Withlacoochee Gulf Preserve

Ellie Schuler Environmental Education Center

 

On Friday October 18th, 2013, I attended a presentation at the Withlacoochee Gulf Preserve facility near Yankeetown, Florida. The program was about rebuilding the coastal environment via re-establishing sea grasses, mangroves and oyster beds.
Attendees were students from the University of Florida College of Law, and local residents. The program was put on by Florida Sea Grant personnel and UF College of Wetland professors.

We received instruction on plant identification, and the methods being used around the State of Florida in regards to re-seeding oyster bars, and re-establishing mangroves.

Part of the programming included a botany blitz where teams of attendees went out into the coastal /upland interface habitat and collected plant specimens for later identification. There were numerous plants in their fall bloom. Yellow, pink, and white were the main flower colors observed.

Coastal Oak Hammock

Golden Rods

Groundsel Bush

 

There were other plants in bloom of which I didn't have my camera with me on the initial field walk in order to take pictures. After the class room sessions and botany collecting, there was a paddle tour leading out from the onsite dock. Tides are real critical at this launch site, with the optimal times being during the flood or higher tides to provide plenty of water in the shallow creeks.

The coastal, tidal marsh creeks are one of my favorite areas to paddle. This is in part due to the fluctuating water levels, ebbing and flowing with the ever changing tides bringing different experiences.

Looking Northwest out onto the Gulf of Mexico, with abundant marsh vegetation, islands in the distance and tidal creeks galore. View from the top of the 35 foot observation tower.

The Observation Tower

 

 

The Withlacoochee Gulf Preserve is open during day light hours only, and is a great place to get out and explore another unique type of Florida habitat.

 

 

Something new around the next bend!

 

Cedar Key Sunset Paddle on 5/18/13

After our Hands Across The Sands event at Shell Mound earlier in the day, I waited around the area to conduct a kayak tour out to Atsena Otie Key. This island is right off the coast at Cedar Key within the Cedar Key National Wildlife Refuge, and the one that most people see when strolling along Dock Street and the Pier. Views of the Gulf of Mexico can be spectacular.

I was fortunate to have some last minute customers that flew in from South Carolina to the local air strip in their private plane. So, there was a total of eight paddlers for this kayak tour. The breeze was slight out of the SWW at around 8 mph, and it kept the insects at bay, not to mention a great natural cooling effect.

When planning tours to this island, I try to schedule them to take advantage of the incoming tide so that we may explore the nooks and crannies, and not worry about snagging our kayaks on oyster bars.
And it lets us paddle through the middle of the island among mangrove islets full of red-wing blackbirds and other perching species. The roseate spoonbills have not reappeared as of yet, and they like to roost for the evening on this island when they migrate back into the area.

Once on the island, we visited the cedar mill ruins, the cistern, windmill tower, and historical cemetery. I like to share my knowledge of headstone symbols to my guests, when we visit this 19th century burial spot.

After about two hours of paddling, walking, resting and paddling some more, we headed back in time to witness the beautiful sky colors of the setting sun.