AT THE INTERSECTION WITH 3TATE 2OAD  WWWmORIDASTATEPARKSORG 

# O buvsbmBsfbt- Qbslt-!

# I jtupsjd!Tjuft

Bvdjmmb!Xjmemjgf!Nbobhfnfou!Bsfb
4:11!Dpnnpoxfbmui!Cmwe-!NT!211-!Ubmmbibttff-!GM 4WELVE MILES EAST OF4ALLAHASSEEJUST SOUTH OF7ACISSA AND 53  IS THE 

ACRE !UCILLA 7ILDLIFE -ANAGEMENT !REA 7-! WHICH BUFFERS APPROXIMATELY  MILES OFTHE 7ACISSA AND  MILES OFTHE !UCILLA 3HAPED LIKE AN OVEN MITT THE 7-! IS ROUGHLY DElNED BY 32  TO THE WEST 53  TO THE SOUTH AND 32  TO THEEAST4HE SECOND
GROWTHBOTTOMLANDS ANDPINEWOODS HELPTOPROTECTTHEENTIRE 7ACISSA 2IVER 7ATERSHED AND !UCILLA 2IVER BELOW 32  4HE 7-! IS USED BY HUNTERS INSEARCHOFDEERWILDHOGTURKEY ANDSQUIRRELDURINGHUNTINGSEASONS AND YEAR
ROUND BY lSHERS TO ACCESS lSH POPULATIONS IN THE 7ACISSA 7ESTERN 3LOUGHS AND !UCILLA 2IVER 3EE ALSO 'OOSE 0ASTURE 2ECREATION!REA

 -ORE INFORMATION AND MAPS LOCATED AT HTTPMYFWCCOMHUNTINGWMAWMA?REGION-APSHTM 

### Njeemf!Bvdjmmb!Xjmemjgf!Nbobhfnfou!Bsfb
4:11!Dpnnpoxfbmui!Cmwe-!NT!211-!Ubmmbibttff-!GM !PPROXIMATELY  ACRES IN *EFFERSON -ADISON AND 4AYLOR COUNTIES PROVIDE

A NATURAL BUFFER FOR THE RIVER ,OCATED OFF ,ANIER 'RADE AND 3UNBELT 'RADE DIRT ROADS APPROXIMATELY  MILES SOUTH OF,AMONT &LORIDA AND  MILES WEST OF0ERRY &LORIDA THIS 7-! IS USED FOR HUNTING DEER WILD HOG TURKEY AND SQUIRREL DURING HUNTING SEASONS AS WELL AS PROVIDING ACCESS TO THE !UCILLA 2IVER FOR lSHING YEAR ROUND4HE RIVERRUNS APPROXIMATELY MILES THROUGHTHE7-!ANDHAS FOURCANOE LAUNCHES -ORE INFORMATION AND MAPS LOCATED ATHTTPMYFWCCOMHUNTINGWMA WMA?REGION-APSHTM 

### Tu/!Nbslt!Obujpobm!Xjmemjgf!Sfgvhf
2366!Mjhiuipvtf!Spbe-!Tu/!Nbslt-!GM!)961*!:36.7232 4HE 3T-ARKS.ATIONAL7ILDLIFE 2EFUGE CONSISTS OF ACRES OFSALTMARSHTIDAL mATSHARDWOODSWAMPSANDPINELANDS ALONGTHE!PALACHEEAND/CHLOCKONEEBAYS $IKES BUILTTO PRODUCE IMPOUNDMENTS TO FEED MIGRATORYBIRDS HELP ATTRACT MANYOF THE SPECIES OFBIRDS THATHAVEBEEN IDENTIlEDHERE INCLUDINGWATERFOWLWADING BIRDS SHORE BIRDS MARSH SPECIES RAPTORS AND NESTING BALD EAGLES !LLIGATORS DEER AND &LORIDA BLACK BEAR INHABIT THE REFUGE &ACILITIES AND ACTIVITIES INCLUDE VISITOR CENTER OBSERVATION TOWER EXTENSIVE HIKING TRAILS lSHING HUNTING AND CRABBING IN SEASON (ISTORIC FEATURES INCLUDE THE 3T -ARKS ,IGHTHOUSE BUILT IN  OF
STONES FROM THE OLD FORT AT 3AN -ARCOS DE !PALACHEE ,OCATED  MILES SOUTH OF53 (IGHWAY  ON #OUNTY 2OAD  WWWFWSGOVSAINTMARKS 

### Xbdjttb!Sjwfs!Qvcmjd!Cpbu!Mboejoh
Tubuf!Spvuf!6:-!Xbdjttb-!GM 4WENTY SPRINGS ALONG THE UPPER 
MILE 7ACISSA 2IVER CORRIDOR CREATE THIS CRYSTAL CLEAR WATERWAY ! COUNTY PARK LOCATED  MILE SOUTH OF7ACISSA ON 32 
AT THE RIVERHEAD HAS PARKING A BOAT RAMP PICNIC TABLES PORT
A
LETS SWIMMING A DIVING BOARD AND ROPE SWING 4HE 7ACISSA 2IVER #ANOE4RAIL BEGINS HERE /THER ACTIVITIES INCLUDE SWIMMING AND SCUBA DIVING AND SPORT lSHING AND WILDLIFE WATCHING ! BOAT IS REQUIRED TO ACCESS THE SPRINGS 4HE RIVER HAS NATIVE AQUATIC EELGRASS BUT IS ALSO INFESTED AND CHOKED WITH EXOTIC AQUATIC VEGETATION INCLUDING HYDRILLA AND ELODEA 3OME lSH FROM THIS PARK OTHERS USE IT TO VIEW THE MANY SPRINGS AND OTHERS USE IT TO LAUNCH A ONE
WAY TRIP DOWN THE 7ACISSA &IRST MAGNITUDE "IG "LUE 3PRING ALSO KNOWN AS "IG 3PRING AND "LUE (OLE IS DOWNSTREAM FROM THE COUNTY PARK BOAT RAMP )T IS ON THE LEFT OR EASTERN SIDE OFTHE RIVER UP THE SECOND MAJOR SPRING

RUN APPROXIMATELY MILE4HE SPRING IS AN ESTIMATED  FEET IN DIAMETER AND  FEET DEEP WITH DEEP BLUE
GREEN WATER ! mOATING DOCK IS POPULAR WITH SWIMMERS AND PICNICKERS


### Xbdjttb!Sjwfs0Tmbwf!Dbobm!Dbopf!Usbjm
4:11!Dpnnpoxfbmui!Cmwe-!NT!8:6-!Ubmmbibttff-!GM !CCESSED FROM A COUNTY PARK FOUND  MILE SOUTH OF7ACISSA ON 32  THE STATE SANCTIONED 7ACISSA 2IVER #ANOE 4RAIL IS APPROXIMATELY  MILES IN TOTAL LENGTH /NE CAN TRAVEL THE ENTIRE LENGTH FROM THE PARK TO .UTALL 2ISE ,ANDING OR SPLIT IT INTO TWO DIFFERENT TRIPS ONE FROM THE PARK TO 'OOSE 0ASTURE 2ECREATION !REA WHICH IS  MILES IN LENGTH OR FROM 'OOSE 0ASTURE TO .UTALL 2ISE ,ANDING WHICH IS  MILES IN LENGTH 3OME TRAVEL THE ENTIRE LENGTH TO THE 'ULF PAUSING TO CAMP AT 'OOSE 0ASTURE ANDOR .UTALL 2ISE AND lNISHING AT A BOAT RAMP AND mOATING DOCK BEFORE THE RIVER MEETS !PALACHEE "AY

4HE lRST SECTION IS GOOD FOR BEGINNERS 4HE CURRENT IS  TO  MILES PER HOUR AND THE RIVER ALTERNATES FROM BROAD SECTIONS OFSLOWER MOVING CURRENT TO NARROW SECTIONS WHERE THE CURRENT PICKS UP BEFORE BROADENING AGAIN PRIOR TO ARRIVING AT 'OOSE 0ASTURE

4HE SECOND SECTION IS MORE CHALLENGING BECAUSE THE RIVER MELTS INTO RIVER SWAMPS AND ONE MUST CHOOSE EXACTLY THE RIGHT COURSE THROUGH THE HISTORIC 3LAVE #ANAL

OR RISK GETTING LOST #ANOEISTS ALSO MAY HAVE TO WORK THEIR BOAT AROUND AND OVER FALLEN TREES AND VEGETATION

4HIS TRIP IS BEST UNDERTAKEN WITH AN EXPERIENCED GUIDE !PPROXIMATELY  MILES DOWNSTREAM FROM 'OOSE 0ASTURE THE RIVER mOWS INTO ABRAIDED SYSTEM OFSTREAMS

SOME OFWHICH APPEAR TO BE CANDIDATES FOR THE MAIN CHANNEL -OST EVENTUALLYJOIN WITH THE !UCILLA BUT ARE NOT PASSABLE "EAR RIGHT 4HE STREAMS ULTIMATELY COME BACK TOGETHER AND THE CHANNEL WIDENS TO  FEET %VENTUALLY THE RIVER FORKS AGAIN
AT A lELD OFWILD RICE 'O RIGHT HERE AS WELL (ERE YOU WORK YOUR WAY THROUGH VEGETATION FOR APPROXIMATELY  YARDS UNTIL THE RIVER TAKES A HARD RIGHT (ERE LOOK FOR AN OLD IRON POST ON THE LEFT IN THE RICE lELD THAT MARKS THE ENTRANCE TO THE 3LAVE #ANAL WHICH IS ON THE RIGHT4HERE ARE ALSO REPORTS OFAWOOD DUCKBOX 4URN RIGHT INTO THE CANAL AND LOOK FOR STACKED ROCKS THAT MARK THE CONSTRUCTION EFFORT BY SLAVES IN THE S 4HE CANAL EVENTUALLY CONNECTS TO THE !UCILLA WHERE YOU TURN UPSTREAM AND PADDLE  YARDS TO EXIT AT .UTALL 2ISE ,ANDING WWW DEPSTATEmUSGWT


### Hpptf!Qbtuvsf!Sfdsfbujpo!Bsfb
4:11!Dpnnpoxfbmui!Cmwe-!NT!211-!Ubmmbibttff-!GM 4HIS RECREATION AREA WHICH FEATURES A BOAT RAMP CAMPING SITES AND PORT
A LETS IS USED BY CAMPERS lSHERMEN AND CANOEISTS TO ACCESS THE 7ACISSA 2IVER -OST lSHERMEN GO UPSTREAM TO CATCH LARGEMOUTH AND 3UWANNEE BASS AND MOST CANOEISTS GO DOWNSTREAM TOJOIN THE !UCILLA 2IVER THROUGH THE 3LAVE #ANAL &ROM THE TOWN OF 7ACISSA TAKE 3TATE 2OUTE  SOUTH FOR  MILES TO 53  4URN



# 3: 3930%#)%3

3CIENTIlC NAME #OMMON NAME 34!4532!.+ &EDERAL 3TATUS 'LOBAL 2ANK &, 3TATE 2ANK &, 3TATE 3TATUS '! 3TATE 2ANK '! 3TATE 3TATUS $%#!0/$3 0ROCAMBARUSHORSTI "IG "LUE 3PRING #AVE #RAYlSH . '' 3 . .! .! 0ROCAMBARUSPALLIDUS 0ALLID #AVE #RAYlSH . ' 33 . .! .! &)3( !CANTHARCHUSPOMOTIS -UD 3UNlSH . ' 3 . .! .! !LOSAALABAMAE !LABAMA 3HAD . ' .! .! 3 2 !MEIURUSSERRACANTHUS 3POTTED "ULLHEAD . ' 3 . 3 2 #YPRINELLA LEEDSI "ANNERlN 3HINER . ' 3 . 33 .! %NNEACANTHUSCHAETODON "LACKBANDED 3UNlSH . ' 3 . .! .! %THEOSTOMASWAINI 'ULF $ARTER . ' .! .! 3 .! -ICROPTERUSNOTIUS 3UWANNEE "ASS . ' 3 . 3 2 .OTROPISCUMMINGSAE $USKY 3HINER . ' 3 . .! .! 5MBRAPYGMAEA %ASTERN -UDMINNOW . ' 3 . .! .! ).3%#43 !PHODIUSAEGROTUS 3MALL 0OCKET 'OPHER!PHODIUS "EETLE . '.2 33 . .! .! !PHODIUS TROGLODYTES 'OPHER4ORTOISE!PHODIUS "EETLE . '.2 33 . .! .! "OLBOCEROSOMAHAMATUM "ICOLORED "URROWING 3CARAB "EETLE . '.2 33 . .! .! #ICINDELAHITILABRIS 0ENINSULAR4IGER "EETLE . ' 3 . .! .! 'OMPHAESCHNAANTILOPE 4APER
TAILED $ARNER . ' 3 . .! .! 'OMPHUSHODGESI (ODGES #LUBTAIL . ' 3 . .! .! -YCOTRUPESCARTWRIGHTI #ARTWRIGHTS -YCOTRUPES "EETLE . '.2 33 . .! .! 2EMASELLUSPARVUS 3WIMMING ,ITTLE &LORIDA #AVE )SOPOD . '' 3 . .! .! -!--!,3 #ORYNORHINUSRAlNESQUII 2AlNESQUES "IG
EARED "AT . '' 3 . .! .! %PTESICUS FUSCUS "IG "ROWN "AT . ' 3 . .! .! -USTELA FRENATAOLIVACEA 3OUTHEASTERN 7EASEL . '4 3 . .! .! -USTELA VISONHALILIMNETES 'ULF 3ALT -ARSH -INK . '4 3 . .! .! -YOTISAUSTRORIPARIUS 3OUTHEASTERN "AT . '' 3 . .! .! .EOlBERALLENI 2OUND
TAILED -USKRAT . ' 3 . .! .! 0ODOMYS mORIDANUS &LORIDA -OUSE . ' 3 ,3 .! .! 3CIURUSNIGERSHERMANI 3HERMANS &OX 3QUIRREL . '4 3 ,3 .! .! 4RICHECHUSMANATUS -ANATEE ,% ' 3 ,% .! .! 5RSUSAMERICANUSmORIDANUS &LORIDA "LACK "EAR . '4 3 ,4 .! .! 2%04),%3 !LLIGATORMISSISSIPPIENSIS !MERICAN !LLIGATOR 3!4 ' 3 ,3 .! .! #ARETTACARETTA ,OGGERHEAD ,4 ' 3 ,4 .! .! #HELONIA MYDAS 'REEN 4URTLE ,%,4 ' 3 ,% .! .! #LEMMYSGUTTATA 3POTTED 4URTLE . ' 3 . .! .! #ROTALUSHORRIDUS 4IMBER 2ATTLESNAKE . ' 3 . .! .! #ROTALUSADAMANTEUS %ASTERN $IAMONDBACK 2ATTLESNAKE . ' 3 . .! .! $ERMOCHELYSCORIACEA ,EATHERBACK ,% ' 3 ,% .! .! $RYMARCHONCOUPERI %ASTERN )NDIGO 3NAKE ,4 ' 3 ,4 .! 4 'OPHERUSPOLYPHEMUS 'OPHER4ORTOISE . ' 3 ,3 .! 4 'RAPTEMYSBARBOURI "ARBOURS -AP 4URTLE . ' 3 ,3 .! .! (ETERODONSIMUS 3OUTHERN (OGNOSE 3NAKE . ' 3 . .! .! ,AMPROPELTISCALLIGASTER -OLE 3NAKE . ' 33 . .! .! ,AMPROPELTISGETULA #OMMON +INGSNAKE . ' 33 . .! .! ,EPIDOCHELYSKEMPII +EMPS 2IDLEY ,% ' 3 ,% .! .! -ACROCHELYS TEMMINCKII !LLIGATOR 3NAPPING 4URTLE . '' 3 ,3 .! 4 .ERODIACLARKIICLARKII 'ULF 3ALT -ARSH 3NAKE . '4 3 . .! .! /PHISAURUSCOMPRESSUS )SLAND 'LASS ,IZARD . '' .! .! 3 .! 0ITUOPHISMELANOLEUCUSMUGITUS &LORIDA 0INE 3NAKE . '4 3 ,3 .! .! 0SEUDEMYSCONCINNASUWANNIENSIS 3UWANNEE #OOTER . '4 3 ,3 .! .! 0SEUDEMYSNELSONIPOP  &LORIDA 2ED
BELLIED 4URTLE . '41 3 . .! .!

n&LORIDA 0ANHANDLE 30)$%23 3PHODROSABBOTI "LUE 0URSE
WEB 3PIDER . '.2 3 . .! .! 3PHODROSRUlPES 2ED
LEGGED 0URSE
WEB 3PIDER . ' 3 . .! .!



# 45 'RAPHIC DESIGN BY -ATT 4INSLEY -AP ILLUSTRATIONS BY 3COTT 3ANDERS \ ,ENZ \ $ECATUR 'EORGIA 0UBLICATION REVIEW COMMITTEE *ANET - 3HELDON 3USAN +IDD +EVIN -C'ORTY .EIL &LECKENSTEIN AND 2EX "ONER 0HOTOGRAPHY BY 2ICHARD 4 "RYANT COVER PAGES                   	 0HOTOGRAPHY BY +EVIN -C'ORTY PAGE 	 0HOTOGRAPHY BY #HRIS "ORG PAGE 	 0UBLISHED .OVEMBER  4HANK YOU FOR THE INDIVIDUAL lNANCIAL SUPPORT FOR THIS PUBLICATION PROVIDED BY -R 2# "ALFOUR ))) AND -R &RANKLIN 7 &OSTER 0,!.43 0,!.43 0,!.43 0,!.43 0,!.43 0,!.43 0,!.43 0,!.43 0,!.43 0,!.43 0,!.43 30%#)%3

3CIENTIlC NAME #OMMON NAME 34!4532!.+ &EDERAL 3TATUS 'LOBAL 2ANK &, 3TATE 2ANK &, 3TATE 3TATUS '! 3TATE 2ANK '! 3TATE 3TATUS

!GALINISDIVARICATA 0INELAND 0URPLE &OXGLOVE . ' .! .! 3 .! !GRIMONIA INCISA )NCISED 'ROOVE
BUR . ' 3 ,% .! .! !NGELICADENTATA 3ANDHILL !NGELICA . '' .! .! 3 .! !SCLEPIASPEDICELLATA 3AVANNA -ILKWEED . ' .! .! 3 .! "APTISIA LECONTEI ,ECONTE 7ILD )NDIGO . ' .! .! 3 .! "RICKELLIACORDIFOLIA &LYRS "RICKELL
BUSH . '' 3 ,% .! .! #ALOPOGON MULTImORUS -ANY
mOWERED 'RASS
PINK . '' .! .! 3( .! #AREXCHAPMANII #HAPMANS 3EDGE . ' 3 ,% .! .! $ROSERA TRACYI 4RACYS $EW
THREADS . '' .! .! 3 .! %LEOCHARISROSTELLATA "EAKED 3PIKERUSH . ' 3 ,% .! .! %PIDENDRUMCONOPSEUM 'REEN
mY /RCHID . ' .! .! 3 .! &ORESTIERAGODFREYI 'ODFREYS 0RIVET . ' 3 ,% .! .! (EXASTYLISARIFOLIA (EARTLEAF . ' 3 ,4 .! .! ,EITNERIA mORIDANA #ORKWOOD . ' 3 ,4 .! .! ,IATRIS TENUIFOLIAVAR QUADRImORA "LAZING 3TAR . ''44 .! .! 3 .! ,ILIUMSUPERBUM 4URKS
CAP ,ILY . ' 3 ,% .! .! ,ITSEAAESTIVALIS 0ONDSPICE . ' 3 ,% .! .! -ACRANTHERA mAMMEA &LAME &LOWER . ' .! .! 3 .! -ATELEA mORIDANA &LORIDA 3PINY
POD . ' 3 ,% .! .! -INUARTIAGODFREYI 'ODFREYS 3ANDWORT . ' 3 ,% .! .! /XYPOLIS TERNATA 3AVANNA #OWBANE . ' .! .! 3 .! 0HYLLANTHUSLEIBMANNIANUSSSP 0INEWOOD $AINTIES . '4 3 ,% .! .! PLATYLEPIS 0LATANTHERA INTEGRA 9ELLOW &RINGELESS /RCHID . ' .! .! 3 .! 0OLYGONUMMEISNERIANUMVAR -EXICAN 4EAR
THUMB . '4 3 ,% .! .! BEYRICHIANUM 0TEROGLOSSASPISECRISTATA 'IANT /RCHID . '' 3 ,4 .! .! 0YCNANTHEMUM mORIDANUM &LORIDA -OUNTAIN
MINT . ' 3 ,4 .! .! 1UERCUSAUSTRINA "LUFF7HITE /AK . ' .! .! 3 .! 2HYNCHOSPORAHARVEYIVAR CULIXA 'EORGIA "EAKRUSH . '1 3( . .! .! 2IBESECHINELLUM -ICCOSUKEE 'OOSEBERRY ,4 ' 3 ,% .! .! 3ALIXmORIDANA &LORIDA7ILLOW . ' 3 ,% .! .! 3ARRACENIA mAVA 9ELLOW &LYTRAP . ' .! .! 33 5 3ERRACENIA MINOR (OODED 0ITCHERPLANT . ' .! .! 3 5 3ARRACENIAPSITTACINA 0ARROT 0ITCHER
PLANT . ' .! .! 33 4 3IDEROXYLONLYCIOIDES "UCKTHORN . ' 3 ,% .! .! 3POROBOLUS TERETIFOLIUS 7IRE
LEAF $ROPSEED . ' .! .! 3 .! 3TACHYSHYSSOPIFOLIAVAR LYTHROIDES 4ALLAHASSEE (EDGE
NETTLE . '41 3 . .! .!