A Wild and scenic River Study AS THE NATIONS PRINCIPAL CONSERVATION AGENCY, THE DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR HAS BASIC RESPONSIBILITIES FOR WATER, FISH, WILDLIFE, MINERAL, LANO, PARK AND RECREATIONAL RESOURCES. INOIAN ANO TERRITORIAL AFFAIRS ARE OTHER MAJOR CONCERNS OF AMERICA'S "DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES'.' THE DEPARTMENT WORKS TO ASSURE THE WISEST CHOICE IN MANAGING ALL OUR RE­ SOURc.ES SO EACH WILL MAKE ITS FULL CONTRIBUTION TO A BETTER UNITED STATES NOW AND IN THE FUTURE . U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Rogers C. 8. Morton, Secretory BUREAU OF OUTDOOR RECREATION Jatl'IU $.Watt, otfectot SUWANNEE RIVER Florida • G.eorgia A National Wild and Scenic River Study December 1973 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page_ FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATION Finding .. ,. i Reco111Tiendation i SUMMARY Introduction .•....•.. i i The River .........••. ii Classification ..•... v Protection of Natural Resources •.•.•...•• vi State, Local, and Private Recreation Development viii Management Alternatives . viii Providing Public Use . ••• ix Land Acquisition .... ix Recreation Facilities .• xi The Withlacoochee Segment xi Economic Impact .•.... xii I. INTRODUCTION Wild and Scenic River Studies 2 Background . 3 II. THE RIVER SETTING Location. • . I • I 5 The Resource . I . 5 1 Climate . I . I . 17 Water Resource Development . 17 Cultural Hi story I . I . 20 Economy . • . 21 Population . 22 Landownership • . 23 River Ownership . I . 24 Land Use and Environmental Intrusions I . 24 Recreation . I . • . I . I . • . 29 Nearby Recreation Opportunities . I 36 Significant Features . I . • . I 36 III. ALTERNATIVE COURSES OF ACTION Appraisal . • • . 39 Classification . 40 Discussion of Classification . • • . • . 42 TABLE OF CONTENTS (Cont'd) Land Requirements .••.• . 47 Fee Acquisition •• 49 Scenic Corridor . .. • 49 Acquisition Criteria . • • • • 50 Easement Alternative ...•. • . 52 Plan of Acquisition for Development •. • . 54 Fee and Easement Acquisition . 57 Local and State Zoning ...... 57 Management Alternatives •. 58 Preliminary Cost Estimates . • . • 61 IV. ECONOMIC ANALYSIS Recreation Development and Use . • . 65 Existing Recreation Use . 65 Potential Recreation Use . 66 Economic Impact From Recreation Use . 68 Forestry . 71 Phosphate Mining . 73 Mining Foregone . 74 Real Property . • . • • • • . • . 76 Agriculture . 77 Other Uses . 77 Analysis of Benefits Foregone and Gained . 78 v. THE WITHLACOOCHEE RIVER SEGMENT Introduction . • . 80 General Description •..• 80 Recreation Use and Potential . 81 The Withlacoochee Plan 81 Classification .••.. 81· Land Requirements 81 Recreation Development . 84 Administration • . 85 Costs ...... 85 VI. APPENDIX Letters of Comment and Recolllllendations . 87 Field Task Force • . .•. 103 Fauna and Flora •••. • • • • • • • l 04 Selected References • • • • • • 110 LIST OF PHOTOGRAPHS Page Okefenokee Swamp Su11111ary Title Page Sapling Prairie, Okefenokee Swamp--M. Hay ii Big Shoals, River Mile 177--M. Hay iii Limestone Banks, Suwannee River--M. Hay iv Hog Island--ASCS Aerial Photograph v Troy Spring--BOR vi Boating Near Okefenokee Swamp Park, Georgia--BOR vii Boys Swi111Tiing in Spring x Confluence of Withlacoochee and Suwannee Rivers-­ Aerial--BOR xi Okefenokee Swamp Chapter I, Title Page Scene on the Suwannee River--Florida News Bureau Chapter II, Title Page Swamp Vegetation--M. Hay 6 Clear Spring Water--BOR 7 Limestone Banks--M. Hay 9 Drinking at Spring--M. Hay 12 Flood Plain Vegetation and Swamp Sill--BOR 14 Alligator--Georgia Game and Fish Corrvnission 15 Soaring Bird--M. Hay 16 Sheet Pile Dam--BOR 18 Steamer "Three States 11 --FSU Library 20 Branford, Florida--Aerial--BOR 26 lchetucknee River U.S. Highway 27 Bridge--W. F. Mack 27 Ellaville Steam Plant--Aerial--BOR 28 Camp Cornelia, Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia--BOR 29 Stephen C. Foster State Park, Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge--BOR 30 lchetucknee Float Trippers at Highway 27 Bridge--BOR 31 Stephen C~ Foster Memorial, Florida--Aerial--BOR Hart Springs County Park--BOR 32 Belle 0 1 the Suwannee--Florida News Bureau 33 Boys on a Raft--Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Chapter II I, Co111Tiission Title Page Kayak and Rafts--BOR 39 Gas Dock and Marina on Suwannee--BOR 40 Canoeing Near Lem's Fish Camp, Georgia--BOR 43 Three Boys in Jon Boat in Swamp--BOR 4¢-· U.S. Highway 98 Near Bridge--Resources Advisory Board 45 West Pass - Suwannee, Florida, to River Mouth 46 Scuba Group at Royal Springs--BOR 47 Butler's Point, Confluence of the Santa Fe and Suwannee Rivers--BOR 48 LIST OF PHOTOGRAPHS {Cont'd) Mobile Homes at Suwannee, Florida, Near River Mouth-­ BOR 52 Hart Springs County Park--Florida News Bureau 55 Highway Bridge Over Suwannee River--Florida News Chapter IV, Bureau Title Page Timber Products--Resources Advisory Board 72 Phosphate Strip Mining--BOR _ 73 Suwannee River, Florida--Aerial--Resources Advisory Board 77 Fishing in Quiet Pool--Georgia Game and Fish Commission 78 Boating on Withlacoochee River--Florida News Bureau Chapter V, Title Page Withlacoochee Confluence with Suwannee River-- W. F. Mack 83 Fledgling Heron--Georgia Game and Fish Conmission 84 Sunset and Fishermen at Mouth of Suwannee River-­ Chapter VI, Florida News Bureau Title Page FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATION Finding The Suwannee River, together with the lchetucknee River, the lower 7 miles of the Santa Fe River, and the lower 12 miles of the Withla­ coochee River, along with their immediate environments, fully meets the criteria established by the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act and would be worthy of addition to the national wild and scenic rivers system. The report finds that there are three principal means by which the Suwannee can be protected and made a part of the national wild and scenic rivers system. These are: 1. State Action--The States of Florida and Georgia could provide protection for all or parts of the Suwannee as a State wild and scenic river. Under Section 2(a)(ii) of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, national designation could be obtained for the State river if the criteria set forth in the Act and supplemental criteria developed by the Secretary of the Interior are met and the river is administered without cost to· the Federal Government. 2. Federal-State Action--This would involve the acquisition of necessary land for the Suwannee by the Federal Government. The States would then assume responsibility for the development, operation, and maintenance expenses associated with the river. Designation of the Suwannee as a wild and scenic river would be by an Act of Congress. 3. Federal Action--This approach would involve designation, by Congress, of the Suwannee River as a part of the national wild and scenic rivers system. All costs of acquisition, development, operation and maintenance would be borne by the Federal Govern­ ment through the agency named by Congress to administer the national river. Recommendation The Suwannee River meets the criteria for addition to the national wild and scenic rivers system. It is recommended that the States of Florida and Georgia take the steps necessary to preserve the values associated with the Suwannee River. If the States of Florida and Georgia should present suitable applications to the Secretary of the Interior, the Secretary would consider the addition of the Suwannee River to the national system of wild and scenic rivers in accordance with Section 2(a)(ii) of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (Public Law 90-542). Federal grant-in-aid programs, including Land and Water Conservation Fund grants, would be available to assist the States. i SU lV.I[ 1V1A IlY NATIONAL WILD AND SCENIC RIVERS SYSTEM AS AUTHORIZED BY P.l.90·542 -t .J ·,ST. CIOl i I ' I . !-- ·- ·- ~ r-··-·-·· - • . .,,,~ U,,£110\VA~ , .. - · I \ I \__ .. - i '·\ I I \ . I \ . _1-··--- ·· - ·· - ·i- \ r.J , - ·· -· y ' I I I •• 0 ? a ( I · ~~ / .. _ ~ .. .. .,.. J " - ·· ~ . t L..- - -~ \ \ ! \ -.. f_j .. _.. , , I ! UNITS Of THE NATIONAL SYSTEM MANAGEME--.NT 01 STUDY IUPONSlaJLlfY e .. ··· * De~I . of ft1te"l•r * 8epL of A9riculhH• 11.S. •l'•UT#IENT OF 111£ INTHIOl e Non-Fe4•r•I lur••u ef Out.. eor l•cr••"•" _Jj Stat• •f Mai..- Jvlr 1910 SUMMARY Introduction This report on the wild, scenic and recreational qualities of the Suwannee River, Georgia and Florida, was prepared under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (Public Law 90-542; 82 Stat. 906) approved October 2, 1968. The Suwannee River i s one of 27 rivers designated for study in section 5(a) of the Act as a potential unit of the national wild and scenic rivers system. Section 5(b) of the Act directed the Secretary of the Interior and, where national forest lands are involved, the Secretary of Agriculture to study the rivers so designated and to report to the President and the Congress. The River Abundantly endowed with natural resources, steeped in history, and located at the threshold of one of the world's greatest tourist meccas, the Suwannee River remains undeveloped and unspoiled by man. This situation cannot persist. The need for living space, recreation opportunity, farm and forest products, and mineral resources is increasing inexorably. Soon the forces which until now have resisted i i SUMMARY Introduction This report on the wild, scenic and recreational qualities of the Suwannee River, Georgia and Florida, was prepared under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (Public Law 90-542; 82 Stat. 906) approved October 2, 1968. The Suwannee River is one of 27 rivers designated for study in section 5(a) of the Act as a potential unit of the national wild and scenic rivers system. Section 5(b) of the Act directed the Secretary of the Interior and, where national forest lands are involved, the Secretary of Agriculture to study the rivers so designated and to report to the President and the Congress. The River Abundantly endowed with natural resources, steeped in history, and located at the threshold of one of the world's greatest tourist meccas, the Suwannee River remains undeveloped and unspoiled by man. This situation cannot persist. The need for living space, recreation opportunity, farm and forest products, and mineral resources is increasing inexorably.