"OSTON

!UCILLA
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56

#

N  4ALL 4IMBERS 2ESEARCH 3TATION  ,AND #ONSERVANCY 4HE 'EORGIA

#ONSERVANCY AND 4HE #ONSERVATION &UND

COMBINED THEIR EFFORTS TO PRODUCE THE

/CHLOCKONEE 2IVERA PUBLICATION THAT INTRODUCED

MANY READERS TO ONE OF &LORIDA AND 'EORGIAS

MOST OVERLOOKED RIVERS 4HESE SAME CONSERVATION

PARTNERS HAVE ONCE AGAIN WORKED TOGETHER TO

INTRODUCE READERS TO ANOTHER CRITICAL RESOURCE IN

THE 2ED (ILLS REGION THE !UCILLA 2IVER 4HOUGH

SMALL IN SIZE THE !UCILLA 2IVER MORE THAN MAKES

UP FOR THIS BY VIRTUE OF ITS STUNNING BEAUTY

BOUNTIFUL NATURAL RESOURCES AND ITS hNOW YOU SEE

IT NOW YOU 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 OF mOODPLAIN

AND OVER  MILES OF RIVER FRONTAGE HAVE

BEEN PURCHASED BY STATE AGENCIES AND THE

3UWANNEE 2IVER 7ATER -ANAGEMENT $ISTRICT

WITH THE GOAL OF PROTECTING ONE OF &LORIDAS

MOST OUTSTANDING RIVERS )N FACT THE !UCILLA

2IVER AND ITS NEARBY COMPANION THE 7ACISSA

2IVER ARE AMONG ONLY  OFlCIALLY DESIGNATED

/UTSTANDING &LORIDA 7ATERS OUT OF MORE THAN

 RIVERS LAKES AND ESTUARIES IN THE STATE

)N ADDITION TO PUBLIC ACQUISITION OF LAND IN THE

!UCILLA 2IVER 7ATERSHED PRIVATE LANDOWNERS

HAVE CONSERVED MORE THAN  ACRES IN

&LORIDA AND 'EORGIA IN CONSERVATION EASEMENTS

HELD BY THE 4ALL 4IMBERS ,AND #ONSERVANCY

THE 3UWANNEE 2IVER 7ATER -ANAGEMENT

$ISTRICT AND 4HE .ATURE #ONSERVANCY

.EVERTHELESS THERE IS STILL MORE TO DO

.ON
POINT SOURCE POLLUTION FROM URBAN

AND RURAL LANDSCAPES SEPTIC TANK FAILURES

AND LITTERING OF PUBLIC GATHERING PLACES ON

THE RIVER ALL POSEA THREAT TO THIS TREASURE

)F YOU WOULD LIKE TO JOIN EFFORTS TO PROTECT

THE !UCILLA 2IVER AND ITS WATERSHED CONTACT

ONE OF THE FOLLOWING ORGANIZATIONS

4ALL 4IMBERS

2ESEARCH 3TATION

,AND #ONSERVANCY

FOSTERS EXEMPLARY LAND STEWARDSHIP THROUGH

RESEARCH CONSERVATION AND EDUCATION4HE

4ALL 4IMBERS ,AND #ONSERVANCY IS THE LARGEST

REGIONAL LAND TRUST IN &LORIDA AND 'EORGIA WITH

OVER  ACRES UNDER CONSERVATION EASEMENT

#ONTACT  (ENRY "EADEL $RIVE4ALLAHASSEE &,


 	 
 WWWTALLTIMBERSORG

4HE #ONSERVATION &UND FORGES PARTNERSHIPS TO

PRESERVE OUR NATIONS OUTDOOR HERITAGEn

!MERICAS LEGACY OF WILDLIFE HABITAT WORKING

LANDSCAPES AND COMMUNITY OPEN
SPACE

#ONTACT 3OUTHEAST /FlCE 0/ "OX 4UCKER '!


 	 
 WWWCONSERVATIONFUND

4HE 'EORGIA #ONSERVANCY ISA

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  7EST 0EACHTREE 3TREET 3UITE

 !TLANTA '!  	 


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1HY "ECAUSE THE !UCILLA 2IVER



lCKLE AND MYSTERIOUS UNKNOWN AND

UNKNOWABLECANT MAKE UP ITS MIND WHETHER

IT WANTS TO BEA RIVERA SWAMP OR AN AQUIFER

&OR EXAMPLE IN THE -IDDLE !UCILLA THE RIVER

DECIDES TO BECOMEA 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 MOST WOULD DESCRIBE ASA

BROAD SWAMP !ND IN SOME LOCATIONSONE

IN 'EORGIA AND SEVERAL IN &LORIDAWHAT ISA

MAJOR SUBSTANTIAL RIVER DISAPPEARS ENTIRELY INTO

THE EARTH AS IF TO GO UNDERGROUND TO THINK FORA

WHILE THEN REAPPEARS  TIMES OVER SEVERAL MILES

INA CRISIS OF INDECISION BEFORE lNALLY MAKING

UP ITS MIND TO BEA RIVER AND mOW TO THE SEA

4O EXPERIENCE THE RIVER FROM ITS SWAMPY

BEGINNINGS TO WHERE IT FEEDSA SALT MARSH

IN THE 'ULF OF -EXICO REQUIRESA SOLID

FAITH !NDA DETAILED SET OF MAPS

"UT BE IT RIVER SWAMP OR AQUIFER THE !UCILLA

UNDOUBTEDLY SUPPLIESA GREAT VARIETY OF FREE

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 SUPPLY 4HE !UCILLA IS ALSOA TREASURE

TROVE FOR ARCHEOLOGISTS WHO STUDY HUMANKINDS

EARLY BEGINNINGS AND AN OUTDOOR LABORATORY FOR

BIOLOGISTS WHO LABOR TO UNDERSTAND AND PROTECT

OUR lNITE NATURAL RESOURCES !ND LASTLY THE

RIVER ISA SOURCE OF SPIRITUAL RENEWAL WHEN USED

FOR RECREATION AND APPRECIATED FOR ITS BEAUTY

4HE LATTER QUALITY IS WHAT THREATENS IT MOST

9OU DONT HAVE TO BEA REAL ESTATE AGENT TO KNOW

THAT THE ENTIRE &LORIDA 0ANHANDLE REGION IS

UNDERGOINGA TSUNAMI OF NEW RESIDENTS AND

DEVELOPMENT 7HILE THIS WAVE RAISES PROPERTY

VALUESA CORRESPONDING EFFECT IS THE REDUCTION

ALTERATION DEPLETION AND LOSS OF THE 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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$URING THIS TIME TECTONIC FORCES MOVED

WHAT WAS TO BE &LORIDA FROM THE WARM SEAS

OF THE EQUATOR TO ITS CURRENT SUB
TROPICAL

POSITION !LL OF &LORIDA AND MUCH OF SOUTH

'EORGIA SITS ON TOP OF THIS LIMESTONE SHELF

/N TOP OF THIS MARINE CARBONATE SEDIMENTARY

ROCK ARE THE NON
CARBONATE SEDIMENTS OF

SAND CLAYS MUD AND ORGANICS DEPOSITED

FROM ESTUARIES COASTAL WETLANDS RIVERS AND

LAKES DURING THE TRANSITION OF THE LANDSCAPE

FROM SEA BOTTOM TO LAND 4ECTONIC FORCES

AND THE RISING AND LOWERING OF SEA LEVEL FROM

PERIODIC ICE AGES SHAPED THE PATTERNS QUANTITY

AND COMPOSITION OF THESE SOILS 4HIS LAYER

RANGES IN DEPTH FROM ZERO TO  FEET IN THE

HEADWATERS OF THE RIVER TO ZERO TO  FEET IN

THE LOWER RANGES OF THE RIVER 4HE CARBONATE

LAYER IN NORTHERN &LORIDA AND SOUTHERN

'EORGIA IS APPROXIMATELY  FEET THICK

-OVING FROM LARGER TO SMALLER LAND
SIZED

GEOGRAPHIC CLASSIlCATIONS GEOLOGISTS ORGANIZE

AND DIVIDE THE %ARTH INTO PHYSICAL UNITS THAT

SHARE GEOLOGIC CHARACTERISTICS )N THE %AST 'ULF

#OASTAL 0LAIN 3ECTION OF THE #OASTAL 0LAIN

0ROVINCE THE !UCILLA BEGINS IN THE 4ALLAHASSEE

(ILLS6ALDOSTA ,IMESINK $ISTRICT ALSO KNOWN AS

THE 2ED (ILLS ECOREGION	 OF THE 4IFTON 5PLAND

$ISTRICT OF 'EORGIA AT APPROXIMATELY  FEET

ELEVATION AND THEN DROPS DOWN THE #ODY 3CARP

TO THE 'ULF #OASTAL ,OWLANDS $ISTRICT BEFORE

EMPTYING INTO THE BROAD MARSHES OF !PALACHEE

"AY IN THE 'ULF OF -EXICO AT SEA LEVEL

2ICH CLAYS AND SANDY LOAMS OF -IOCENE AGE

ROUGHLY  MILLION YEARS OLD	 CHARACTERIZE THE

4ALLAHASSEE (ILLS6ALDOSTA ,IMESINK $ISTRICT

HELPING TO CREATE THE DIVERSITY OF BOTANICAL LIFE

FOUND HERE 4HE 'ULF #OASTAL ,OWLANDS $ISTRICT

IS CHARACTERIZED BY SANDY SOILS OF 0LEISTOCENE AGE

ROUGHLY  MILLION YEARS OLD	 AND LESS BOTANICAL

DIVERSITY 4HE #ODY 3CARPWHICH FORMS THE

BOUNDARY BETWEEN THE TWO REGIONSIS AN

EAST
WEST TRENDING ANCIENT MARINE COASTLINE

THAT DROPS AS MUCH AS  FEET IN PLACES

3O THE !UCILLAS WATERSHED IS IN A MUCH LARGER

REGION UNDERLAIN BY LAYERS OF LIMESTONE WHICH

HOLD THE WATERS OF THE &LORIDAN !QUIFER

LIKE A BIG POROUS UNDERGROUND SPONGE !T

VARIOUS POINTS THE PERMEABLE SOIL LAYERS ON

TOP OF THE LIMESTONE ARE THIN ALLOWING FOR

WATER TO REACH THE SURFACE IN SPRINGS AND

ALSO FOR WATER TO DISAPPEAR UNDERGROUND

IN LIMESINKS 7HERE THE WATER APPEARS IN

SPRINGS THEY CAN HAVE A LARGE ENOUGH VOLUME

TO PRODUCE A SPRING
RUN RIVER SUCH IS THE CASE

WITH THE 7ACISSA 2IVER THE BLONDE
HEADED

TRIBUTARY OF THE BRUNETTE
HEADED !UCILLA

,IMESTONE
INmUENCED LANDSCAPES ARE

SOMETIMES TERMED hKARSTv REGIONS 4HE

.ATIONAL 2ESOURCES $EFENSE #OUNCIL DElNES

KARST AS h! TYPE OF GEOLOGY CHARACTERIZED BY

SOLUBLE ROCKS WHERE STREAMS AND mOODWATERS

DISAPPEAR UNDERGROUND AND THEN mOW THROUGH

CHANNELS INTO SURFACE WATERS )N KARST REGIONS

ACIDIC RAIN CAN DISSOLVE THE LIMESTONE ROCKS

AND CAUSE CRACKS OR SINKHOLES 3INCE ALL WATER

THAT FALLS UPON THE GROUND IN REGIONS OF

LIMESTONE BEDROCK EVENTUALLY lNDS ITS WAY

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4HE 'EOLOGY OF THE !UCILLA 2IVER IN

'EORGIA AND &LORIDA

,IVERS ARE FUNDAMENTALLY CREATED ANDDElNED BY THE LANDSCAPE WHERE THEY ARE

BORN AND MOVE THROUGH )T TAKES UNEVEN OR

POROUS LANDSCAPE COMBINED WITH GRAVITY TO GET

WATER MOVING !S IT mOWS IT IS INmUENCED BY

THE SURROUNDING GEOLOGY AMONG OTHER FACTORS

4HE STORY OF THE !UCILLA AND WHAT MAKES THE

RIVER SO SPECIAL IS LARGELY A STORY OF GEOLOGY

4WO
MILLION
YEAR
OLD 0LEISTOCENE
AGED SOILS

AND STONE COVER MOST OF &LORIDA "UT WHERE

THE !UCILLA mOWS IT CUTS AND DROPS ITS WAY TO

THE !PALACHEE "AY THROUGH SOME OF THE OLDEST

EXPOSED PORTIONS OF &LORIDAS BASEMENT ROCK

$EEP UNDER THE !UCILLA AND ITS TRIBUTARIES

IN 'EORGIA AND &LORIDA ARE THICK LAYERS OF

CARBONATE ROCKS THAT WERE FORMED UNDER

ANCIENT OCEANS FROM DEPOSITED MARINE

BY
PRODUCTSANCIENT CORAL REEFS AND

SHELLSIN A PROCESS THAT STARTED  MILLION

YEARS AGO DURING THE *URASSIC AGE OF THE

DINOSAURS AND ENDED IN THE -IOCENE PERIOD

ROUGHLY  MILLION YEARS BEFORE TODAY

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INTO UNDERGROUND CHANNELS KARST REGIONS ARE

PARTICULARLY VULNERABLE TO POLLUTION FROM ANIMAL

WASTE BECAUSE POLLUTANTS SEEP QUICKLY INTO

THE GROUNDWATER AND SPRINGS UNDERNEATHv ! VARIETY OF NATURAL FACTORS GOING BACK MILLIONS

OF YEARS HELPED CREATE THE KARST ENVIRONMENT

THROUGH WHICH THE !UCILLA mOWS &IRST IS THE

LARGE VOLUME OF PRECIPITATION THAT FALLS IN THE

AREA WHICH PRODUCESA CHEMICAL REACTION THAT

SLOWLY DISSOLVES THE CARBONATE ROCK 3ECOND

IS THE EFFECT OF THE SALT WATER OF THE 'ULF OF

-EXICO WHICH COMES IN CONTACT WITH THE

AQUIFER AND CHEMICALLY INmUENCES THE KARST

ENVIRONMENT 4HIRD THE WETLANDS AND MARSHES

OF THE REGION INTRODUCE CARBON DIOXIDE INTO THE

ENVIRONMENT RESULTING IN FURTHER DEVELOPMENT

OFA KARST LANDSCAPE !ND lNALLY THE HISTORIC

RAISING AND LOWERING OF SEA
LEVELS IN THE REGION

OVER THE LAST TWO MILLION YEARS PRODUCEDA

CHEMICAL WASHING MACHINE EFFECT ON THE

LIMESTONE AS WATER TABLES MOVED UP AND DOWN

4HE !UCILLA 2IVER 7ATERSHED IS ONE OF FOUR

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

2IVER 7ATER -ANAGEMENT $ISTRICT 4HIS

REGION CONTAINS THE LARGEST DENSITY OF

SPRINGS IN THE WORLD WITH MORE THAN 

IDENTIlED SPRINGS 4WENTY
ONE SPRINGS ARE

GRADED AS hlRST MAGNITUDEv WHICH MEANS THEY

DISCHARGE MORE THAN ONE HUNDRED CUBIC FEET

OF WATER PER SECOND )N THE 3UWANNEE 2IVER

SYSTEM THERE ARE  IDENTIlED SPRINGS AND IN

THE !UCILLA7ACISSA %CONlNA &ENHOLLOWAY

3TEINHATCHEE AND 7ACCASASSA WATERSHEDS

APPROXIMATELY  SPRINGS HAVE BEEN LOCATED ! TOTAL COUNT IS PROBLEMATIC BECAUSE MANY

SPRINGS ARE FOUND IN THE STREAMBED AND ARE

ONLY VISIBLE DURING EXTREMELY LOW mOWS

3CIENTISTS ESTIMATE THAT THE TOTAL DISCHARGE

OF ALL THE $ISTRICTS SPRINGS IS MORE THAN 

BILLION GALLONSA DAY WHICH IS EQUAL TO THE

VOLUME OF THE -ISSISSIPPI 2IVER mOWING PAST

-INNEAPOLIS -INNESOTA ON AN AVERAGE DAY

)N THE !UCILLA 7ATERSHED THERE ARE SEVEN lRST

MAGNITUDE SPRINGS INCLUDING 7ACISSA 3PRING

WHICH GIVES BIRTH TO THE 7ACISSA THE MAIN

TRIBUTARY OF THE !UCILLA !DDING TO 7ACISSA

3PRING ARE APPROXIMATELY  OTHER SPRINGS FOUND

IN THE lRST  MILES OF THE 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

OF FRESHWATER PER SECOND 4HE !UCILLA 2IVER

BASIN ALSO PLAYSA ROLE IN ADDING WATER VOLUME

TO THE UNDERGROUND AQUIFER WHICH SEEPS FRESH

WATER INTO THE 'ULF OF -EXICO ADDING UP TO 

PERCENT OF ALL FRESHWATER mOW BY SOME ESTIMATES

4HE COMBINATION OF FRESH AND SALT WATER

CREATES THE IDEAL CONDITIONS FOR SUPPORTING THE

PRODUCTIVE TIDAL MARSHES THAT ARE NURSERY HOME

AND FEEDING GROUNDS FOR lSH AND SHELLlSH 4HE

NORTHEASTERN COAST OF THE 'ULF OF -EXICO WHILE

ONLY  PERCENT OF &LORIDAS COASTLINE COMPRISES

 PERCENT OF THE STATES PRECIOUS TIDAL MARSHES

WHICH SUPPORT &LORIDAS MULTI
MILLION DOLLAR

SEAFOOD RECREATION AND TOURISM INDUSTRIES

21 22

Tqjozcbdlfe!Pscxfbwfs!)Hbtufsbdbouib!fmjqtpjeft*
! *OURNEY THROUGH THE !UCILLA

7ATERSHED !EOGRAPHERS REPORT THAT THE WATERSHED

DRAINS APPROXIMATELY  SQUARE MILES

OF WHICH  PERCENT ARE IN &LORIDA AND 

PERCENT IN 'EORGIA 4HE MAJORITY OF SURFACE

mOW COMES FROM RAINFALL 4HE REGION IS AFFECTED

BY WEATHER PATTERNS THAT FORM DUE TO THE

INmUENCE OF THE 'ULF OF -EXICO 4HOMASVILLE

'EORGIA RECEIVES AN ANNUAL YEARLY RAINFALL OF 

INCHESA YEAR AND FURTHER SOUTH IN THE &LORIDA

0ANHANDLE THE WATERSHED RECEIVES  INCHES

OF RAINA YEAR 4HIS IS ENOUGH TO CREATE STREAMS

AND RIVERS AS IT DROPS ON THE ROLLING TOPOGRAPHY

OF SOUTHWEST 'EORGIA AND NORTH &LORIDA

4HUS THE !UCILLA IS BORN FROM THE SKY INA SUNNY

SOUTHWEST 'EORGIA COTTON lELD SEVEN
AND
A
HALF

MILES NORTHEAST OF 4HOMASVILLE IN THE DISTINCTIVE

TERRAIN KNOWN AS THE 2ED (ILLS )F ITS HEADWATERS

WERE LOCATED SEVERAL HUNDRED FEET TO THE WEST

NORTH OR EAST THEY WOULD INSTEAD mOW WESTWARD

INTO THE /CHLOCKONEE 2IVER OR EASTWARD INTO

THE 3UWANNEE 2IVER )NSTEAD IT MAKES ITS WAY

GENERALLY SOUTH FOR TEN MILES FORMING THE EDGE

OF THE 4HOMASVILLE !IRPORT BEFORE CAPTURING

/LIVE #REEK AND OTHER STREAMS THAT DRAIN OFF THE

EASTERN URBAN HALF OF THE CITY OF 4HOMASVILLE 4HE

!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 OF THE TERRAIN THROUGH WHICH

THE !UCILLA mOWS 4HE RIVER FEEDSAND IS FED BY

BOTH INA COMPLEX RELATIONSHIP THAT IS NOT FULLY

DOCUMENTED UNDERSTOOD OR APPRECIATED BY THE

PUBLIC /UR MAPS OF RIVERS ARE TWO DIMENSIONAL

WHICH IS USUALLY SUFlCIENT "UT WHEREA RIVER

mOWS OVER THE SWISS CHEESE
LIKE LIMESTONE

LANDSCAPE OF 3OUTH 'EORGIA AND .ORTH &LORIDA A 
$ SUBTERRANEAN MAP WOULD MAKE MORE SENSE

AND BRING USA 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 OF THE SINKS AND

mOWS ALONG THE RAILROAD BED UNTIL IT JOINS THE

-ASSE "RANCH AND HEADS SOUTHEAST BEFORE IT

DISAPPEARS INTOA 
MILE
LONG BY 
MILE
WIDE

SWAMP KNOWN AS THE !UCILLA 2IVER $RAIN OR

3WAMP	 AT THE CORNER OF 4HOMAS AND "ROOKS

COUNTIES (ERE IT CROSSES THE STATE LINE INTO

*EFFERSON #OUNTY AND BECOMESA &LORIDA RIVER

7ITH ITS MODEST ORIGINS  MILES FROM &LORIDA

THE !UCILLA HAS THE SMALLEST WATERSHED IN

'EORGIAONLY  SQUARE MILESAND ALMOST

ALL OF IT CONTAINED IN 4HOMAS #OUNTY -ANY

'EORGIA WATERSHED MAPS IGNORE IT ENTIRELY AND

REPRESENT IT AS PART OF THE /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 NEAR 4HOMASVILLE 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*

23 24

Uif!Bvdjmmb!Sjwfs!ofbs TofbeÖt!Tnplfipvtf!Mblf
DECIMATED THE ORIGINAL INHABITANTS OF THE AREA

WHO LACKED NATURAL IMMUNITY %VENTUALLY

&LORIDA BECAME THE TH STATE ADMITTED TO

THE 5NION AND SETTLERS TIMBERED THE AREA AND

CONVERTED THE LANDSCAPE TO COTTON PLANTATIONS

WHICH WERE SUPPORTED BY SLAVE LABOR

!FTER THE #IVIL 7AR THE LAND WAS PURCHASED

ON THE CHEAP BY .ORTHERNERS WHO COVETED

THE PINE
SCENTED FORESTS AND EXCELLENT

HUNTING GROUNDS 4HIS HELPED PRESERVE THE

ORIGINAL ECOSYSTEM AS lRE WAS USED TO KEEP

THE LAND PRODUCTIVE FOR BOBWHITE QUAIL THE

SINGLE SPECIES WHICH HAS MADE THE 2ED (ILLS

FAMOUS FOR WORLD
CLASS GAME BIRD HUNTING

4HE !UCILLA IS CLASSIlED AS A BLACKWATER RIVER

4HIS TYPE OF RIVER NAMED FOR ITS DARK BROWN

TANNIN
STAINED WATERS ORIGINATES IN ACIDIC

SWAMPS AND mATWOODS "LACKWATER STREAMS HAVE

HIGHLY ACIDIC WATER LOW P(	 FROM DECAYING

PLANT MATERIALS AND SUPPORT LOW BIOLOGICAL

DIVERSITY 4HE RATIO OF INORGANICS SAND	 TO

ORGANICS PLANT MATERIAL	 CAN BE  WHEREAS IN

TYPICAL RIVERS IT IS  "LACKWATER RIVERS HAVE

LOW OXYGEN LEVELS DUE TO THEIR SLOW MOVING

MEANDERING AND GENERALLY WARMER WATERS

4HE 5PPER !UCILLA 7ATERSHED IS PRIMARILY

CHARACTERIZED BY MESIC LONGLEAF PINE

mATWOODS mOODPLAIN FOREST AND mOODPLAIN

SWAMP COMMUNITIES .UMEROUS HARDWOOD

DRAINS FEED THE 5PPER !UCILLA AND THESE

OFTEN SUPPORT RARE PLANTS SUCH AS 4URKS
CAP

LILY &URTHER SOUTH THE -IDDLE AND ,OWER

!UCILLA HOST AN AMALGAM OF HYDRIC HAMMOCK

mOODPLAIN FOREST AND mOODPLAIN SWAMP

HABITATS 4HROUGHOUT THE BASIN EXTENSIVE

FORESTS OF BALD
CYPRESS BLACK GUM SOUTHERN

MAGNOLIA SPRUCE PINE SWEET GUM RED MAPLE

AND VARIOUS OAK HICKORY AND ASH SPECIES

ABOUND )N THE LOWER WATERSHED THESE FORESTS

ARE COMPLIMENTED BY MORE SUBTROPICAL

SPECIES SUCH AS CABBAGE AND NEEDLE PALMS

26

Bvdjmmb!Sjwfs!txbnq!esbjo

25

7HEN LOOKING AT A MAP THE PRECISE BOUNDARIES

OF THE !UCILLA 2IVERS &LORIDA WATERSHED

ARE DIFlCULT TO DRAW 7ITH SOME RIVERS IT IS

EASY TO TELL WHERE THEY HAVE BRANCH STREAMS

AND WHERE THEY BEGIN AND END &OR THE

!UCILLA SURROUNDED BY SWAMPS LIME SINKS

AND SPRINGS IT IS SOMETIMES DIFlCULT TO TELL

WHICH WATERS mOW TO THE !UCILLA OR THE 3T

-ARKS 2IVER TO THE WEST OR %CONlNA 2IVER

TO THE EAST OR THE UNDERGROUND AQUIFER OR A

COMBINATION OF RIVERS 4RADITIONALLY IN KARST

LANDSCAPE RAINFALL SOAKS INTO THE GROUND

RATHER THAN FORMING A STREAM THAT CONNECTS

TO OTHER WATERWAYS TO MAKE THE USUAL

DENDRITIC TREE
BRANCHED LOOK OF MOST RIVERS

3OME LARGE WATER BODIES IN THE WATERSHED ONLY

HAVE OBVIOUS CONNECTIONS TO THE RIVER DURING

HIGH WATER SUCH AS (IXTOWN 3WAMP IN &LORIDA

4HE 
SQUARE
MILE (IXTOWN 3WAMP BUFFERS

THE LARGEST LAKE IN THE !UCILLA /CHLOCKONEE AND

3T -ARKS WATERSHEDS MEASURING APPROXIMATELY

 ACRES )NACCESSIBLE AND UNDISTURBED THE

SWAMP IS CONSIDERED TO BE THE MOST EXTENSIVE

CYPRESS SWAMP IN NORTHERN &LORIDA )T SERVES AS

AN IMPORTANT SANCTUARY FOR MIGRATING WATERFOWL

AND A LARGE NUMBER OF SANDHILL CRANES

)F YOU COMBINE THE !UCILLA 2IVER 7ATERSHED

TO THE EAST WITH THE /CHLOCKONEE 7ATERSHED

OF THE WEST YOU WILL MAKE AN IRREGULAR

DIAMOND SHAPE THAT HAS 4ALLAHASSEE AT THE

CENTER 4HIS IS THE 2ED (ILLS "IOREGION )F

YOU DRAW A HORIZONTAL LINE ACROSS THE CENTER

BELOW THE &LORIDA STATE CAPITAL YOU HAVE

ROUGHLY MAPPED THE #ODY 3CARP WHICH IS AN

ANCIENT SHORELINE DROP
OFF THAT DIVIDES THE

2ED (ILLS FROM THE 'ULF #OAST ,OWLANDS

4HE 2ED (ILLS HOLDS THE BEST REMNANTS OF

LONGLEAF PINE SAVANNA A ONCE WIDESPREAD

lRE
DEPENDENT ECOSYSTEM THAT STRETCHED FROM

SOUTHEASTERN 6IRGINIA TO EASTERN 4EXAS 7IDELY

SPACED ANCIENT PINES TOWERED OVER ONE OF

THE MOST DIVERSE GROUND COVERS IN THE WORLD

WHERE  SPECIES OF VASCULAR PLANTS MIGHT BE

FOUND IN A SINGLE ONE
SQUARE
METER QUADRAT

-ANY OF THE SPECIES FOUND HERE WERE RARE AND

ENDEMIC AND ARE UNCOMMON TODAY DUE TO THE

ALTERATION OF THE LANDSCAPE &INDING REFUGE

IN THE 2ED (ILLS COMMUNITY ARE  SPECIES

THAT ARE FEDERALLY LISTED OR OF SPECIAL CONCERN

AS WELL AS  CANDIDATE SPECIES FOR FEDERAL

LISTING 4HE MOST FAMOUS IS THE FEDERALLY

ENDANGERED RED
COCKADED WOODPECKER WHICH

REQUIRES OLD GROWTH OR MATURE SECOND
GROWTH

PINES TO PROSPER 4HE 2ED (ILLS HARBORS

THE LARGEST POPULATION OF RED
COCKADED

WOODPECKERS FOUND ON PRIVATELY OWNED LAND

IN THE 53 ESTIMATED AT  ACTIVE GROUPS

7HERE THE !UCILLA mOWS THROUGH THE 2ED

(ILLS IT PASSES THROUGH  DIFFERENT HUNTING

PLANTATIONS THAT HELP TO CONSERVE THIS NATIVE

LANDSCAPE THAT DOMINATED THE COASTAL PLAIN

WHEN #OLUMBUS ARRIVED /RIGINALLY .ATIVE

!MERICANS FARMED THE LANDS 3PANISH EXPLORERS

AND MISSIONARIES BROUGHT DISEASES THAT

Spqf!txjoh!bu!uif!Xbdjttb!txjnnjoh!ipmf!
Uif!Xbdjttb!Sjwfs

27 28

4HAT IS A SCIENTIlC DESCRIPTION "LACKWATER

RIVERS ARE ALSO BEAUTIFUL TO SEE WITH GLARINGLY

WHITE SAND BANKS CONTRASTING WITH THE DARK

TEA
COLORED WATERS THAT REmECT LIKE A MIRROR

THE SURROUNDING GREEN CANOPY MESMERIZING

RIVER TRAVELERS AS THEY WIND THROUGH THE

!UCILLAS MYSTERIOUS GREEN CORRIDORS

)N THE 'EORGIA HEADWATERS MOST WOULD

CALL THE !UCILLA A SERIES OF CREEKS "ELOW THE

'EORGIA HEADWATERS AT THE STATE LINE AFTER

THE !UCILLA PICKS UP VOLUME IT BROADENS INTO

EXTENSIVE LINEAR SWAMPS OF CYPRESS GUM

AND BAY WHICH SERVE AS A HAVEN AND NURSERY

GROUND FOR WATERFOWL WADING BIRDS REPTILES

AMPHIBIANS AND lSH (ERE THE RIVER MOVES

VERY SLOWLY IF AT ALL ,ILY PADS AND OTHER

EMERGENT VEGETATION ADORN THE RIVERS SURFACE

ADDING TO THE IMPRESSION OF A SOUTHERN POND

"ELOW THE CYPRESS AND GUM SWAMPS OF 3NEADS

3MOKEHOUSE ,AKE THE RIVER NARROWS AND THE

CURRENT PICKS UP #OMING TOWARD THE !UCILLA

FROM THE EAST IS A ZIGZAGGING LINE SHARED BY

&LORIDA COUNTIES NAMED FOR PRESIDENTIAL BEST

FRIENDS *EFFERSON AND -ADISON )T ESTABLISHES

STRAIGHT LEGAL BOUNDARIES THROUGH THE CROOKED

INTERMITTENT SWAMPS AND WETLANDS 7HERE IT

INTERSECTS WITH THE RIVER THE COUNTY MARGINS

ADOPT THE TWISTS AND TURNS OF THE !UCILLA

WITH *EFFERSON ON THE WEST BANK AND -ADISON

ON THE EAST BANK UNTIL -ADISON BECOMES

4AYLOR #OUNTY FURTHER SOUTH 4HE STREAM

AS IF IT KNOWS IT CARRIES LEGAL RESPONSIBILITIES

BECOMES DElNED ENOUGH TO BE AN OBVIOUS

RIVER WITH CURRENT STREAM BANKS AND SHOALS

4HIS STRETCH IS KNOWN AS THE -IDDLE !UCILLA

4HE BEAUTY OF THE !UCILLA HERE IS REMARKABLE

AND A PLEASURE TO CANOE OR KAYAK )T IS NO

ACCIDENT THAT THE 3TATE OF &LORIDA HAS MADE IT

AN OFlCIAL CANOE TRAIL 4HE NOISE FROM MANS

INVENTIONS FADE AWAY (AWKS STUDY THE RIVER

FROM ABOVE LOOKING FOR MEALS WHILE HERONS

PATIENTLY WAIT FOR UNSUSPECTING lSH AT THEIR

FEET !LERT KINGlSHERS CRUISE THE CHANNEL WHERE

DOWN BELOW LIVELY OTTERS PLAY A GAME OF TAG 3HY

SUN
DAPPLED ALLIGATORS SLIDE OFF SAND BANKS INTO

THE COOL REmECTIVE BLACK WATERS 4IMID TURTLES

AND FROGS LEAVE THEIR PERCHES FOR THE SAFETY OF

THE STREAM "ASS POP AT THE SURFACE TAKING WITH

THEM UNSUSPECTING WATERBORNE DRAGONmIES THE

SIZE OF A MANS PALM ! WHITE
TAILED DEER SIPS

COOL WATER FROM THE RIVER 7OODPECKERS HAMMER

FOR GRUBS -ASSIVE 3PANISH MOSS
DRAPED CYPRESS

SHADE THE RIVER WITH THEIR EXPOSED ROOTS AND

KNEES PIERCING THE LIMESTONE "OULDERS IN THE

RIVER SUGGEST A LUNAR LANDSCAPE #URIOUS CLOUDS

OF SLOW SWEET SULPHUR BUTTERmIES BRIEmY JOIN

THE JOURNEY MAKING IT ONE FROM A FAIRYTALE

!LL OF THIS ) EXPERIENCED IN ONE 
HOUR TRIP

!S ) DRIFTED DOWNSTREAM THE RIVER SLOWLY

DISSOLVED ITS WAY DOWN INTO THE LANDSCAPE OF

LIMESTONE AND THE RIVERBANK ROSE NEXT TO ME

AND IT SEEMED LIKE ) WAS GRADUALLY SINKING

INTO THE EARTH 4HE FORESTED DIVERSITY ON AND

BEYOND THE BANKS WAS REMARKABLE %ARLY ON )

PASSED BY CYPRESS AND GUM SWAMPS &URTHER

DOWN THE RIVER ) SAW HUGE LIVE WATER AND

LAUREL OAKS AND CABBAGE PALMS CROWDING THE UvslÖt.dbq!Mjmz!)Mjmjvn!tvqfscvn*

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ipht! nbz! cf! ifbse! xpsljoh! uifjs! xbz!

uispvhi!uif!ofbscz!txbnqt/!

Cmpdlt!pg!mjnftupof!boe!fbsui!npvoet!Ò!xijdi!nbz!cf!

fydbwbufe!ejsu!gspn!uif!dbobm!ps!Joejbo!npvoet!Ò!sfnjoe!

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kvohmf!ibe!up!cf!bsevpvt/!Mbcpsfst!ibe!up!efbm!xjui!ifbu-!

ivnjejuz-!àppet-!tphhz!tpjm-!toblft!boe!bmmjhbupst-!boe!uif!

uisfbu!pg!nbmbsjb!boe!zfmmpx!gfwfs/!Ju!sfnbjot!b!tjmfou!usjcvuf!

up!uifjs!nvtdmf!boe!hsju/

Uif!Tmbwf!Dbobm

-
Uif!Bvdjmmb!Sjwfs!ofbs!Mbnpou-!Gmpsjeb

RIVER BANK FESTOONED WITH RESURRECTION FERNS

AND TANGLED NETWORKS OF NATIVE GRAPE VINES

AND POISON IVY %LSEWHERE) IDENTIlED TURKEY

OAKS AND LONGLEAF PINE 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 MARK LOCATED  FEET ABOVE THE SURFACE OF

THE WATER 2USTY lSHHOOKS DANGLED MID
AIR FROM

LINES ATTACHED TO TREE BRANCHES AS IF TO CATCH

BIRDS AND NOT CATlSH ,IKE MOST BLACKWATER

STREAMS THE !UCILLA AND ITS TRIBUTARIES mUCTUATE

WIDELY ANDA LAZY AND OBVIOUS RIVER CHANNEL

AFTERA &LORIDA TORRENT CAN QUICKLY RISE TO

BECOMEA 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 THAN JUST BREATHTAKING

SCENERY ON THEIR CANOE TRIP WILL lND SEVERAL SETS

OF SHOALS SOUTH OF ,AMONT AS THE RIVER DROPS

DOWN THE #ODY 3CARP INTO THE 'ULF #OASTAL

,OWLANDS $ISTRICT #ONGRATULATIONS 9OU JUST

FOUND &LORIDAS PREMIER WHITEWATER EXPERIENCE

$EPENDING ON WATER LEVELS TWO LIMESTONE ROCK

DAMS CAN MAKE FORA NERVOUS CHALLENGE IF ONE

IS INEXPERIENCED OR TRAVELING WITH CHILDREN

BUT SANDY BANKS MAKE PORTAGING THEM EASY

3OUTH OF THE RAPIDS BOATERS WHO DONT

KNOW THE RIVER THEY ARE ON AND PLAN TO

MEET THEIR FRIENDS AT THE MARSH DOCK WILL BE

IN FORA 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 INA NETWORK OF CAVERNS CONNECTED

TO THE SURFACE INA SERIES OF LIMESTONE hSINKSv

AND hRIVER RISESv ,IKEA STRING OF IRREGULAR

RIVER PEARLS APPROXIMATELY  ELLIPTICAL

SHAPED WATER BODIES INDICATE WHERE DEEP

UNDERGROUND THE RIVER HAS DECIDED TO mOW

3OME OF THESE SINKS ARE  FEET DEEP

7ITH THEIR UNIQUE BIOLOGICAL CONDITIONS SINKS

AND THE CAVERNS THEY CONNECT TO CREATE THEIR OWN

MINI
ECOSYSTEMS 3EVERAL SPECIES OF RARE AND

IMPERILED CAVE DWELLERS INHABIT THE UNDERGROUND

ENVIRONMENTS OF THE 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 OF THE

RIVER THESE WATERING HOLES HAVEA FASCINATING

NATURAL AND HUMAN HISTORY ALL THEIR OWN 3OME

ARE VERY ROUND AND OTHERS LOOK LIKE CURVED

GASHES IN THE EARTH 7ITH STEEP SANDY BANKS

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*

29 2:
32

CAMPSITES AND UNFORTUNATELY LEAVE LITERALLY

GARBAGE
TRUCK LOADS OF TRASH 3OME WHO DONT

UNDERSTAND THE DIRECT CONNECTION BETWEEN

THESE SINK HOLES AND THE WATER THEY DRINK OUT

OF THEIR TAP IGNORANTLY DEPOSIT APPLIANCES

HOUSEHOLD POISONS OIL DRUMS CAR TIRES AND

OTHER GARBAGE INTO THE SINKS A CRIMINAL ACT

AGAINST MAN AND NATURE IF THERE EVER WAS ONE

4HE 7ACISSA 2IVER

-OUTH OF THE !UCILLA 3INKS THE CRYSTAL CLEARBEAUTIFUL SPRING
BORNE 7ACISSATHE

!UCILLAS MAIN TRIBUTARYJOINS THE TEA


COLORED !UCILLA IN A CONFUSING JUNGLE
LIKE

AREA OF MULTIPLE CHANNELS .OT ONLY IS IT

MYSTERIOUS HOW THEY PHYSICALLY MEET IT

IS PUZZLING THAT TWO RIVERS ONLY TEN MILES

APART AT THEIR MOST DISTANT ARE SO DIFFERENT

4HE 7ACISSA HAS CLEAR WATER A STRAIGHT SHORT

COURSE AND IS PRIMARILY SHALLOW 4HE !UCILLA

IS BLACKWATER WINDING LONGER AND DEEPER

4HE REASON IS GEOLOGY 4HE 
MILE
LONG

7ACISSA WHICH LIES ON THE EASTERN BOUNDARY OF

THE 7OODVILLE +ARST 0LAIN AND IS ENTIRELY IN THE

'ULF #OASTAL ,OWLANDS OF &LORIDA IS CREATED BY

APPROXIMATELY  SPRINGS WHEREAS THE !UCILLA

IS PRIMARILY CREATED BY RUNOFF 4HE 7OODVILLE

+ARST 0LAIN IS INTERNATIONALLY POPULAR WITH CAVE

DIVERS WHO HAVE EXPLORED SOME OF LARGER SPRING

VENTS SOME WHICH OPEN UP TO LARGE CAVERNS

7ITH ITS ABUNDANT WILDLIFE SURROUNDING

SPRING
RUN RIVERS AND FORESTED CORRIDORS THE

7ACISSA OFFERS A SUBLIME PLEASURE THAT MAKES

IT A TREASURE OF THE &LORIDA 0ANHANDLE ! SIDE

EXPLORATION UP SOME OF THE SPRING
RUN RIVERS

THAT mOW INTO THE 7ACISSA IS ALSO MAGICAL )N

ALL MY TRAVELS ) HAVE NEVER SEEN MORE OR A

GREATER VARIETY OF BIRD LIFE IN A SHORTER PERIOD

)N THE SPAN OF A FEW HOURS ) SAW THE THREATENED

LIMPKIN BALD EAGLE SWALLOW
TAILED KITE WILD

TURKEY OWLS HAWKS OSPREY KINGlSHERS GREAT

BLUE LITTLE BLUE TRICOLOR AND GREEN HERONS

mOCKS OF DUCKS MOORHENS AND OTHER SPECIES )T

IS LIKE mOATING IN AN AQUARIUM WHERE lSH ARE

EXTREMELY VISIBLE YOU WILL SEE SCHOOLS OF MULLET

AND SUNlSH AS WELL AS INDIVIDUAL SPECIMENS OF

BASS SUNlSH BOWlN AND GAR !PPLE SNAILS

THE PREFERRED FOOD OF THE LIMPKIN ARE VERY

ABUNDANT 4HEIR PINK PEARLY EGGS CLING IN

CLUSTERS ON THE CYPRESS BUTTRESSES !LL OF THIS

FOUND ONLY  MILES EAST OF 4ALLAHASSEE

4HE 7ACISSA 7ATERSHED WAS CLEARCUT IN THE

S WHICH AFFECTED THE BASINS WATER QUALITY

"UT IT RECOVERED #URRENTLY THE RIVER IS lGHTING

A LOSING BATTLE AGAINST INTRODUCED AQUATIC

PLANT SPECIES OF ELODEA AND WATER HYACINTH

WHICH ARE OUTCOMPETING THE NATIVE EELGRASS

!PPROXIMATELY FOUR MILES FROM THE COAST

ABOVE AND BELOW THE SETTLEMENT OF .UTALL

2ISE THE 7ACISSA JOINS THE !UCILLA IN SEVERAL

AREAS INCLUDING THE MAN
MADE 3LAVE #ANAL

A FAILED EFFORT TO MAKE THE 7ACISSA A RELIABLE

TRANSPORTATION CONDUIT TO !PALACHEE "AY FOR

UPSTREAM COTTON GROWERS 4HE !UCILLA COMES

TO THE SURFACE FOR GOOD AT .UTALL 2ISE AND

TRANSFORMS INTO A TIDAL RIVER WITH MARSH BANKS

Topxz!Fhsfu!)Fhsfuub!uivmb*

31

 

-ILES

&EET

   

7ACISSA 2IVER

0UBLIC "OAT ,ANDING

Xbdjttb!

Sjwfs!Tqsjoht

Xbdjttb!

Sjwfs!Tqsjoht
Gjtijoh!bu!uif!Xbdjttb!txjnnjoh!ipmf

33 34

/FFSHORE THE !UCILLAS WATERS HELP TO SUPPORT

AN IMPORTANT NURSERY GROUND FOR lSH AND

SHELLlSH $UE TO THE SHALLOW mAT TOPOGRAPHY

OF THE LOW
ENERGY COASTLINE WHERE THE !UCILLA

ENTERS !PALACHEE "AY AN EXTENSIVE ESTUARINE

COMPLEX HAS BEEN ABLE TO DEVELOP WITH MILES

OF SALT MARSH SEAGRASS BEDS KELP BEDS OYSTER

BARS AND LIMESTONE OUTCROPPINGS AUGMENTED

BY TIDE CHANNELS WHICH SUPPORT ABUNDANT

lSHERIES )T IS PART OF THE 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 BLUElSH JACK CREVALLE AND mOUNDER

(ISTORY 5NCOVERED -EGAFAUNA

0ALEO
)NDIANS 3PANISH

#ONQUISTADORS AND THE !UCILLA 2IVER 1HEN DID PEOPLE lRST ARRIVE IN .ORTH

!MERICA 7HAT WERE THEY LIKE

4HE !UCILLA 2IVER BECAUSE OF ITS UNIQUE

FEATURES IS HELPING TO SOLVE THIS MYSTERY

!MATEUR COLLECTORS AND ARCHEOLOGISTS HAVE

LONG KNOWN OF THE ABUNDANCE OF BONES AND

)NDIAN ARTIFACTS IN THE RIVERS AND SINKHOLES

OF &LORIDAS KARST REGION )N  LED BY $R

3 $AVID 7EBB 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 REGION 4HE DISCOVERY

OF NEARLY  INUNDATED PALEO
INDIAN SITES IN A SHORT SECTION OF THE RIVER CONTAINING SOME

OF THE EARLIEST KNOWN EVIDENCE OF MAN ON THE

.ORTH !MERICAN CONTINENT HAS MADE THE RIVER

INTERNATIONALLY SIGNIlCANT AND ONE OF THE 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 WASA 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

WAS JOINED WITH EASTERN !SIA BYA LAND BRIDGE

KNOWN TODAY AS "ERINGIA NEAR !LASKA 4HE

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 RIVERS 4HIS CHANGE PAUSED

ROUGHLY  YEARS AGO UNTIL RECENTLY	

WHICH ENABLED THE DEVELOPMENT OF COASTAL

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 DISCOVEREDA BURIED RIVER

DRAINAGE SYSTEM INDICATING THAT APPROXIMATELY

 TO  MILES OFFSHORE FROM TODAYS COAST AND NOW UNDERWATERTHE !UCILLA 2IVER

COMBINED WITH THE /CHLOCKONEE 3T -ARKS Sptf!Wfswbjo!)Wfscbob!dbobefotjt*
Cjh!Cmvf!Tqsjoht!po!uif!Xbdjttb!Sjwfs

35 36

0INHOOK AND %CONlNA RIVERS TO CREATE WHAT

ARCHEOLOGISTS CALL THE 0ALEO
/CHLOCKONEE

WHICH mOWED ANOTHER  MILES BEFORE REACHING

THE 'ULF 0REHISTORICALLY THE !UCILLA WAS

NOT A CONTINUOUSLY UNINTERRUPTED RIVER FROM

HEADWATERS TO COAST BUT CONSISTED OF A STRING

OF IRREGULAR SINKHOLES THE REMNANTS OF WHICH

CAN BE SEEN TODAY IN THE !UCILLA 3INKS REGION

7HERE A RIVER MEETS THE OCEAN HAS ALWAYS BEEN

A POPULAR PLACE FOR HUMAN OCCUPATION DUE

TO ABUNDANT AND DEPENDABLE FOOD RESOURCES

FROM THE MARINE AND RIVERINE ENVIRONMENTS

!S SEA LEVEL ROSE AND THE RIVER CHANNEL WAS

DROWNED AND THE MOUTH BACKED UP HUMANS

MOVED THEIR SETTLEMENTS FURTHER UPSTREAM AND

LEFT BEHIND EVIDENCE OF THEIR COMMUNITIES

WHICH WERE EVENTUALLY INUNDATED BY THE SEA

AND BURIED BY RIVER SEDIMENTS 7HILE THERE

ARE APPROXIMATELY  KNOWN 0ALEO
INDIAN

SITES IN &LORIDA IT IS BELIEVED MANY MORE ARE

WAITING TO BE FOUND OFF THE COAST UNDER THE SEA

&LORIDA AT THAT TIME HAD A MUCH DRIER CLIMATE

AND WAS DOMINATED BY GRASSY SAVANNA !S

SEA LEVEL ROSE SO DID THE WATER TABLE HELPING

TO CREATE SINKHOLES AND SPRINGS IN THE KARST

ENVIRONMENT 4HE ENVIRONMENT WAS DRIER

SO RELIABLE WATERING HOLES WERE OASES THAT

ATTRACTED THE ANIMALS OF THE 0LEISTOCENE

!GE MANY OF WHICH ARE EXTINCT TODAY GIANT

SLOTHS BEAVER WATER RATS SABER
TOOTHED CATS

MASTODONS BISON EVEN A GIANT LAND TORTOISE

4HEY ALSO DREW HUMANS WHO CAMPED HERE

AND AMBUSHED BUTCHERED ATE AND DISCARDED

THE REMAINS OF ANIMALS THEY KILLED HERE

7ORKING UNDERWATER IN THE SINKHOLES AND

SURFACE WATERS OF THE WATERSHED FROM 

TO  THE !UCILLA 2IVER 0REHISTORY 0ROJECT

HELPED ASSEMBLE A PIECE
BY
PIECE PORTRAIT

OF SOME OF .ORTH !MERICAS EARLIEST HUMAN

INHABITANTS WILDLIFE AND PLANT LIFE &OR EXAMPLE

THEY DISCOVERED AN ANIMAL SKULL WITH A BROKEN

STONE POINT IN IT ANIMAL BONES WITH EVIDENCE

OF BUTCHERING PLANT REMAINS THAT REVEAL THE

EXISTENCE OF GOURDS NOT KNOWN BEFORE IN

&LORIDA POLLEN RECORDS ANIMAL DUNG CONTAINING

ANALYZABLE HORMONES lSH HOOKS AND BONE

KNIVES HAIR )NDIAN ARTWORK THE WORLDS OLDEST

DUGOUT CANOE AND MUCH MORE ! 
YEAR


OLD 
FOOT LONG MASTODON TUSK WAS FOUND BY

ARCHEOLOGISTS AT (ALF
-ILE 2ISE ON THE !UCILLA

THAT EXHIBITED CUT MARKSEVIDENCE THE ANIMAL

WAS SLAUGHTERED BY HUMANSMAKING IT ONE OF

THE EARLIEST RECORDS OF MAN IN .ORTH !MERICA

.ATIVE !MERICANS AND THE

!UCILLA 2IVER

1HILE TODAY IT HELPS DElNE COUNTIES THE!UCILLA HISTORICALLY WAS AN IMPORTANT

BOUNDARY BETWEEN TWO MAJOR )NDIAN NATIONS

4O THE EAST OF THE RIVER WERE THE 4IMUCUAN


SPEAKING )NDIANS AND TO THE WEST LIVED THE

!PALACHEE
SPEAKING )NDIANS !T THE TIME OF

#OLUMBUSS DISCOVERY IN  IT IS ESTIMATED

THAT  4IMUCUANS LIVED BETWEEN THE

!UCILLA 2IVER AND !LTAMAHA 2IVER IN 'EORGIA

)N  3PANISH CHRONICLERS TRAVELING WITH

35 36

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CONQUISTADOR (ERNANDO $E3OTO WHO CROSSED AT

THE hNATURAL BRIDGEv OF THE !UCILLA 2IVER IN THE

SINKS REGION DESCRIBED THE 4IMUCUANS AND THEIR

VILLAGES )N  3PAIN ESTABLISHED THE COLONY

OF ,A &LORIDA WITH THE CAPITAL OF 3T !UGUSTINE

AND EVENTUALLY ESTABLISHED A STRING OF &RANCISCAN

MISSIONS WITH THE INTENT TO CONVERT THE )NDIANS

INTO LOYAL #ATHOLIC SUBJECTS OF THE 3PANISH

CROWN WHO COULD BE FORCED INTO SLAVERY IN

SUPPORT OF 3PAIN %UROPEAN DISEASES DECIMATED

4IMUCUAN POPULATIONS WHICH DROPPED TO

 BY THE YEAR  AND THEN SHRUNK TO

 BY  AND lNALLY DWINDLED TO A SINGLE

INDIVIDUAL WHO ACCOMPANIED THE 3PANISH TO

#UBA WHEN THEY WITHDREW FROM &LORIDA IN

 4HE !PALACHEE SUFFERED MUCH THE SAME

FATE SHRINKING FROM  INDIVIDUALS TO ONLY A

FEW SURVIVORS WHO EVACUATED WITH THE 3PANISH

4HEIR GHOSTS REMAIN IN THE NAMES OF CITIES

TOWNS COUNTIES AND RIVERS OF 'EORGIA AND

&LORIDA INCLUDING THE !UCILLA AND 7ACISSA

h!UCILLAv MIGHT BE THE OLDEST STILL
USED PLACE

NAME IN &LORIDA AND 'EORGIA BELIEVED TO

BE A CORRUPTED 4IMUCUAN WORD OF UNKNOWN

MEANING (ISTORIANS THINK IT REFERRED TO AN

)NDIAN VILLAGE OR TRIBE lRST MENTIONED IN

3PANISH ACCOUNTS OF THE $E3OTO EXPEDITION

OF  !S &LORIDA HAS BEEN UNDER THE mAGS

OF lVE NATIONS 3PANISH &RENCH %NGLISH

53 AND #ONFEDERATE	 DIFFERENT LANGUAGES

HAVE TRIED TO REPRODUCE )NDIAN PRONUNCIATIONS

6ARIOUS SPELLINGS HAVE INCLUDED !SSILLI !SSILLY

!GILE !XILLE !GUILE !USSILLE /CELLO /CILLA

/CILLO /SSILLA /SCILLEE /CHILE AND 3CILLY

)N THE AREA SEVERAL FEATURES AND SETTLEMENTS

HAVE CARRIED A VERSION OF THE NAME INCLUDING

AN )NDIAN TRIBE !SILE	 VILLAGE /CHILE	 A

3PANISH MISSION 3AN -IGUEL DE !SILE	 A

3PANISH PLANTATION !UCILLA	 AN ACADEMY AN

UNINCORPORATED TOWN A SWAMP AND A POST OFlCE

IN &LORIDA AND 'EORGIA )T IS POSSIBLE THAT THE

!UCILLA HAS ONE OF THE OLDEST NAMES IN .ORTH

!MERICA PRECEDING EVEN THE 4IMUCUANS

2UNAWAY SLAVES 3EMINOLE )NDIANS #ONFEDERATE

SOLDIERS BOOTLEGGERS AND DRUG SMUGGLERS USED

THE INACCESSIBLE !UCILLA SWAMPS AS A PLACE TO

HIDE THEIR ACTIVITIES AND THEMSELVES %ACH HAS

AN INTERESTING CHAPTER WAITING TO BE TOLD IN FULL

4HE #LEAN 7ATER !CT AND THE

!UCILLA 2IVER

 IRST LETS START WITH THE GOOD NEWS 4AKENAS A WHOLE THE !UCILLA 2IVER 7ATERSHED

IS IN RELATIVELY GOOD CONDITION PRIMARILY DUE

TO ITS ISOLATION AND &LORIDAS EFFORTS TO PROTECT

THE WATERSHED THROUGH LAND ACQUISITION

.OW THE BAD NEWS 3OME STRETCHES OF THE

!UCILLA IN 'EORGIA AND &LORIDA DO NOT MEET

FEDERAL PROTECTION GUIDELINES FOR FECAL COLIFORM

NUTRIENTS AND MERCURY AND THE WATERSHED IS

STARTING TO EXPERIENCE DEVELOPMENTAL PRESSURES

4HANKS TO 0RESIDENT 2ICHARD .IXON THE NATION

HAS THE #LEAN 7ATER !CT #7!	 OF  WHICH

FORCES THE 53 TO PAY ATTENTION TO ITS WATER

QUALITY 4HE !CT HAS REGULATIONS AND TOOLS THAT

HELP CONTROL INDUSTRIAL POLLUTION MUNICIPAL

WASTES AND POLLUTED RUNOFF !T lRST THE #7!

FOCUSED ON REGULATING TRADITIONAL hPOINT SOURCEv

FACILITIES SUCH AS MUNICIPAL SEWAGE PLANTS AND

INDUSTRIAL FACILITIES WITH LITTLE ATTENTION PAID TO

RUNOFF FROM STREETS CONSTRUCTION SITES FARMS

AND OTHER hWET
WEATHERv NON
POINT SOURCES

4HIS HAS CHANGED TO A MORE HOLISTIC WATERSHED

APPROACH THAT HAS ENCOURAGED LOCAL INVOLVEMENT

! MORE RECENT PROGRAM UNDER SECTION 

IS THE %0!S 4OTAL -AXIMUM $AILY ,OAD

0ROGRAM 4-$,	 ! 4-$, IS A CALCULATION

OF THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF A POLLUTANT

THAT A WATERBODY CAN RECEIVE AND STILL MEET

WATER QUALITY STANDARDS AND AN ALLOCATION

OF THAT AMOUNT TO THE POLLUTANTS SOURCES

5SING SCIENTIlC CRITERIA THE STATE SETS WATER

QUALITY STANDARDS BY IDENTIFYING THE USES

FOR EACH WATERBODY SUCH AS DRINKING WATER

37 38

  

-ILES

     

&EET

Bvdjmmb Bvdjmmb!Sjwfs!Tjolt Sjwfs!

Tjolt uif
Sbqjet!pg!uif!Njeemf!Bvdjmmb

,AND 0RESERVATION

!EORGIA IS AHEAD OF &LORIDA IN SUBMITTINGITS 4-$,S BUT &LORIDA IS IN FRONT OF

'EORGIA IN THE AREA OF LAND PRESERVATION A KEY

COMPONENT IN PROTECTING WATER QUALITY IN THE

!UCILLA 2IVER 7ATERSHED &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 OF PROTECTION 4HIRD &LORIDAS !UCILLA

7ATERSHED HAS JUST A FEW MAJOR LAND OWNERS

WHO ARE NOW SELLING OFF THEIR FOREST LANDS SO THE

STATE HAS AN EASIER TIME MAKING TRANSACTIONS

)N THE WATERSHED THE &LORIDA &OREVER PROGRAM

HAS SPENT YEARS OF EFFORT AND  MILLION

TO PURCHASE MORE THAN  ACRES IN THE

7ACISSA AND !UCILLA WATERSHED INCLUDING THE

COMPLETE LENGTH OF THE 7ACISSA AND  MILES

OF RIVER FRONTAGE ON THE !UCILLA !PPROXIMATELY

 ACRES REMAIN THAT THE STATE WOULD LIKE

TO ACQUIRE MUCH OF IT IN (IXTOWN 3WAMP 4HE

3UWANNEE 2IVER 7ATER -ANAGEMENT $ISTRICT

ALSO PITCHED IN WITH ITS PURCHASE OF ALMOST

 ACRES AND  MILES OF RIVER FRONTAGE

!LSO HELPING ARE PRIVATE LANDOWNERS IN THE

WATERSHED ,AND OWNERS HAVE VOLUNTARILY

ELECTED TO PLACE MORE THAN  ACRES OF THEIR

PLANTATIONS AND OTHER LANDS INTO CONSERVATION

EASEMENTS WITH THE 4ALL 4IMBERS ,AND

#ONSERVANCY AND 4HE .ATURE #ONSERVANCY IN

ORDER TO PERMANENTLY PROTECT THE ECOSYSTEM

!DDITIONALLY &LORIDA HAS THE h/UTSTANDING

&LORIDA 7ATERv /&7	 PROGRAM WHICH

DESIGNATES CERTAIN WATERS WORTHY OF SPECIAL

PROTECTION BECAUSE OF THEIR NATURAL ATTRIBUTES

-OST /&7S ARE ALREADY AREAS UNDER SOME FORM

OF PROTECTION BECAUSE THEY ARE STATE OR FEDERAL

PARKS INCLUDING WILDLIFE 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

h3PECIAL 7ATERSv CATEGORY OF /&7 4HE

!UCILLA AND 7ACISSA ARE TWO OF THESE

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 AND 7ACISSA 4HEY 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

SETTING 4-$,S AND ASSESSING THEIR WATERS

)N 'EORGIA  MILES OF THE !UCILLA 7ATERSHED

WERE LISTED IN &EBRUARY  AS hIMPAIREDv OR

NOT FULLY SUPPORTING ITS DESIGNATED USE WHICH

IS OFlCIALLY h!QUATIC ,IFE (ARVESTINGv OR MORE

SIMPLY hlSHINGv 4EN MILES ON THE !UCILLA

2IVERFROM -ASSE "RANCH TO THE "ROOKS

#OUNTY LINE NEAR "OSTON AND  MILES OF /LIVE

#REEKFROM DOWNTOWN 4HOMASVILLE TO 53

(IGHWAY  HAVE EXCESSIVE FECAL COLIFORM LOW

AMOUNTS OF DISSOLVED OXYGEN AND ABNORMAL

LEVELS OF NITROGEN ORGANIC CARBON AND

PHOSPHORUS NUTRIENTS !CCORDING TO THE 4-$,

REPORT /LIVE #REEKS PROBLEMS RELATE TO URBAN

RUNOFF WHEREAS THE !UCILLAS PROBLEMS STEM FROM

A BROADER SUITE OF NONPOINT SOURCES INCLUDING

RUNOFF FROM AGRICULTURE AND URBAN AREAS

$ISSOLVED OXYGEN ISSUES FOR 'EORGIAS

PORTION OF THE 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


COMPLIANT WASTE 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 OF ALL FOUR

OF THESE ISSUES 4HOMAS #OUNTY ONE OF THE MOST

PRODUCTIVE AGRICULTURAL REGIONS IN THE STATE WITH

A  MILLION ECONOMIC IMPACT HOSTS MORE

THAN  CHICKENS  BEEF CATTLE 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

OF SEPTIC SYSTEMS GREW  PERCENT FROM 

TO  WHICH MAY BE A SIGN OF POPULATION

INCREASES OUTPACING THE EXPANSION OF SEWAGE

SYSTEMS !CCORDING TO THE %NVIRONMENTAL

0ROTECTION $IVISION OF 'EORGIA "OSTON

0OND A PERMITTED FACILITY THAT FEEDS ON

AVERAGE  GALLONS OF TREATED WATER A

DAY INTO !UCILLA #REEK HAS HAD lVE VIOLATIONS

BETWEEN *ANUARY  AND *ANUARY 

)N &LORIDA WHERE 4-$, 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 0ROTECTION 4HE FEDERAL AGENCYS

DATABASE
DRIVEN MAP OF IMPAIRED WATERS SHOWS A


MILE STRETCH OF THE !UCILLA AS BEING IMPAIRED

FROM 2AYSOR #REEK TO *ONES -ILL #REEK

3UWANNEE 2IVER 7ATER -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 OF THE LIST RECOMMEND AGAINST

EATING MORE THAN ONE MEAL A WEEK OF lSH 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 OF THE WATER RESOURCE

Bnfsjdbo!Bmmjhbups!)Bmmjhbups!njttjttjqqjfotjt*

39 3:
LEFT EAST	 ONTO 53  UNTIL YOU CROSS THE !UCILLA 2IVER 4URN LEFT ON THE SECOND

PAVED ROAD 32 	 OFF 53  $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 #ANOE 4RAIL IS OFlCIALLY DESIGNATED AS PART OF &LORIDAS 3TATEWIDE

3YSTEM OF 'REENWAYS AND 4RAILS /FlCIALLY  MILES IN LENGTH CANOERS AND KAYAKERS

WILL EXPERIENCE THE DARK COFFEE
COLORED WATERS OF A BLACKWATER RIVER SURROUNDED BY

HIGH LIMESTONE BANKS BOTTOMLAND FORESTS AND CYPRESS
GUM SWAMPS !N EXCELLENT

lSHING RIVER FOR LARGEMOUTH AND 3UWANNEE BASSTHE !UCILLA HAS SOME OF THE &LORIDA

0ANHANDLES BEST AND ONLY	 WHITEWATER AS THE !UCILLA 2IVER RUNS OVER SHOALS AND

THE REMAINS OF TWO OLD ROCK DAMS !LLIGATORS TURTLESSNAKES AND FROGS ARE COMMON

SIGHTS AS ARE RIVER OTTERS HAWKS AND A VARIETY OF WADING BIRDS #HECK FOR mOW LEVELS

BEFORE MAKING YOUR TRIP 6ERY HIGH WATER BROADENS THE RIVER AND CAN MAKE THE MAIN

CHANNEL DIFlCULT TO lND ,OW WATER PRODUCES MORE SHOALS

4HE lRST SECTION WHICH RUNS  MILES STARTS SOUTH OF THE 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 2IVER BRIDGE 4URN WEST JUST BEFORE

#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

OF RIVER 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 OFF THE &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 OF OAK

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 OF THE !UCILLA 2IVER "RIDGE ON 53  AT

.UTALL 2ISE AND THEN GOES EAST FOR  MILES ON THE SHOULDER OF THE 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 AND 7ATTS 3INK

!FTER THE NEXT ROAD 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 OF THE COMPLETION OF A MAJOR CONNECTION TO THE &LORIDA TRAIL 4HE

TRAIL CONTINUES ANOTHER  MILES ALONG THE EAST BANK OF THE RIVER !T APPROXIMATELY

MILE  THE TRAIL ENDS NEAR A CAMPSITE JUST SHORT OF THE 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 A JUMPING OFF POINT 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

REGISTER WITH THE PARK OFlCE PRIOR TO USING A TRAIL ,OCATED IN 4AYLOR #OUNTY AT THE

END OF 3TATE 2OAD  SOUTH OF 53  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 OF 4ALLAHASSEE ON 3TATE 2OAD 

AT THE INTERSECTION WITH 3TATE 2OAD  WWWmORIDASTATEPARKSORG

Obuvsbm Bsfbt- Qbslt-!Ijtupsjd!Tjuft

Bvdjmmb!Xjmemjgf!Nbobhfnfou!Bsfb

4:11!Dpnnpoxfbmui!Cmwe-!NT!211-!Ubmmbibttff-!GM

4WELVE MILES EAST OF 4ALLAHASSEE JUST SOUTH OF 7ACISSA AND 53  IS THE 


ACRE !UCILLA 7ILDLIFE -ANAGEMENT !REA 7-!	 WHICH BUFFERS APPROXIMATELY

 MILES OF THE 7ACISSA AND  MILES OF THE !UCILLA 3HAPED LIKE AN OVEN MITT THE

7-! IS ROUGHLY DElNED BY 32  TO THE WEST 53  TO THE SOUTH AND 32  TO

THE EAST4HE SECOND
GROWTH BOTTOMLANDS AND PINEWOODS HELP TO PROTECT THE ENTIRE

7ACISSA 2IVER 7ATERSHED AND !UCILLA 2IVER BELOW 32  4HE 7-! IS USED BY

HUNTERSIN SEARCH OF DEERWILD HOGTURKEY AND SQUIRREL DURING HUNTING SEASONS 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 OF 0ERRY

&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 RIVER RUNS APPROXIMATELY  MILES THROUGH THE 7-! AND HAS FOUR CANOE

LAUNCHES -ORE INFORMATION AND MAPS LOCATED AT HTTPMYFWCCOMHUNTINGWMA

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 OF SALT MARSHTIDAL

mATS HARDWOOD SWAMPS AND PINELANDS ALONG THE !PALACHEE AND /CHLOCKONEE BAYS

$IKES BUILT TO PRODUCE IMPOUNDMENTS TO FEED MIGRATORY BIRDS HELP ATTRACT MANY OF

THE  SPECIES OF BIRDS THAT HAVE BEEN IDENTIlED HERE INCLUDING WATERFOWLWADING

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 OF 53

(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 OF 7ACISSA 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 #ANOE 4RAIL 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 OF THE RIVER UP THE SECOND MAJOR SPRING

RUN APPROXIMATELY  MILE 4HE 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 OF 7ACISSA 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 OF SLOWER 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 A BRAIDED SYSTEM OF STREAMS

SOME OF WHICH APPEAR TO BE CANDIDATES FOR THE MAIN CHANNEL -OST EVENTUALLY JOIN

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 OF WILD 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 RIGHT 4HERE ARE ALSO REPORTS OF A WOOD DUCK BOX

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 TO JOIN THE !UCILLA 2IVER THROUGH THE 3LAVE #ANAL &ROM

THE TOWN OF 7ACISSA TAKE 3TATE 2OUTE  SOUTH FOR  MILES TO 53  4URN

39 3:
!-0()")!.3

!MBYSTOMA CINGULATUM &LATWOODS 3ALAMANDER 4 '' 33 ,3 3 4

!MBYSTOMA TIGRINUM 4IGER 3ALAMANDER .ONE ' 3 . 33 .!

!MPHIUMA PHOLETER /NE
TOED !MPHIUMA .ONE ' 3 . 3 2

(EMIDACTYLIUM SCUTATUM &OUR
TOED 3ALAMANDER .ONE ' 33 . 3 .!

.ECTURUS BEYERI COMPLEX 'ULF #OAST 7ATERDOG . ' .! .! 3 .!

.OTOPHTHALMUS PERSTRIATUS 3TRIPED .EWT .ONE '' 33 . 3 2

2ANA CAPITO 'OPHER &ROG .ONE ' 3 ,3 3 .!

!-0()0/$3

#RANGONYX GRANDIMANUS &LORIDA #AVE !MPHIPOD .ONE '' 3 . .! .!

#RANGONYX HOBBSI (OBBS #AVE !MPHIPOD .ONE ' 33 . .! .!

")2$3

!CCIPITER COOPERII #OOPERS (AWK . ' 3 . .! .!

!IMOPHILA AESTIVALIS "ACHMANS 3PARROW . ' 3 . 3 2

!MMODRAMUS MARITIMUS PENINSULAE 3COTTS 3EASIDE 3PARROW . '4 3 ,3 .! .!

!RAMUS GUARAUNA ,IMPKIN . ' 3 ,3 33 .!

!RDEA ALBA 'REAT %GRET . ' 3 . .! .!

!THENE CUNICULARIA mORIDANA &LORIDA "URROWING /WL . '4 3 ,3 .! .!

"UTEO BRACHYURUS 3HORT
TAILED (AWK . '' 3 . .! .!

#HARADRIUS MELODUS 0IPING 0LOVER ,4 ' 3 ,4 .! .!

#ISTOTHORUS PALUSTRIS MARIANAE -ARIANS -ARSH 7REN . '4 3 ,3 .! .!

%GRETTA CAERULEA ,ITTLE "LUE (ERON . ' 3 ,3 .! .!

%GRETTA RUFESCENS 2EDDISH %GRET . ' 3 ,3 .! .!

%GRETTA THULA 3NOWY %GRET . ' 3 ,3 .! .!

%GRETTA TRICOLOR 4RICOLORED (ERON . ' 3 ,3 .! .!

%LANOIDES FORlCATUS 3WALLOW
TAILED +ITE . ' 3 . 3 2

%UDOCIMUS ALBUS 7HITE )BIS . ' 3 ,3 .! .!

&ALCO COLUMBARIUS -ERLIN . ' 3 . .! .!

&ALCO PEREGRINUS 0EREGRINE &ALCON . ' 3 ,% 3 %

&ALCO SPARVERIUS PAULUS 3OUTHEASTERN !MERICAN +ESTREL . '4 3 ,4 3 .!

'RUS CANADENSIS PRATENSIS &LORIDA 3ANDHILL #RANE . '44 33 ,4 3 .!

(ALIAEETUS LEUCOCEPHALUS "ALD %AGLE 4 ' 3 ,4 3 %

)XOBRYCHUS EXILIS ,EAST "ITTERN . ' 3 . .! .!

,ATERALLUS JAMAICENSIS "LACK 2AIL . ' 3 . 3 .!

-YCTERIA AMERICANA 7OOD 3TORK % ' 3 ,% 3 %

.YCTANASSA VIOLACEA 9ELLOW
CROWNED .IGHT
HERON . ' 3 . 33 .!

.YCTICORAX NYCTICORAX "LACK
CROWNED .IGHT
HERON . ' 3 . 33 .!

0ANDION HALIAETUS /SPREY . ' 33 ,3
 .! .!

0ELECANUS OCCIDENTALIS "ROWN 0ELICAN . ' 3 ,3 .! .!

0ICOIDES BOREALIS 2ED
COCKADED 7OODPECKER ,% ' 3 ,3 3 %

0ICOIDES VILLOSUS (AIRY 7OODPECKER . ' 3 . .! .!

0LEGADIS FALCINELLUS 'LOSSY )BIS . ' 3 . 33 .!

2ALLUS LONGIROSTRIS SCOTTII &LORIDA #LAPPER 2AIL . '4 3 . .! .!

2ECURVIROSTRA AMERICANA !MERICAN !VOCET . ' 3 . .! .!

2YNCHOPS NIGER "LACK 3KIMMER . ' 3 ,3 3 .!

3EIURUS MOTACILLA ,OUISIANA 7ATERTHRUSH . ' 3 . .! .!

3ITTA CAROLINENSIS 7HITE
BREASTED .UTHATCH . ' 3 . .! .!

3TERNA ANTILLARUM ,EAST 4ERN . ' 3 ,4 3 2

3TERNA CASPIA #ASPIAN 4ERN . ' 3 . .! .!

3TERNA MAXIMA 2OYAL 4ERN . ' 3 . .! .!

3TERNA SANDVICENSIS 3ANDWICH 4ERN . ' 3 . .! .!

")6!,6%3

-EDIONIDUS WALKERI 3UWANNEE -OCCASINSHELL . ' 3 . .! .!

1UINCUNCINA INFUCATA 3CULPTURED 0IGTOE . ' .! .! 3 .!

!.)-!,3 !.)-!,3 !.)-!,3 !.)-!,3 !.)-!,3 !.)-!,3 !.)-!,3 !.)-!,3 !.)-!,3

30%#)%3

3CIENTIlC NAME #OMMON NAME

34!4532!.+

&EDERAL

3TATUS 'LOBAL 2ANK &, 3TATE2ANK

&, 3TATE

3TATUS

'! 3TATE

2ANK

'! 3TATE

3TATUS

&EDERAL 3TATUS +EY &ROM HTTPSPECIESFWSGOV	

% %NDANGERED

4 4HREATENED

3!4 43!	 3IMILARITY OF !PPEARANCE TO A 4HREATENED 4AXON

.ONE .O &EDERAL 3TATUS

&.!) 'LOBAL 2ANK $ElNITIONS &ROM WWWFNAIORG	

' #RITICALLY IMPERILED GLOBALLY BECAUSE OF EXTREME RARITY  OR FEWER OCCURRENCES

OR LESS THAN  INDIVIDUALS	 OR BECAUSE OF EXTREME VULNERABILITY

TO EXTINCTION DUE TO SOME NATURAL OR MAN
MADE FACTOR

' )MPERILED GLOBALLY BECAUSE OF RARITY  TO  OCCURRENCES OR LESS THAN  INDIVIDUALS	

OR BECAUSE OF VULNERABILITY TO EXTINCTION DUE TO SOME NATURAL OR MAN
MADE FACTOR

' %ITHER VERY RARE AND LOCAL THROUGHOUT ITS RANGE 
 OCCURRENCES OR LESS THAN 

INDIVIDUALS	 OR FOUND LOCALLY IN A RESTRICTED RANGE OR VULNERABLE TO EXTINCTION FROM OTHER FACTORS

' !PPARENTLY SECURE GLOBALLY MAY BE RARE IN PARTS OF RANGE	

' $EMONSTRABLY SECURE GLOBALLY

'( /F HISTORICAL OCCURRENCE THROUGHOUT ITS RANGE MAY BE REDISCOVERED EG IVORY
BILLED WOODPECKER	

' 4ENTATIVE RANK EG '	

'' 2ANGE OF RANK INSUFlCIENT DATA TO ASSIGN SPECIlC GLOBAL RANK EG ''	

'4 2ANK OF A TAXONOMIC SUBGROUP SUCH AS A SUBSPECIES OR VARIETY THE ' PORTION

OF THE RANK REFERS TO THE ENTIRE SPECIES AND THE 4 PORTION REFERS TO THE SPECIlC

SUBGROUP NUMBERS HAVE SAME DElNITION AS ABOVE EG '4	

'1 2ANK OF QUESTIONABLE SPECIES 
 RANKED AS SPECIES BUT QUESTIONABLE WHETHER IT IS

SPECIES OR SUBSPECIES NUMBERS HAVE SAME DElNITION AS ABOVE EG '1	

'413AME AS ABOVE BUT VALIDITY AS SUBSPECIES OR VARIETY IS QUESTIONED

'.2 4HIS CODE APPEARS IN THE CHART FOR 3PHODROS ABBOTI HOWEVER

THERE IS NO CORRESPONDING CODE IN THE KEY

' .OT YET RANKED TEMPORARY	

&LORIDA 3TATE 2ANK +EY &ROM WWWFNAIORG	

3 #RITICALLY IMPERILED IN &LORIDA BECAUSE OF EXTREME RARITY  OR FEWER

OCCURRENCES OR LESS THAN  INDIVIDUALS	 OR BECAUSE OF EXTREME

VULNERABILITY TO EXTINCTION DUE TO SOME NATURAL OR MAN
MADE FACTOR

3 )MPERILED IN &LORIDA BECAUSE OF RARITY  TO  OCCURRENCES OR LESS THAN  INDIVIDUALS	

OR BECAUSE OF VULNERABILITY TO EXTINCTION DUE TO SOME NATURAL OR MAN
MADE FACTOR

3 %ITHER VERY RARE AND LOCAL THROUGHOUT ITS RANGE 
 OCCURRENCES OR LESS THAN 

INDIVIDUALS	 OR FOUND LOCALLY IN A RESTRICTED RANGE OR VULNERABLE TO EXTINCTION FROM OTHER FACTORS

3 !PPARENTLY SECURE IN &LORIDA MAY BE RARE IN PARTS OF RANGE	

3 $EMONSTRABLY SECURE IN &LORIDA

3( /F HISTORICAL OCCURRENCE THROUGHOUT ITS RANGE MAY BE REDISCOVERED EG IVORY
BILLED WOODPECKER	

35 4HIS CODE APPEARS IN THE CHART FOR ,ASIURUS CINEREUS HOWEVER

THERE IS NO CORRESPONDING CODE IN THE KEY

.! .OT LISTED IN &,

&LORIDA 3TATE ,EGAL 3TATUS &ROM WWWFNAIORG	

0ROVIDED BY &.!) FOR INFORMATION ONLY

&OR OFlCIAL DElNITIONS AND LISTS OF PROTECTED SPECIES CONSULT THE RELEVANT FEDERAL AGENCY

!NIMALS $ElNITIONS DERIVED FROM h&LORIDAS %NDANGERED 3PECIES AND 3PECIES OF 3PECIAL #ONCERN

/FlCIAL ,ISTSv PUBLISHED BY &LORIDA &ISH AND 7ILDLIFE #ONSERVATION #OMMISSION  !UGUST  AND

SUBSEQUENT UPDATES

,% %NDANGERED SPECIES SUBSPECIES OR ISOLATED POPULATION SO FEW OR DEPLETED IN

NUMBER OR SO RESTRICTED IN RANGE THAT IT IS IN IMMINENT DANGER OF EXTINCTION

,4 4HREATENED SPECIES SUBSPECIES OR ISOLATED POPULATION FACING

A VERY HIGH RISK OF EXTINCTION IN THE FUTURE

,3 3PECIES OF 3PECIAL #ONCERN IS A SPECIES SUBSPECIES OR ISOLATED POPULATION

WHICH IS FACING A MODERATE RISK OF EXTINCTION IN THE FUTURE

&LORIDA 3TATE ,EGAL 3TATUS &ROM WWWFNAIORG	 #/.4).5%$	

. .OT CURRENTLY LISTED NOR CURRENTLY BEING CONSIDERED FOR LISTING

.! .O LISTING FOUND

0LANTS $ElNITIONS DERIVED FROM 3ECTIONS  AND 	 &LORIDA 3TATUTES AND THE

0RESERVATION OF .ATIVE &LORA OF &LORIDA !CT "
 &.!) DOES NOT TRACK ALL STATE
REGULATED PLANT

SPECIES FOR A COMPLETE LIST OF STATE
REGULATED PLANT SPECIES CALL &LORIDA $IVISION OF 0LANT )NDUSTRY

	 
 OR SEE HTTPDOACSSTATEmUS^PIB
HTM

,% %NDANGERED SPECIES NATIVE TO &LORIDA THAT ARE IN IMMINENT DANGER OF EXTINCTION WITHIN THE STATE THE

SURVIVAL OF WHICH IS UNLIKELY IF THE CAUSES OF A DECLINE IN THE NUMBER OF PLANTS CONTINUE INCLUDES ALL

SPECIES DETERMINED TO BE ENDANGERED OR THREATENED PURSUANT TO THE 53 %NDANGERED 3PECIES !CT

,4 4HREATENED SPECIES NATIVE TO &LORIDA THAT ARE IN RAPID DECLINE IN THE NUMBER OF PLANTS WITHIN

THE STATE BUT WHICH HAVE NOT SO DECREASED IN NUMBER AS TO CAUSE THEM TO BE %NDANGERED

. .OT CURRENTLY LISTED NOR CURRENTLY BEING CONSIDERED FOR LISTING

'EORGIA 3TATE 3TATUS +EY

&ROM HTTPGEORGIAWILDLIFEDNRSTATEGAUSCONTENTSPECIALCONCERNPLANTSASP ANDOR FROM

HTTPGEORGIAWILDLIFEDNRSTATEGAUSCONTENTSPECIALCONCERNANIMALSASP 'EORGIA $EPARTMENT OF

.ATURAL 2ESOURCES WEB SITES	

4HE FOLLOWING ABBREVIATIONS ARE USED TO INDICATE THE STATUS OF STATE
PROTECTED PLANTS AND ANIMALS OR

THOSE PROPOSED FOR STATE PROTECTION IN 'EORGIA

% ,ISTED AS ENDANGERED ! SPECIES WHICH IS IN DANGER OF EXTINCTION THROUGHOUT ALL OR PART OF ITS RANGE

4 ,ISTED AS THREATENED ! SPECIES WHICH IS LIKELY TO BECOME AN ENDANGERED

SPECIES IN THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE THROUGHOUT ALL OR PARTS OF ITS RANGE

2 ,ISTED AS RARE ! SPECIES WHICH MAY NOT BE ENDANGERED OR THREATENED

BUT WHICH SHOULD BE PROTECTED BECAUSE OF ITS SCARCITY

5 ,ISTED AS UNUSUAL AND THUS DESERVING OF SPECIAL CONSIDERATION	 0LANTS

SUBJECT TO COMMERCIAL EXPLOITATION WOULD HAVE THIS STATUS

.! .OT LISTED IN '!

'EORGIA 3TATE 2ANK +EY

&ROM HTTPGEORGIAWILDLIFEDNRSTATEGAUSCONTENTSPECIALCONCERNPLANTSASP ANDOR FROM

HTTPGEORGIAWILDLIFEDNRSTATEGAUSCONTENTSPECIALCONCERNANIMALSASP 
 'EORGIA $EPARTMENT OF

.ATURAL 2ESOURCES WEB SITES	

3 #RITICALLY IMPERILED IN STATE BECAUSE OF EXTREME RARITY  OR FEWER OCCURRENCES	

3 )MPERILED IN STATE BECAUSE OF RARITY  TO  OCCURRENCES	

3 2ARE OR UNCOMMON IN STATE ON THE ORDER OF  TO  OCCURRENCES	

3 !PPARENTLY SECURE IN STATE OF NO IMMEDIATE CONSERVATION CONCERN	

38 !PPARENTLY EXTIRPATED FROM STATE '8# IS KNOWN ONLY IN CULTIVATIONCAPTIVITY

3( /F HISTORICAL OCCURRENCE IN THE STATE PERHAPS NOT VERIlED IN THE

PAST  YEARS BUT SUSPECTED TO BE EXTANT STILL

 $ENOTES QUESTIONABLE RANK BEST GUESS GIVEN WHENEVER POSSIBLE EG 3	

30 4HIS CODE APPEARS IN THE CHART FOR 'LEBULA ROTUNDATA HOWEVER

THERE IS NO CORRESPONDING CODE IN THE KEY

.! .OT LISTED IN '!

3PECIAL !NIMAL ,ISTINGS 
 3TATE !ND &EDERAL 3TATUS &ROM WWWFNAIORG	

0ANDION HALIAETUS OSPREY	 3TATE LISTED AS ,3 3PECIES OF 3PECIAL #ONCERN	 IN -ONROE #OUNTY

ONLY NOT LISTED IN REST OF STATE 
-ONROE #OUNTY IS NOT PART OF THE /CHLOCKONEE 2IVER 7ATERSHED

5RSUS AMERICANUS mORIDANUS &LORIDA BLACK BEAR	 3TATE LISTED AS ,4 BUT NOT

APPLICABLE IN "AKER AND #OLUMBIA COUNTIES OR THE !PALACHICOLA .ATIONAL &OREST

43 44

Sbsf-!Uisfbufofe-!boe!Foebohfsfe!

Tqfdjft!jo!uif!Bvdjmmb!Sjwfs!Xbufstife

4HIS LIST WAS GENERATED USING THE &LORIDA .ATURAL !REAS )NVENTORY 4RACKING ,IST DATABASE FOR &LORIDAS ENDANGERED SPECIES AND SPECIES OF SPECIAL CONCERN FOR 4AYLOR -ADISON AND *EFFERSON COUNTIES AND THE 'EORGIA

$EPARTMENT OF .ATURAL 2ESOURCES 3PECIAL #ONCERN ,IST FOR 4HOMAS #OUNTY THROUGH WHICH THE !UCILLA 2IVER mOWS
30%#)%3

3CIENTIlC NAME #OMMON NAME

34!4532!.+

&EDERAL

3TATUS 'LOBAL 2ANK &, 3TATE2ANK

&, 3TATE

3TATUS

'! 3TATE

2ANK

'! 3TATE

3TATUS

$%#!0/$3

0ROCAMBARUS HORSTI "IG "LUE 3PRING #AVE #RAYlSH . '' 3 . .! .!

0ROCAMBARUS PALLIDUS 0ALLID #AVE #RAYlSH . ' 33 . .! .!

&)3(

!CANTHARCHUS POMOTIS -UD 3UNlSH . ' 3 . .! .!

!LOSA ALABAMAE !LABAMA 3HAD . ' .! .! 3 2

!MEIURUS SERRACANTHUS 3POTTED "ULLHEAD . ' 3 . 3 2

#YPRINELLA LEEDSI "ANNERlN 3HINER . ' 3 . 33 .!

%NNEACANTHUS CHAETODON "LACKBANDED 3UNlSH . ' 3 . .! .!

%THEOSTOMA SWAINI 'ULF $ARTER . ' .! .! 3 .!

-ICROPTERUS NOTIUS 3UWANNEE "ASS . ' 3 . 3 2

.OTROPIS CUMMINGSAE $USKY 3HINER . ' 3 . .! .!

5MBRA PYGMAEA %ASTERN -UDMINNOW . ' 3 . .! .!

).3%#43

!PHODIUS AEGROTUS 3MALL 0OCKET 'OPHER !PHODIUS "EETLE . '.2 33 . .! .!

!PHODIUS TROGLODYTES 'OPHER 4ORTOISE !PHODIUS "EETLE . '.2 33 . .! .!

"OLBOCEROSOMA HAMATUM "ICOLORED "URROWING 3CARAB "EETLE . '.2 33 . .! .!

#ICINDELA HITILABRIS 0ENINSULAR 4IGER "EETLE . ' 3 . .! .!

'OMPHAESCHNA ANTILOPE 4APER
TAILED $ARNER . ' 3 . .! .!

'OMPHUS HODGESI (ODGES #LUBTAIL . ' 3 . .! .!

-YCOTRUPES CARTWRIGHTI #ARTWRIGHTS -YCOTRUPES "EETLE . '.2 33 . .! .!

2EMASELLUS PARVUS 3WIMMING ,ITTLE &LORIDA #AVE )SOPOD . '' 3 . .! .!

-!--!,3

#ORYNORHINUS RAlNESQUII 2AlNESQUES "IG
EARED "AT . '' 3 . .! .!

%PTESICUS FUSCUS "IG "ROWN "AT . ' 3 . .! .!

-USTELA FRENATA OLIVACEA 3OUTHEASTERN 7EASEL . '4 3 . .! .!

-USTELA VISON HALILIMNETES 'ULF 3ALT -ARSH -INK . '4 3 . .! .!

-YOTIS AUSTRORIPARIUS 3OUTHEASTERN "AT . '' 3 . .! .!

.EOlBER ALLENI 2OUND
TAILED -USKRAT . ' 3 . .! .!

0ODOMYS mORIDANUS &LORIDA -OUSE . ' 3 ,3 .! .!

3CIURUS NIGER SHERMANI 3HERMANS &OX 3QUIRREL . '4 3 ,3 .! .!

4RICHECHUS MANATUS -ANATEE ,% ' 3 ,% .! .!

5RSUS AMERICANUS mORIDANUS &LORIDA "LACK "EAR . '4 3 ,4 .! .!

2%04),%3

!LLIGATOR MISSISSIPPIENSIS !MERICAN !LLIGATOR 3!4 ' 3 ,3 .! .!

#ARETTA CARETTA ,OGGERHEAD ,4 ' 3 ,4 .! .!

#HELONIA MYDAS 'REEN 4URTLE ,%,4 ' 3 ,% .! .!

#LEMMYS GUTTATA 3POTTED 4URTLE . ' 3 . .! .!

#ROTALUS HORRIDUS 4IMBER 2ATTLESNAKE . ' 3 . .! .!

#ROTALUS ADAMANTEUS %ASTERN $IAMONDBACK 2ATTLESNAKE . ' 3 . .! .!

$ERMOCHELYS CORIACEA ,EATHERBACK ,% ' 3 ,% .! .!

$RYMARCHON COUPERI %ASTERN )NDIGO 3NAKE ,4 ' 3 ,4 .! 4

'OPHERUS POLYPHEMUS 'OPHER 4ORTOISE . ' 3 ,3 .! 4

'RAPTEMYS BARBOURI "ARBOURS -AP 4URTLE . ' 3 ,3 .! .!

(ETERODON SIMUS 3OUTHERN (OGNOSE 3NAKE . ' 3 . .! .!

,AMPROPELTIS CALLIGASTER -OLE 3NAKE . ' 33 . .! .!

,AMPROPELTIS GETULA #OMMON +INGSNAKE . ' 33 . .! .!

,EPIDOCHELYS KEMPII +EMPS 2IDLEY ,% ' 3 ,% .! .!

-ACROCHELYS TEMMINCKII !LLIGATOR 3NAPPING 4URTLE . '' 3 ,3 .! 4

.ERODIA CLARKII CLARKII 'ULF 3ALT -ARSH 3NAKE . '4 3 . .! .!

/PHISAURUS COMPRESSUS )SLAND 'LASS ,IZARD . '' .! .! 3 .!

0ITUOPHIS MELANOLEUCUS MUGITUS &LORIDA 0INE 3NAKE . '4 3 ,3 .! .!

0SEUDEMYS CONCINNA SUWANNIENSIS 3UWANNEE #OOTER . '4 3 ,3 .! .!

0SEUDEMYS NELSONI POP  &LORIDA 2ED
BELLIED 4URTLE . '41 3 . .! .!

n &LORIDA 0ANHANDLE

30)$%23

3PHODROS ABBOTI "LUE 0URSE
WEB 3PIDER . '.2 3 . .! .!

3PHODROS RUlPES 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 &, 3TATE2ANK

&, 3TATE

3TATUS

'! 3TATE

2ANK

'! 3TATE

3TATUS

!GALINIS DIVARICATA 0INELAND 0URPLE &OXGLOVE . ' .! .! 3 .!

!GRIMONIA INCISA )NCISED 'ROOVE
BUR . ' 3 ,% .! .!

!NGELICA DENTATA 3ANDHILL !NGELICA . '' .! .! 3 .!

!SCLEPIAS PEDICELLATA 3AVANNA -ILKWEED . ' .! .! 3 .!

"APTISIA LECONTEI ,ECONTE 7ILD )NDIGO . ' .! .! 3 .!

"RICKELLIA CORDIFOLIA &LYRS "RICKELL
BUSH . '' 3 ,% .! .!

#ALOPOGON MULTImORUS -ANY
mOWERED 'RASS
PINK . '' .! .! 3( .!

#AREX CHAPMANII #HAPMANS 3EDGE . ' 3 ,% .! .!

$ROSERA TRACYI 4RACYS $EW
THREADS . '' .! .! 3 .!

%LEOCHARIS ROSTELLATA "EAKED 3PIKERUSH . ' 3 ,% .! .!

%PIDENDRUM CONOPSEUM 'REEN
mY /RCHID . ' .! .! 3 .!

&ORESTIERA GODFREYI 'ODFREYS 0RIVET . ' 3 ,% .! .!

(EXASTYLIS ARIFOLIA (EARTLEAF . ' 3 ,4 .! .!

,EITNERIA mORIDANA #ORKWOOD . ' 3 ,4 .! .!

,IATRIS TENUIFOLIA VAR QUADRImORA "LAZING 3TAR . ''44 .! .! 3 .!

,ILIUM SUPERBUM 4URKS
CAP ,ILY . ' 3 ,% .! .!

,ITSEA AESTIVALIS 0ONDSPICE . ' 3 ,% .! .!

-ACRANTHERA mAMMEA &LAME &LOWER . ' .! .! 3 .!

-ATELEA mORIDANA &LORIDA 3PINY
POD . ' 3 ,% .! .!

-INUARTIA GODFREYI 'ODFREYS 3ANDWORT . ' 3 ,% .! .!

/XYPOLIS TERNATA 3AVANNA #OWBANE . ' .! .! 3 .!

0HYLLANTHUS LEIBMANNIANUS SSP 0INEWOOD $AINTIES . '4 3 ,% .! .!

PLATYLEPIS

0LATANTHERA INTEGRA 9ELLOW &RINGELESS /RCHID . ' .! .! 3 .!

0OLYGONUM MEISNERIANUM VAR -EXICAN 4EAR
THUMB . '4 3 ,% .! .!

BEYRICHIANUM

0TEROGLOSSASPIS ECRISTATA 'IANT /RCHID . '' 3 ,4 .! .!

0YCNANTHEMUM mORIDANUM &LORIDA -OUNTAIN
MINT . ' 3 ,4 .! .!

1UERCUS AUSTRINA "LUFF 7HITE /AK . ' .! .! 3 .!

2HYNCHOSPORA HARVEYI VAR CULIXA 'EORGIA "EAKRUSH . '1 3( . .! .!

2IBES ECHINELLUM -ICCOSUKEE 'OOSEBERRY ,4 ' 3 ,% .! .!

3ALIX mORIDANA &LORIDA 7ILLOW . ' 3 ,% .! .!

3ARRACENIA mAVA 9ELLOW &LYTRAP . ' .! .! 33 5

3ERRACENIA MINOR (OODED 0ITCHERPLANT . ' .! .! 3 5

3ARRACENIA PSITTACINA 0ARROT 0ITCHER
PLANT . ' .! .! 33 4

3IDEROXYLON LYCIOIDES "UCKTHORN . ' 3 ,% .! .!

3POROBOLUS TERETIFOLIUS 7IRE
LEAF $ROPSEED . ' .! .! 3 .!

3TACHYS HYSSOPIFOLIA VAR LYTHROIDES 4ALLAHASSEE (EDGE
NETTLE . '41 3 . .! .!