This Week’s Hot Topics

• Governing Board Water Conservation Workshop on Nov. 9.
• New water conservation cost-share program information available.
• Watering restrictions changed Nov. 1 to one day per week.
• Water supply planning meetings to be held throughout the region.

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bout the St. Marys River

A remote blackwater stream, the St. Marys River is located in southeastern Georgia and northeastern Florida, forming the easternmost border between the two states.

The St. Marys begins deep within the Okefenokee Swamp and flows along a twisting 130-mile-long path into the Cumberland Sound and the Atlantic Ocean only 40 air-miles from its headwaters.

The river undergoes three distinct physical changes on its path to the ocean.

Its headwaters, from the Okefenokee Swamp (the north “prong”) and the Pinhook Swamp (the middle “prong”), are narrow and winding. Here, the scenery is dominated by cypress and tupelo trees and snow-white sandbars.

In the middle portion, from Trader’s Hill to the U.S. 17 bridge, the St. Marys becomes wider and is characterized by bottomland swamps and sandy bluffs.

The lower portion of the river, from the U.S. 17 bridge to Cumberland Sound, is tidally influenced, with reverse flows occurring twice daily. Freshwater and saltwater marshes dominate this area.

Many native plant species are found in the St. Marys basin, including bald cypress, longleaf pine, black gum, southern magnolia, red maple, American holly, poplar, black willow, river birch and a variety of oaks.

Wildlife in this area includes osprey, bald eagle, white-tailed deer, black bear, bobcat, raccoon, manatee, otter, beaver, gopher tortoise, alligator and indigo snake.

With few river crossings and little development along its banks, the St. Marys River is used primarily for recreational and sightseeing purposes.

Canoeing, boating, fishing, camping and water-skiing are just some of the ways the river is enjoyed by the public.

he Historic St. Marys River

For at least 13,000 years prior to the 16th century and the appearance of European explorers, soldiers, missionaries and colonists, the Timucuan Indians occupied the St. Marys River basin.

With its marsh, tidal, stream and estuary ecosystems, the basin provided the Timucuans with an ample source of food. Fish, shellfish, deer, diamondback terrapins, water and wading birds and even sea mammals from the river, marshes and tidal streams made for a protein-rich diet.

The Timucuans came into contact with Spanish settlers in 1537, then with French settlers in 1562. By 1763 the Timucuans were no more, due to warfare, disease and relocation during two-and-a-half centuries of the colonial period.

During the 1600s and 1700s, Spanish and British explorers established settlements in the area and brought commerce to the region.

Major crops included cotton, sugar cane, indigo and rice, which were shipped from river plantations to Europe. Longleaf yellow pine was harvested and used to mast royal navy ships and to frame mills in New England. During this period, schooners and sloops were used to transport cargo up and down the river.

In the late 1800s, steamers were introduced to the river, carrying passengers, cargo and mail.

By this time, the St. Marys River had become an active shipping route for numerous lumber mills located along its banks, such as Coleraine, Kings Ferry and Crandell.

This logging activity lasted until the early 1900s, when the mills closed their doors due to a lack of accessible timber. This left the St. Marys to rejuvenate itself naturally and to develop into its present, serene state.

he St. Marys River Management Committee

The St. Marys River Management Committee was formed in 1991 when the river was being studied for inclusion in the federal Wild and Scenic Rivers program.

Since that time, the committee has evolved into a group whose primary focus is to audit local management of the river and develop and maintain a management plan to guide the river’s future.

The committee consists of volunteers who represent the four counties that border the river and form the dominant portion of the basin: Charlton and Camden counties in Georgia, and Baker and Nassau counties in Florida. (Although a portion of Ware County, Ga., also borders the St. Marys River basin, it is under the management and jurisdiction of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.)

In 1993, the governments of these four counties approved an interlocal and interstate agreement to cooperatively support the committee, prepare a local river management plan and advise the county commissioners on river issues.

As part of its river management planning process, the committee holds monthly public meetings to hear from and discuss issues with representatives of local, regional and state governments from Georgia and Florida. The committee also sponsors the St. Marys River Celebration, an annual river cleanup held in March.

In addition, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, the St. Johns River Water Management District and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection are engaged in ongoing water-quality monitoring and assessment efforts in the St. Marys River basin.

ater Quality

The Okefenokee and Pinhook swamps are the two main sources of water feeding the St. Marys River.

Decaying peat and other vegetation from these swamps produce tannin, a naturally occurring, water-soluble organic compound. The tannin stains the waters to the color of coffee, making the St. Marys a blackwater river.

Legend has it that 16th and 17th century European ships would sail 50 miles up the river to fill their casks with freshwater from the St. Marys for their voyage back across the Atlantic. The water was highly prized because the tannin content ensured the water would remain potable for long periods of time.

Though black, the river contains little suspended sediment. Because of its extensive bottomland swamps and marshes, relative lack of urban development and few pollution discharge points, the St. Marys is considered to have excellent water quality by the Florida and Georgia agencies responsible for monitoring and managing water resources.

Forests, comprised mostly of managed tree plantations, make up a substantial portion of the river basin area and help to maintain good water quality.

However, while overall water quality is good, there are specific areas of deterioration, causing concern for the river’s future.

Alligator Creek in Florida and Spanish Creek in Georgia have been degraded by surface water discharges from wastewater treatment plants.

Plans are under way to upgrade the level of wastewater treatment or, in some cases, eliminate the discharge by using the treated wastewater for land uses, such as irrigation of agricultural fields, residential landscapes and corporate grounds.

The biggest area of concern for the water quality of the St. Marys and other coastal rivers is secondary impacts from development such as chemical and pesticide runoff from lawns and streets, and leaking septic tanks.

Establishing set-back rules in each county to minimize septic tank leakage into the river is a major goal of the St. Marys River Management Committee.

and Use

Forests and timberland dominate each of the four counties bordering the river.

Specifically, 90 percent of Baker County, 80 percent of Nassau County, 75 percent of Camden County and 98 percent of Charlton County are densely forested.

Intensive timber harvesting has occurred within the St. Marys River basin since the early 1900s. Today, most of the land in the basin is used for the production of forest products.

However, future land-use projections indicate that, while timber harvesting and forestry use will continue to dominate in Charlton and Baker counties, the conversion of rangeland and forest lands into residential, commercial and industrial land uses will continue to rise in the coastal regions of Camden and Nassau counties.

Because the St. Marys River basin is located within two states and four counties, a wide variety of land-use controls have been put into effect. Baker, Camden and Nassau counties have established regulatory planning and growth management tools to direct activities within their respective jurisdictions.

lood and Shoreline Protection

Shorelines are fragile and susceptible to erosion. To minimize erosion and maximize river aesthetics, the following steps are encouraged to protect our shorelines:

Because the area surrounding the St. Marys River is prone to flooding, there are two questions landowners in this area should know the answer to:

For answers to these questions, contact your local building and planning department.

ishing

More than 65 species of fish have been identified in the St. Marys River.

At the river’s mouth, the estuarine system (the wide, lower portion of the river where the river current meets the ocean tide) provides fishing enthusiasts with an abundance of redfish, spotted sea trout and flounder.

Largemouth bass, panfish and catfish can be found inhabiting much of the middle and upper portions of the St. Marys.

Anglers may fish the Florida and Georgia sides of the river but need a Florida or Georgia fishing license, depending upon their state of residence.

For more information, contact:

Remember: Atlantic sturgeon is a protected species in Florida and Georgia.

aunching Watercraft

The channel of the St. Marys River is tidally influenced for 50 miles upriver. Its depth averages 20-30 feet.

Along the upper river, there are many “S” turns and oxbows, with numerous white sandbars. Thesefactors make the river an excellent place for canoeing and boating.

The St. Marys is recognized as an outstanding resource for canoe paddlers. There is very little evidence of man’s intrusion due to limited access points to the river. Also, the upper stretches are unsuitable for powered craft.

From the headwaters in Moniac, Ga., to the State Road 121 bridge just north of Macclenny, Fla., the water level should be checked before launching. Heavy rainfall or drought conditions can affect this section of the river.

Reliable paddling starts at the SR 121 bridge north of Macclenny.

Water-skiing is open from Camp Pickney eastward. The sport is not allowed from the railroad trestle westward and is limited between the trestle and Camp Pickney, depending on blind curves and boating traffic.

As with any boating situation, the St. Marys River does possess some dangers, including sandbars, shoals, blind curves, and floating and underwater logs. When enjoying your time on the river, please remember to reduce your speed when you encounter these hazards. High water conditions can also present extreme dangers.

While using the river, please be aware of your surroundings. The St. Marys serves as critical habitat for numerous species. These rare, threatened or endangered species include 23 kinds of plants and 54 kinds of animals. Also, porpoise and manatee have been seen in the St. Marys west of the river’s convergence with the Little St. Marys River.

amping

Various camping sites exist along the St. Marys River.

Much of the land bordering the river is privately owned property; therefore, permission should be obtained to camp from the landowner.

When camping, please respect the environment and remember to do the following:

ublic Parks

ocal Chambers of Commerce Phone Numbers

Also visit the web site of the
St. Marys River Management Committee

http://www.saintmarysriver.org/

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