Every month Apalachicola Riverkeeper eco-outings volunteers lead a hiking or paddling trip in our watershed. In February, we explored the upper Apalachiola River from Chattahoochee to Ocheesee Landing with a pit stop at Aspalaga for lunch. Our small group gathered around a fallen tree to eat lunch and ponder whether the rain would get us. (A light rain did eventually cover the area for a short period). At Aspalaga Landing, we admired the height of the bluffs and observed significant tree damage from Hurricane Michael. We also found multiple crawfish tunnels in the soft mud of the forest floor. This led to discussion on floodplain inundation (of water) and the fluctuating seasonal river flows. Crawfish/crayfish are an important part of the food chain in the Apalachicola river basin.
Of note, Aspalaga Landing is not accessible by road due to fallen trees during Hurricane Michael.
Here are some floodplain related blogs and short videos by WFSU’s Rob Diaz de Villegas.
 
 