|
Post by tampaspicer on Jun 21, 2024 13:22:01 GMT -5
Or water covering all of Florida and half of Georgia and Alabama. That's coming one of these days.
|
|
|
Post by anumber1 on Jun 22, 2024 8:01:04 GMT -5
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Bend_CoastActually some interesting info about Oysters and hammocks, springs, etc. Lots of factors impacting our region, and oysters certainly have taken a hit as well as the freshwater tree species and hammocks. those cold snaps didn't kill the mangroves like the early 1980's and the christmas Freeze of 1989, upland hammocks didn't die off then. I do agree withrising sea level, there is a small seawall that my Dad built in 1970, I now have 2 layers of bags on top of it and backfilled. Nobody wants to talk about all the construction in the recharge areas (think Villages) and how that affects our coastal areas. I,ve been on this property since 1965.
|
|
|
Post by cyclist on Jun 23, 2024 8:55:05 GMT -5
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Bend_CoastActually some interesting info about Oysters and hammocks, springs, etc. Lots of factors impacting our region, and oysters certainly have taken a hit as well as the freshwater tree species and hammocks. those cold snaps didn't kill the mangroves like the early 1980's and the christmas Freeze of 1989, upland hammocks didn't die off then. I do agree withrising sea level, there is a small seawall that my Dad built in 1970, I now have 2 layers of bags on top of it and backfilled. Nobody wants to talk about all the construction in the recharge areas (think Villages) and how that affects our coastal areas. I,ve been on this property since 1965. You are lucky to be in such a nice area. So I mentioned earlier rainfall is up for past decades, and you are correct in that baseflows and spring flows are declining because of pumping. Center pivot is a big factor now. Surface water and aquifer levels verify this and even the growth records of long leaf pines.
|
|
|
Post by richm on Jun 24, 2024 10:02:54 GMT -5
Yeah it's a combination of things. It's really sad to see but that's what mother nature does. The planet is in constant change. Can you imagine our land mass extending to the Middle Grounds many many years ago? Thank you for having a little more vision than the typical the ocean levels are rising so fast the springs can't keep up with them. We are sucking the water out faster than it can be replenished. Funny how much water enters our aquifer around Americus GA - and then works its way down and out.
|
|
|
Post by richm on Jun 24, 2024 10:04:58 GMT -5
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Bend_CoastActually some interesting info about Oysters and hammocks, springs, etc. Lots of factors impacting our region, and oysters certainly have taken a hit as well as the freshwater tree species and hammocks. those cold snaps didn't kill the mangroves like the early 1980's and the christmas Freeze of 1989, upland hammocks didn't die off then. I do agree withrising sea level, there is a small seawall that my Dad built in 1970, I now have 2 layers of bags on top of it and backfilled. Nobody wants to talk about all the construction in the recharge areas (think Villages) and how that affects our coastal areas. I,ve been on this property since 1965. I've got little exposure on the west coast there. The freeze did kill the mangroves on the east coast during those cold snaps - They are filling back in, but those things sure do grow slow.
|
|
|
Post by docstressor on Jun 26, 2024 12:38:56 GMT -5
Changes in the abundance of a species rarely have a single cause. However, in the case of local oysters, increasing salinity is a major factor. Sea level rise and spring flows only 1/3 of historical rates all contribute to stress on an estuarian species adapted to a specific level of salinity range. Stressed populations are more susceptible to biological factors like diseases and parasites. So what we see are episodic local extinctions during certain years rather than a gradual decline. Here is a long agency report on the problem: Florida Oyster Loss and Restoration Efforts
|
|
|
Post by swampdog on Jul 20, 2024 13:20:32 GMT -5
Over twenty years ago we were being cautioned about water usage and seemingly always in a water “restriction” phase. Since then we’ve seen development encouraged and an acceleration of ground water withdrawals. Seeing the end of the ice age, the sea level is rising and the ambient temps are creeping upwards. Change is happening. Some is good, most is troubling.
|
|
ocala
Junior Member
Posts: 19
|
Post by ocala on Jul 28, 2024 15:22:57 GMT -5
If what you guys say is true about declining fresh water why does the area north of the Withlacoochee River have so many oyster bars but south of there hardly any? Is it the Withlacoochee River that is sustaining the bars up there? If you have ever been to Withlacoochee Bay you would know what I mean. Not doubting what you guys are saying but this fresh water thing is completely new to me.
|
|
|
Post by Crkr 23 on Jul 28, 2024 18:35:30 GMT -5
Just a guess, but if you drew an east-west line through the mouth of the withlacoochee and halfway across the state, you would find a more dense population south of the line. More people, more golf courses, higher water use.
|
|
|
Post by docstressor on Jul 29, 2024 11:51:16 GMT -5
From the Withlacoochee north (actually from the Barge Canal north), most freshwater inflow is surface water rather than groundwater. That flow has not been influenced as much by human activity. So the oysters are in relatively better shape since the salinity is closer to historical levels. When you get up to Apalachicola River, dams and other human activities have greatly reduced surface water flow and the oysters have recently collapsed.
|
|
|
Post by anumber1 on Jul 29, 2024 17:05:55 GMT -5
If what you guys say is true about declining fresh water why does the area north of the Withlacoochee River have so many oyster bars but south of there hardly any? Is it the Withlacoochee River that is sustaining the bars up there? If you have ever been to Withlacoochee Bay you would know what I mean. Not doubting what you guys are saying but this fresh water thing is completely new to me. Suwannee river
|
|
|
Post by jstubby2 on Jul 29, 2024 17:13:42 GMT -5
I don't recall seeing any oysterbars up by the Hatch?, not enough fresh water? Lots of nice grass.
|
|
|
Post by fishwater on Jul 30, 2024 6:15:19 GMT -5
Oysters need a certain amount of freshwater to survive. The springs just aren't pumping out enough for some of them to survive up around that area. The Chazz just south of there has been hit the worst by this. Springs have dried up and salt water intrusion is killing off most of the trees and underwater fresh water vegetation. Could be the problem in Crystal River. Nestle ... we r giving our water away and it has caught up with things. Add the nitrates, sea level increase / saltwater intrusion and tens of thousands new residents are just part of the problem. Aint no going back. This area is beyond unique (from Weeki-Wachi thru CR). Florida springs used to such a special thing to visit. I doubt anyone would call them the fountain of youth today.
|
|
|
Post by Crkr 23 on Jul 30, 2024 8:04:53 GMT -5
I think what Docstressor and #1 were saying is that oysters are filtration feeders and there's not much to filter out of spring water.
|
|
|
Post by jstubby2 on Jul 30, 2024 10:35:47 GMT -5
Not sure how they benefit from the fresh water, but they need it. Florida has been in a pissing contest With Georgia for years over water rights for the oystermen.
|
|