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East River (Florida)

Coordinates: 30°5′19″N 84°10′44″W / 30.08861°N 84.17889°W / 30.08861; -84.17889
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
East River
Location
CountryUnited States
StateFlorida
CountyWakulla
Physical characteristics
Source 
 • locationFlorida
 • coordinates30°11′57″N 84°6′42″W / 30.19917°N 84.11167°W / 30.19917; -84.11167
MouthSt. Marks River
 • location
Florida
 • coordinates
30°5′19″N 84°10′44″W / 30.08861°N 84.17889°W / 30.08861; -84.17889

The East River is a 10-mile-long (16 km)[1] river entirely within Wakulla County, Florida, draining part of the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge into the St. Marks River.

A dam within the refuge, crossed by the Florida Trail, creates the 245-acre (99 ha)[2] impoundment known as the East River Pool, with a boat ramp allowing access by canoes and small boats. Oyster bars are abundant around the mouth of the river.[3]

During the early 19th century, salt works were established along the East River, and were destroyed by a tropical storm in June 1863.[4] Later during the American Civil War, a small skirmish was fought between Union and Confederate troops along the East River on March 3–5, 1865, resulting in the capture of the East River Bridge by Union forces prior to the Battle of Natural Bridge.

List of crossings

[edit]
Crossing Carries Image Location Coordinates
Headwaters 30°10′11″N 84°8′3″W / 30.16972°N 84.13417°W / 30.16972; -84.13417
East River Bridge CR 59
Lighthouse Road
30°8′43″N 84°8′27″W / 30.14528°N 84.14083°W / 30.14528; -84.14083
Florida Trail 30°7′37″N 84°8′59″W / 30.12694°N 84.14972°W / 30.12694; -84.14972
Mouth (St. Marks River) 30°05′19″N 84°10′44″W / 30.08861°N 84.17889°W / 30.08861; -84.17889

References

[edit]
  1. ^ U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline data. The National Map Archived 2012-03-29 at the Wayback Machine, accessed April 18, 2011
  2. ^ St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge Draft Comprehensive Conservation Plan and Environmental Assessment, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, January 2006
  3. ^ Williams, Leslee A., Peter W. Mason and Joseph M. Faircloth. An assessment of water quality in coastal Wakulla County, Florida, based on total and fecal coliform bacteria July 1 1980-February 1 1981, Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Biological Section, Bureau of Water Analysis, March 1981
  4. ^ Howard, Frank. Wakulla County, Florida: Some Civil War Action, 1993