The upper three miles of the river is protected State Park and it is a wonderland of wildlife and abundant vegetation. The lower half of the Ichetucknee lacks protections and is often filled to capacity with bathers and boats, bare of aquatic vegetation, and eroded shorelines. Can a balance be struck with recreational users to allow enjoyment and reduce damages to this waterway?
For a deeper dive, read:
A Tour of the Ichetucknee River Trace, Jim Stevenson, et al., 2013, https://youtu.be/wryzOLGYM_Y?feature=shared
Blueprint For Restoring Springs On The Santa Fe River, Florida Springs Institute, 2021, https://floridaspringsinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Santa-Fe-River-and-Springs-Restoration-Blueprint-01_27_21.pdf
Following the Ichetucknee, Jim Stevenson, Eric Flagg, 2014, Three Rivers Trust and Jellyfish Smack Productions, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1FHcKlMMI9A
Lower Ichetucknee Springswatch Monitoring Study, FL-DEP, 2023, https://floridaspringsinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/2023_Ichetucknee_SpringsWatch-Monitoring-Summary.pdf
Old Timers Remember -Ichetucknee Springs, A History and Culture of a Florida Spring, P.C. Zick, 2025, https://pczick.com/ichetucknee-springs-book/
What we can do to protect the lower Ichetucknee from further damage:
- Recreate in designated beach areas
- Feet up and float to reduce damage to aquatic plants
- Do not tie-up to trees or pull vessels up on the river bank
- Maintain idle speed to reduce bank erosion and impact with bathers and wildlife
- Become a member of:
Together, we can protect our rivers.
Comments by OSFR Board Member J.T.
Media@oursantaferiver.org
“Giving the River a Voice.”
A No Wake Zone and No Jet Skiis is a great start for the Lower Ichtucknee River. I would favor banning all motorized boats to keep the oil products out as well as the wake.
Registered Maine Guide for Sea Kayaking Retired
Thank you for the informative
links and background information.