We will be staging the Springtime on the Chipola – March 15-21, 2023. The Chipola River is a paddlers’ dream and has over 60 freshwater springs, the largest number of any river in Northwest Florida. We will be following the scenic 51-mile Chipola River Paddling Trail through high bluffs, river swamps, and hardwood forests. The water alters color from clear gold to an opal-like blue, with crystal clear springs tucked along the river. Limestone bluffs and caves, part of the interesting karst geology, add to the unique beauty of the Chipola River. We will also be paddling one of Florida’s most unusual places – Dead Lakes, located in Wewahitchka, FL. We will visit this beautiful lake and its diverse ecosystem teeming with life amidst the skeletal remnants of the old forest which has given way to Cypress and Tupelo trees over time. Blue-Eyed Honey will be teaching us about the honey that originates from the nectar of the White Tupelo Trees that bloom only two weeks out of the year along the muddy banks of the Apalachicola River, and Grant Peeples is our featured musician! We thank Explore Northwest Florida for their support.

Included in this issue are: "The Chipola River" by Doug Alderson; "Our Public Records Request: Here's What We Found" by Ryan Smart; "Where To See Manatees In Florida Waters: Try These 15 Spots", and "Top 10 Roof Rack Do's And Don'ts For Paddlers."

Thanks to everyone who supported us this season! Our partners, vendors, speakers, and musicians. For those who came on trips, who donated to our cause and to those who volunteered with us! YOU make a difference and enable us to continue our mission of protecting Florida’s waterways. THANK YOU!

FSI looked at water quality data for 26 Outstanding Florida Springs. Nitrogen levels in 17 of the 26 springs have increased since the BMAPs were first adopted, with an average increase across all springs analyzed of about 20%.

Nitrogen levels in seven of the springs significantly changed (p < .05) between 2018 and 2022. Six of these springs significantly increased (Fanning, Homosassa, Jackson Blue, Madison Blue, Peacock, and Poe), while Wekiva Springs significantly decreased.

Overall, since 2018, nitrate concentrations in these springs have increased from about 2.3 to 3.4 mg/L, an average increase of 48%. [Read More…]

Excerpt from Florida’s Rivers: A Celebration of Over 40 of the Sunshine State’s Dynamic Waterways by Doug Alderson, published by Pineapple Press in 2021

The Chipola is one of those rivers that has a bit of everything—springs, bluffs, caves and mystery. Take the stretch where a defunct iron bridge crosses the river a few miles north of U.S. 90 near CR 162. The Bellamy Bridge—“Florida’s most haunted bridge”—can be reached by hiking a half-mile through an unspoiled floodplain forest.

The site has been used as a crossing spot for centuries and ghost stories abound, such as one about a headless wagon driver, a 19th century moonshine related murder victim, and the unsettled spirit of Elizabeth Jane Croom Bellamy, who died nearby of malaria in 1837. Hike the short access trail around sunset when the thick forest is darkening, cicadas begin whirring in treetops, barred owls start calling across the water, and a cold chill permeates the air…

Below Bellamy Bridge at Christoff Landing, you can paddle 4.5 miles to Florida Caverns State Park on a winding, canopied river that has numerous side springs, the largest being Baltzell Springs. County workers and state park rangers periodically try to clear snags in this section, but changing water levels and storm events—especially hurricanes such as Hurricane Michael in 2018—can produce snags that may require some negotiating. This section is wild and scenic with only a couple of houses. The state park is the only state park in Florida to offer dry cave tours, although occasionally the caves are closed during wet seasons due to partial flooding. [Read More…]

Your best chance of seeing manatees in Florida is on cold winter day when they gather in relatively warm waters of springs and power plant outfalls

There are about somewhere in the range of 6,000 to 7,500 manatees in Florida waters, according to the US Fish and Wildlife Service. They’re located in waters throughout the state. 

It’s a lot easier to spot the threatened species now than a few decades ago. When Fish and Wildlife Service began counting manatees via aerial surveys began in 1991, they estimated  there were only 1,267 manatees in Florida! [Read More …]

Support Paddle Florida and our GREEN dish program by purchasing our NEW Paddle Florida Coffee Mug for $30 (add $10 to have it shipped to you), or we can bring it to you on your next trip!

* Powder-coated finish, double-wall stainless steel 18oz tumbler that has a clear push-on acrylic lid.

* Vacuum insulation helps keep a drink hot or cold for hours.

How To: Top 10 Roof Rack Do’s and Don’ts For Paddlers
From Paddling Magazine

Click here for the article.