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The Aucilla and Wacissa Rivers

The Aucilla and Wacissa rivers are two of Florida's most distinctive rivers. The

Aucilla River is a blackwater stream that flows undefined through marshes and

lakes and then past limestone outcroppings, disappearing in sinkholes and rising in

springs downstream. At one point it drops rapidly over shoals, making it one of

north Florida's most exciting and popular canoe runs. The Wacissa River is unusual

in that it is both a spring-run and blackwater river. its first-magnitude group of

headwater springs combine to form one of Florida's largest springs, with a flow of

360 cubic feet per second. A variety of vegetative communities lies within the

rivers' corridors, providing excellent habitat for wildlife. Much of the land along

both rivers is managed for silviculture production by large paper companies.

Nearly all of the Wacissa River and most of the lower Aucilla River pass through

private and public wildlife management areas or the St. Marks National Wildlife

Refuge

The Aucilla and Wacissa rivers and their corridors are home to many fish, wildlife

and plant species and provide excellent recreational opportunities. The river

corridors are part of a Strategic Habitat Conservation Area identified by the Florida

Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission for the Florida black bear, American

swallow-tailed kite and limpkin. Both rivers are protected by state designation as

Outstanding Florida Waters.

The Wacissa and lower Aucilla river corridors also offer excellent recreational

opportunities as they connect or pass through important public conservation and

recreation areas. Recreational activities in these river corridors include fishing,

wildlife observation, hunting of deer, wild hog, turkey and small game, hiking and

canoeing (both rivers are state designated canoe trails). The Florida Trail follows

the Aucilla River for 10.7 miles below the State Highway 14 bridge. The portion of

the hiking trail through the Aucilla Sinks area has been designated as part of the

Florida National Scenic Trail.

Growth and Development

The greatest threats to the Aucilla and Wacissa rivers are lowering of water quality

due to surrounding land uses, and fragmentation of wildlife habitat by residential

development, highways and transmission lines. The greatest existing threat to the

rivers' water is discharge from septic systems. Because the Aucilla River

disappears underground at Aucilla Sinks, it is very important to protect the river's

water quality so groundwater does not become polluted.

Recommendations

The Aucilla and Wacissa Rivers Page 1 of 2

http://www.1000friendsofflorida.org/PUBS/Apalachee/aucilla.asp 1/9/2012
 Protect the rivers' outstanding qualities by limiting residential

development in adjacent uplands, encouraging silvicultural and

agricultural operations to use best management practices, and acquiring the

river floodplain corridor.

 Monitor potential sources of water pollution (residential areas,

silvicultural and agricultural operations, and highways) so degradation can

be halted when found.

 Finish acquiring the lands within the Wacissa and Aucilla Sinks CARL

project to protect the rivers' outstanding wildlife habitat from becoming

more fragmented.

 Manage the recreational use of the rivers, especially Wacissa Springs, to

prevent pollution and to protect the rare Horsts cave crayfish.

The four mile portion of the Aucilla River below

U.S. 98 is a breeding area for bald eagles,

Mississippi kites, osprey (shown here), redcockaded woodpeckers, wood ducks, and

shorebirds.

The Aucilla and Wacissa Rivers Page 2 of 2

http://www.1000friendsofflorida.org/PUBS/Apalachee/aucilla.asp 1/9/2012