Ochlockonee River

The Ochlockonee River ( /ˈklɒknɪ/ o-KLOK-nee) is a fast running river, except where it has been dammed to form Lake Talquin in Florida, originating in Georgia and flowing for 206 miles (332 km)[1] before terminating in Florida.

Ochlockonee River
Ochlockonee River at the Old Bainbridge Road Bridge
Ochlockonee River watershed
Location
CountryUnited States
StateGeorgia, Florida
DistrictNWFWMD
Physical characteristics
Source 
  locationGordy, Georgia
  coordinates31°29′06″N 83°52′49″W
MouthOchlockonee Bay
  location
Surf, Florida
  coordinates
29°58′36″N 84°26′15″W
Length206 mi (332 km)
Basin size2,450 sq mi (6,300 km2)
Discharge 
  locationBloxham
  average1,796 cu ft/s (50.9 m3/s)
Basin features
Tributaries 
  leftSopchoppy River
  rightLittle River, Telogia Creek, Crooked River

Background

The name is from the Hitchiti language words for yellow river.[2] The Ochlockonee originates south of the town of Sylvester in Worth County in southwest Georgia and empties into Ochlockonee Bay and then Apalachee Bay in Florida.

The river forms the western boundaries of Leon County and Wakulla County and eastern boundaries of Gadsden County, Liberty County, and Franklin County in Florida. It flows through the Red Hills, the Jackson Bluff Dam, Talquin State Forest, Lake Talquin State Park and the Apalachicola National Forest, and past Ochlockonee River State Park, where it is tidally influenced and a mixture of fresh, brackish, and salt water,[3] on the way to its terminus in Ochlockonee Bay, which then empties into Apalachee Bay, with tidal influences extending upstream over 15 miles (24 km) from the river's mouth.[4]

History

Ochlockonee flooding in Gadsden Co., Florida, near Fairbanks Ferry Road Bridge.

When the Spanish arrived in northern Florida, the Ochlockonee River formed the western boundary of their Apalachee Province. Late 17th-century Spanish documents refer to the river as Claraquachine[lower-alpha 1] and Amarillo (Spanish for "yellow"). A 1716 Spanish document called it Rio de Lagna (lagna is probably Apalachee for "yellow"). An English map from 1720 identifies it as the Yellow River. A 1778 map spells the river's name "Okalockney", while one from 1856 has it as "Oklokonee". The modern name probably derives from the Hitchiti/Mikasuki Oki (water) and Lagana (yellow).[5]

From 1839 to 1842, Fort Virginia Braden was established on the river located at Fort Braden in Florida. The fort was named after the commander's wife who died of yellow fever.

The Civil War

The Ochlockonee River saw action during the Civil War. On 15 July 1863, the screw steamer gunboat USS Stars and Stripes and wooden side-wheel steam ferryboat USS Somerset attacked the salt works at Mashes Sands. On 29 December 1863, Stars and Stripes sank the blockade-running schooner Caroline Gertrude, aground on the sandbar at the mouth of the Ochlockonee. Stars and Stripes also captured the blockade-running steamer Laura off the Ochlockonee on 18 January 1864. On 19 and 20 October 1864, Stars and Stripes destroyed an extensive Confederate fishery at Mashes Island and captured the troops stationed there as guards.[6]

Jackson Bluff Dam

Jackson Bluff Dam

In 1927 the Jackson Bluff Dam was constructed on the Ochlockonee River to produce hydroelectric power. The waters held back by the dam formed Lake Talquin.

Importance

Aerial view of the flooded Ochlockonee River on April 16, 1975 near Bloxham, just southwest of the modern State Highway 20 bridge crossing and the Talquin Dam.

The Ochlockonee River corridor is home to many threatened fish, wildlife and plant species. It has been designated under the State of Florida's Outstanding Florida Waters program and has been identified by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission as a Strategic Habitat Conservation Area.[7]

Rare animals that can be found along the Ochlockonee include red-cockaded woodpecker, least tern, and the Apalachicola dusky salamander.[7] The river is especially rich in rare freshwater mussels (Unionidae), including three federally listed endangered species: the Ochlockonee moccasinshell, the Shinyrayed pocketbook, and the Oval pigtoe.[8] "The Florida maybell tree can be found only along the Ochlockonee and Chipola Rivers.[7]

The Ochlockonee is connected to and a source of water for Lake Iamonia, especially during flooding.

Recreation

Fishing for largemouth bass, black crappie, Bream, striped bass and catfish can be excellent on the Ochlockonee River, and a state-designated canoe trail can be found both upstream and downstream of Lake Talquin. Telogia Creek and the Little River near State Road 12 are also popular for canoeing.[7] The Florida National Scenic Trail follows the river for two miles.[7]

The Ochlockonee is a vital link in the production of seafood in Apalachee Bay. During floods, the river transports organic matter downstream into the estuary of Ochlockonee Bay where the shallows of the bay were created by the great volume of sand and clay brought down by the river. This estuary serves as a nursery for numerous species of fish and shellfish which are the basis for recreational and commercial fishing as well as the seafood that this area is known for. Fishing on the Ochlockonee Bay is excellent for Flounder, Redfish, Black Drum, Spotted Sea Trout, Blue Crab and sharks.

Crossings

A number of major highways cross the Ochlockonee River along its course, including Interstate 10 and U.S. highways 19, 27, U.S. Route 84 and 319.

Crossing Carries Image Location Coordinates

Georgia

Brooks Road 31.4004°N 83.8923°W / 31.4004; -83.8923
Bridgeboro-Anderson Road 31.3943°N 83.8945°W / 31.3943; -83.8945
Liberty Hill Road 31.3724°N 83.8969°W / 31.3724; -83.8969
Childree Road 31.3501°N 83.8919°W / 31.3501; -83.8919
Evergreen Road 31.3353°N 83.8835°W / 31.3353; -83.8835
SR 270 Doerun 31.3194°N 83.8791°W / 31.3194; -83.8791
Hagin Still Road 31.2990°N 83.8733°W / 31.2990; -83.8733
Swift Canteen Road 31.2671°N 83.8424°W / 31.2671; -83.8424
SR 133 Sigsbee 31.2471°N 83.8340°W / 31.2471; -83.8340
Rail bridge Norfolk Southern Railway
Line formerly known as the Georgia Northern Railway
31.2471°N 83.8340°W / 31.2471; -83.8340
Old Doerun Rd Moultrie 31.2295°N 83.8349°W / 31.2295; -83.8349
SR 37 Moultrie 31.1826°N 83.8091°W / 31.1826; -83.8091
Lower Meigs Road Moultrie 31.1421°N 83.8032°W / 31.1421; -83.8032
Fred Webb Road 31.1056°N 83.8331°W / 31.1056; -83.8331
Smithwick Bridge Smithwick Bridge Road 31.0692°N 83.8716°W / 31.0692; -83.8716
Rocky Ford Bridge Zion Grove Church Road 31.0692°N 83.8716°W / 31.0692; -83.8716
Bannister Road 31.0396°N 83.9189°W / 31.0396; -83.9189
Beeline Road Road 31.0336°N 83.9356°W / 31.0336; -83.9356
SR 188 31.0024°N 83.9390°W / 31.0024; -83.9390
SR 202 30.9502°N 83.9622°W / 30.9502; -83.9622
Old Confederate Bridge Egg-Butter Road (Defunct) Dawesville 30.9287°N 83.9967°W / 30.9287; -83.9967
US 19 / SR 300 Dawesville 30.9287°N 83.9967°W / 30.9287; -83.9967
Rail bridge CSX
Line formerly known as the South Georgia and Florida Railroad
Dawesville 30.9173°N 84.0049°W / 30.9173; -84.0049
SR 3 Dawesville 30.9121°N 84.0086°W / 30.9121; -84.0086
US 84 / SR 38 30.8758°N 84.0464°W / 30.8758; -84.0464
Rail bridge CSX
Line formerly known as the Atlantic and Gulf Railroad
30.8758°N 84.0464°W / 30.8758; -84.0464
SR 93 Cairo 30.7917°N 84.1543°W / 30.7917; -84.1543
Hadley Ferry Bridge CR 54
Hadley Ferry Road
Rocky Hill 30.7316°N 84.2356°W / 30.7316; -84.2356
Old Hadley Ferry Bridge (Defunct) 30.731444°N 84.236319°W / 30.731444; -84.236319

Florida

Fairbanks Ferry/Bridge CR 12 Concord 30.6690°N 84.3050°W / 30.6690; -84.3050
CR 0361
CR 157
Tallahassee 30.5895°N 84.3601°W / 30.5895; -84.3601
US 27 Tallahassee 30.5541°N 84.3840°W / 30.5541; -84.3840
Rail bridge CSX
Line formerly known as the Georgia, Florida and Alabama Railway.
Tallahassee 30.5505°N 84.3875°W / 30.5505; -84.3875
I-10 Midway 30.4852°N 84.3972°W / 30.4852; -84.3972
US 90 Midway 30.4734°N 84.4073°W / 30.4734; -84.4073
Rail bridge CSX
Line formerly known as the Pensacola and Georgia Railroad
Midway 30.4730°N 84.4080°W / 30.4730; -84.4080
Talquin Dam Bloxham 30.3884°N 84.6464°W / 30.3884; -84.6464
SR 20 / SR 267 Bloxham 30.3837°N 84.6551°W / 30.3837; -84.6551
CR 368
Forest Highway 13
Porter Lake 30.1767°N 84.6684°W / 30.1767; -84.6684
Rail bridge Georgia, Florida and Alabama Railway (Defunct) McIntyre 30.1767°N 84.6684°W / 30.1767; -84.6684
US 319 Sopchoppy 29.9881°N 84.5022°W / 29.9881; -84.5022
Ochlockonee Bay Bridge (a/k/a Walker Bridge) US 98 Ochlockonee Bay 29.9682°N 84.3840°W / 29.9682; -84.3840

See also

Notes

  1. The name may have been Apalachee or Chatot (both were Muskogean languages). The Chine (as in Claraquachine) people, who moved into Apalachee Province during the 17th century, may have been a branch of the Chatot.

References

  1. Fernald, Edward A.; Patton, Donald J., eds. (1984). Water Resources Atlas of Florida. Florida State University Institute of Science and Public Affairs. ISBN 978-0-9606708-1-9.
  2. Krakow, Kenneth K. (1975). Georgia Place-Names: Their History and Origins (PDF). Macon, GA: Winship Press. p. 162. ISBN 0-915430-00-2.
  3. "Ochlockonee River State Park". Retrieved 2007-01-11.
  4. Boning, Charles R. 2007. Florida's Rivers. Sarasota, Florida: Pineapple Press, Inc. ISBN 978-1-56164-400-1
  5. Simpson, J. Clarence (1956). Florida Place-Names of Indian Derivation. Tallahassee, Florida: Florida Geological Survey. pp. 77–78.
  6. "Frank Howard". The Ochlockonee River. Retrieved 2007-01-11.
  7. "1000 Friends of Florida". The Ochlockonee River. Archived from the original on February 6, 2012. Retrieved 2007-01-11.
  8. Hemming, Jon M. et al., 2006, Water and sediment quality at mussel (Unionidae) habitats in the Ochlockonee River of Florida and Georgia. Endangered Species Research 2: 37-49.
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