Ecological characterization of the Florida springs coast: Pithlachascotee to Waccasassa Rivers

Abstract

This report covers the upper coast of west-central Florida. This region includes the drainage basins and nearshore waters of the west coast of Florida between, but not including, the Anclote River basin and the Suwannee River basin. The name Springs Coast wash chosen because this area contains a multitude of springs, both named and too small or inaccessible to have been names. Much of the area is karstic limestone. Most recognizable among the springs are the famous Crystal river, Weeki Wachee, and Homosassa. This territory includes large expanses ofmarsh and wetland and, along its shores, the southern end of the largest area of seagrass beds in the state -- the Florida Big Bend Seagrass Beds preserve. It also possesses numerous spring-fed rivers and streams along the coast, whose constant discharges provide unique, relatively stable estuarine environments. This document is a summary of the availableinformation on the Springs Coast area of Florida, foruse by planners, developers, regulatory authorities,and other interested parties. An understanding of thefactors affecting their plans and the possibly unexpectedimpacts of their actions on others will, it ishoped, promote intelligent development in areascapable of supporting it. We have tried to provide aclear, coherent picture of what is currently knownabout how the physical, chemical, and biologicalfactors of the environment interact. (343 pp.)