April 27, 2019
By Georgia Ackerman
We had a memorable morning exploring the Dead Lakes today. Swallow-tail kites, Mississippi kites, Barbours map turtles and more were spotted when we explored the tannic waters of Dead Lakes, the destination on our April’s Eco-educational Outing.
Thank you Matthew Godwin of Off The Map Expeditions for sponsoring and leading this spectacular trip! Outings volunteer, Fountain Hutchison “ran sweep” during our paddle, keeping the group safely together. Katie McCormick, Apalachicola Riverkeeper’s newly-elected board president also kayaked with the group. Notably, Katie has paddled the entirety of the Apalachicola River five times with our RiverTrek teams.
The water in the lake was noticeably higher than last year’s spring trip. Also contrasting with last year’s trip was the absence of motorboats. Fishing, especially for bass, is a popular recreational sport on Dead Lakes. The fishkill associated with Hurricane Michael likely affected the fish population and Matthew told us that fishing has slowed since Hurricane Michael with many anglers reporting fewer fish. This is consistent with a report from a local fishing club. As explained to me by knowledgable fish biologists, it will take time for fish populations to recover.
Several species of tupelo trees were in bloom and Matthew pointed these out before and during our trip. A few weeks ago, during a visit to Douglas Slough in the area, local beekeepers told me they expected a healthy tupelo honey production season from their bees.
Barbours map turtles
Georgia Ackerman is the Riverkeeper and Executive Director at Apalachicola Riverkeeper