Fakahatchee River

[Terry]

Vivian asked on 26 January "...is the Fakahatchee River open?", I take that as an

invitation to the next probe.   Faka Union River and East River shown here as

white lines are open excellent canoe routes.  The Fakahatchee River, the blue line, has

the best landing and would make another great addition to a loop trip connecting with

either Faka Union or East River.  The only little reconnaissance I have heard so far is

it's closed up.   Does anybody know anything about the Fakahatchee River from

Tamiami Trail down to Fakahatchee Bay?

[Terry]

The white lines in this image are paddlable open routes the orange line requires

pulling/pushing and lifting branches.   I would call all of the orange line about

the same level of difficulty, that is, there was almost no paddling on the

orange line all pulling.   So between your Probe 1 and Probe 2 it was more of

the same.  Every spot that looked like slogging would be required

turned out to passable made that way by others who have traversed the route over the decades.

In the river's current condition plan on 6 hours to get from Weaver Station to where

the river opens up just before the bay.

For them to dig the canal near Weaver Station, the river must have been a major

route for small skiffs going back and forth to Fakahatchee Island back in the day.

With some invasive treatments and maintenance this river could be as paddlable

as the East or Faka Union.

[Jay]

"Why oh why has the Fakahatchee been let go to get overgrown, reminds us of Turner River before the canal was filled in.  If there's ever a river that screams out for care and maintenance it's the Fakahatchee."

Is there anything we can do to effect change?  Where would you start?  Friends of the Fakahatchee?  State Park Service?I think there could be 3 routes down that river and it could be a very nice paddling opportunity bringing increased exposure for the FSSP.  You certainly don't want hundreds per day down the river.  I look how the Turner changed between my September trip and November trip.  Very resilient.

[Esther Luft]

Excellent comparison, Jay.  What keeps Turner first in my favorite rivers to paddle is the abundant flora and fauna in, on and about the river.  I wonder if the Fakahatchee too would become a refuge for gators and birds just as Turner River holds so much life.  Certainly bromeliads, orchids and abundant native vegetation is thriving on the Fakahatchee.  I have to believe the Fakahatchee, if made accessible, could be what it once was, a thriving vessel for life in its many forms.

Can anyone shed some history on the river?

Jay said:

"Why oh why has the Fakahatchee been let go to get overgrown, reminds us of Turner River before the canal was filled in.  If there's ever a river that screams out for care and maintenance it's the Fakahatchee."

Is there anything we can do to effect change?  Where would you start?  Friends of the Fakahatchee?  State Park Service?I think there could be 3 routes down that river and it could be a very nice paddling opportunity bringing increased exposure for the FSSP.  You certainly don't want hundreds per day down the river.  I look how the Turner changed between my September trip and November trip.  Very resilient.

[Gary M]

Congratulations folks! That took some serious "want to". I knew my boats were not meant for that trip.

As to why the river has seen so little use or "maintenance" I can suggest what I've seen - its primarily been due to a lack of water. It may look like there is enough water now, but compared to what it used to be, the whole area is dried way down. It does not get as high as it used to, even during the summer wet season.

And also the influx of Brazilian Pepper along the manmade stretch made that section literally a pain. Thats why we started launching from the gate back by the old airboat launch. When there was more water, launching there, then heading west to the first lake by following the airboat trail was a simple paddle.

The good news is the expected improved water flows that should come from the spreader canal project in the Picayune Strand. They have improved and enlarged culverts all along 41 almost back to SR29! So somebody expects a significant change in flow.

[Jay]

Thanks Esther.

What I am trying to convey is that if we can get the routes open - and get them some use, they will stay open (at least until the next storm).  Sure there will be some damage to some root structure - but I made my first trip down the Turner in pretty early in September (very high water).  The new growth from the summer was tremendous and there seemed to be great recovery from "use damage" from the previous year.  When I went down again in November, the early season guided trips had started, the water had dropped and things were opening up with some root damage evident.  I think these rivers and the plan life are pretty resilient.

I th

[Swamp Witch]

Congrats Everyone!  Wish I could've been there with you.  I have a 16 foot sea kayak.  Think it would make it?  If not, what boat length do you recommend?

[vivian]

Another EXCELLENT ADVENTURE!  Thank you all for the effort and for sharing the route with us.  I wish I had been there. After reading Esther's TR, I think my 15' canoe may have been a problem on that route. However, the width would have been OK it is only 27" wide.  A 12' canoe would be perfect.

[Terry]

The shorter the better and only bring a boat that you are willing to use as a battering ram.

We had 4 canoes and 3 kayaks, the longest was a 15 aluminum canoe,  Esther's canoe was a close

second at 14'8".   The aluminum canoe had two 20 something strong guys who wouldn't take

CAN'T for an answer so they would just throw it over anything in their way.   I was happy to

have my 13' Grumman.  A kayak is skinnier but 16' is pretty long.

[Think it would make it?]  Well it depends how much you want to work.

[Jay]

The sections I did were in my 15'6" x 30" canoe.  I would have been better to be in a shorter craft - but it worked.

[Esther Luft]

On this river it comes down to inches.  One inch narrower and my canoe would have fit through several spots that required lifting.  Two inches shorter and the guys in the 15' Grumman would have been able to make some turns without lifting/stepping out.

In a kayak I would stay at 14' and under.  Remember, you are in one spot in a kayak, even in a SOT. 

Vivian, at 15' x 27" you would have been fine. 

SwampWitch, at 16' in a kayak, it would have been a bear.  Mind you, I am a kayaker first and foremost and can easily hold an edge while turning (climbing my boat over downed trees (as in the invitational when Terry, Charlie and I went over the tree and everyone else went around)).  Charlies hull crunched (scary) but no damage, I was able to drive my seat onto the tree, balance on the edge and drop in, Terry just jammed his canoe through.  That was SOOOOOO much fun!

I would stay in a shorter boat, high rocker, for the Fakahatchee.

[yakmaster]

But then you get into the open & you hate that rocker!!


Esther Luft said:

On this river it comes down to inches.  One inch narrower and my canoe would have fit through several spots that required lifting.  Two inches shorter and the guys in the 15' Grumman would have been able to make some turns without lifting/stepping out.

In a kayak I would stay at 14' and under.  Remember, you are in one spot in a kayak, even in a SOT. 

Vivian, at 15' x 27" you would have been fine. 

SwampWitch, at 16' in a kayak, it would have been a bear.  Mind you, I am a kayaker first and foremost and can easily hold an edge while turning (climbing my boat over downed trees (as in the invitational when Terry, Charlie and I went over the tree and everyone else went around)).  Charlies hull crunched (scary) but no damage, I was able to drive my seat onto the tree, balance on the edge and drop in, Terry just jammed his canoe through.  That was SOOOOOO much fun!

I would stay in a shorter boat, high rocker, for the Fakahatchee.

[Jim Peele]

Greetings, my fellow Fakahatchee-eers!  Great meeting all of you Saturday on this unforgettable adventure.  Many thanks to Terry and the Navigators!

I was REAL happy I was in my 12-foot Old Town (33" beam) "Pack" solo canoe instead of some of the other vessels.  I could sit on the bottom rather than the seat, pull and duck, duck and pull, then shimmy and shake my way through without facing some of the challenges that the others did.  Of course, I had a little harder time than the others with my wind-catching, one-engine (heart) boat when we met the howling winds on the lower river and on around Daniel's Point.  Still, I liked my craft.