February 2, 2025
As a two-time RiverTrekker I have learned about, and have seen first-hand, the slough restoration work Apalachicola Riverkeeper is doing within the Apalachicola River basin. Mass amounts of sediment that plugged the entrance of the Douglas and Spiders slough has been removed along with colonizing willow trees. When the Army Corp previously dredged the river, massive amounts of sand were loosened and ended up clogging and cutting off waterways that fed the tupelo and cypress swamps. Apalachicola Riverkeeper is working to remove these ‘sand plugs’ and that was no easy process. Small, shallow draft barges and excavators came in to restore the openings. To help the process of restoration along, and stabilize potentially erosive areas, Riverkeeper is planting cypress trees on the exposed riverbank.
Recently, I had the pleasure of sharing that restoration work with my interns.
This fall I helped found a new organization, Conservation Pathways, whose purpose is to provide field research, science communication, and professional development experiences to students. Our official mission is “helping future conservation leaders find their direction by bridging the gaps between college and career”. Last Wednesday, we were able to provide our spring interns with a unique opportunity.
Wednesday morning, we met Riverkeeper Cameron Baxley at a boat ramp near Wewahitchka and boated up to Spider Slough on the Chipola River. This exciting mode of transportation was made all the more exciting to my interns because I neglected to tell them a boat ride was involved. Nothing like surprises to help students understand the unpredictable nature of field work! At Spider Slough, Cameron explained the impacts that dredging of the Apalachicola River has had, especially as it relates to slough ecology and the floodplain ecosystem.
We then dug holes and planted 25 small cypress saplings along the exposed bank at a measured-ish distance of 20 feet. We also planted three red maple trees. From there we boated up to the confluence of the Chipola and Apalachicola Rivers and headed upstream to the head of Douglas Slough. There we planted 26 more cypress trees. On our return trip we explored the backside of Douglas Slough, and were able to fully visualize the success of the restoration process in the form of restored flow of the slough from the Apalach to the Chipola River. It was a great way to expose students to restoration, the work Riverkeeper is doing, local ecology, and the beautiful Apalachicola River! We are all looking forward to our next opportunity to help Riverkeeper protect and preserve this unique, wild resource.
Rebecca Means is an ecologist and science educator with a passion for rock climbing, food, live music, and travel. Rebecca is also the Executive Director for Conservation Pathways that helps future conservation leaders find their direction by bridging the gaps between college and career.