The Florida Paddling Trails Association, which was initially formed to provide support for the Florida Circumnavigational Salt Water Trail, has increased its’ scope to include inland paddling trails. They are actively recruiting paddle trail keepers. To read more about the organization go to www.floridapaddlingtrails.com.
I have decided to work with this group and have volunteered to be the Chipola River Paddling Trail contact. My first goal was to paddle the entire 52-mile water trail sections at a time. I have accomplished this goal and will work toward finding legal camping spots, do river clean-ups, and promoting paddling on the Chipola River.
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Friday, December 12, 2008
Springs in the Chipola River Basin
There are a total of 63 springs identified in a 2003-04 study conducted by the North West Florida Water Management District with funding from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. In Jackson County, 30 of these springs are located north of I-10 and 28 are south of I-10. There are 5 more springs in Calhoun County. The springs can be categorized as typical fissure-type vents and those that discharge by diffuse percolation, which are called seep springs.
Discharge measurements of the Chipola River at US 90 indicated a base flow of approximately 300 cubic feet per second. At CR 274 west of Altha, the base flow is 800 cubic feet per second. The small surface water drainage streams emptying into the Chipola River cannot account for this increase. The major tributaries to the Chipola River are Rocky Creek, Dry Creek, and Spring Creek which all are spring runs for first and second magnitude springs groups.
One would expect that since much of the water in the Chipola River comes from springs that it would have clear water most of the time. This is not true, because the upper Chipola River runs through rich farmland, and the water traveling downstream is often muddy. Only at low water levels after an extended period without rain will the water be clear.
Discharge measurements of the Chipola River at US 90 indicated a base flow of approximately 300 cubic feet per second. At CR 274 west of Altha, the base flow is 800 cubic feet per second. The small surface water drainage streams emptying into the Chipola River cannot account for this increase. The major tributaries to the Chipola River are Rocky Creek, Dry Creek, and Spring Creek which all are spring runs for first and second magnitude springs groups.
One would expect that since much of the water in the Chipola River comes from springs that it would have clear water most of the time. This is not true, because the upper Chipola River runs through rich farmland, and the water traveling downstream is often muddy. Only at low water levels after an extended period without rain will the water be clear.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)