By Michael Ganey and Doug Alderson, December 18, 2025
Dear Friends, Neighbors, and Stewards of the Earth:
I am the Apalachicola River, a 107-mile lifeline flowing through the heart of Florida’s Panhandle, from the Georgia-Florida border at Chattahoochee to the vibrant Apalachicola Bay, where I meet the Gulf of Mexico. For centuries, I have been a source of life, culture, and sustenance, carrying the stories of Native American communities, nourishing diverse ecosystems, and supporting the livelihoods of fishermen, oystermen, and beekeepers who cherish my waters. My purpose is to connect the land and sea, fostering a rich tapestry of biodiversity and human heritage, but I need your help to thrive.
My significance lies in the vast Apalachicola, Chattahoochee, and Flint (ACF) River Basin, spanning 19,500 square miles, one of the most biodiverse regions east of the Mississippi. My waters nurture rare and endangered species like the Gulf sturgeon, Apalachicola dusky salamander, Florida torreya tree, and fat three-ridge mussel. My floodplain forests, swamps, and marshes—home to cypress, tupelo, and longleaf pine—support bald eagles, bears, and countless others.
I feed Apalachicola Bay, a vital marine nursery that once produced 90% of Florida’s oysters and 10% nationally, alongside the renowned tupelo honey harvested from my banks. Yet, I face challenges. Where I once flowed freely, upriver dams largely control my flow. And where my waters were once tickled by dugout canoes and paddlewheelers, dredge boats came to scour my channel so huge barges could travel my length. Weirs of rocks and logs were installed to force water where humans wanted to travel, and the trees that had fallen from my shores that nurtured my fish and turtles were removed by a huge boat and crane.
The spoil from all of that dredging were left along my shores, mostly sand to be washed back into my channel and which started blocking many of my sloughs—arteries into my floodplain. When the dredging finally stopped, fish and mussels began to recover, but my sloughs remained clogged until an effort was launched to slowly open them back up. I am starting to heal, but if dredging starts again, the damage could start all over again.
I am the Apalachicola River—strong and mighty, but vulnerable. And I am more than a river. I am a living connection between people, wildlife, and history. Together, please ensure that my waters flow freely, my ecosystems thrive, and my bay continues to nourish. And please, don’t let the dredging begin again!
With gratitude,
The Apalachicola River
For more information visit: https://apalachicolariverkeeper.org/how-you-can-help/
