The Bitter End

from Southern Tides January 2019

Ga. Shrimp Season Closed

Rolling on the Rivers

By Captain J. Gary “Gator” Hill

somewhat misleading to call it blackwater; if you dip a glass into it, it bears more resemblance to tea than actually being opaque.

Normally blackwater is less nutrient-rich than regular river water (with faster currents) and has a higher ionic concentration than rain water. It has a much different chemical concentration and you’ll see a decreased amount of planktonic flora and fauna. If you have never visited a blackwater ecosystem, try Ebenezer Creek, near Springfield, Ga.

Tidal rivers are the third type of river system we’ll talk about today. Alluvial rivers such as the Savannah become tidal rivers at the confluence of where it meets the sea. At this point, the tidal rise and fall can influence the direction the river flows as well as the salinity levels. But this category also includes the various other tidal creeks and rivers that cover the low country. Technically, these bodies of water aren’t much more than channels that lie at or below sea level. The direction is determined solely by the tide,

and they too are vital to a healthy ecosystem. Our tidal creeks and rivers carry millions of metric tons of organic nutrients into the ocean yearly. It’s this rich organic soup that gives us one of the most vibrant and robust bio-systems in the world.

From drinking water to hydroelectric dams, these arteries and veins are the life blood of the planet, and this area we all love and call home. Consider that as you motor, sail or paddle through them this year! As always thank you for tuning in!

Until next time, Happy New Year and I'll see y'all on the water!

Well, here we are with a new year, and hopefully a new appreciation for this water world that surrounds us. (Even though as I write this, I find myself high in the mountains of Virginia in the land of my youth.)

This month we are going to look at some sources that bring fresh water to our saltwater home.

We tend to categorize our local rivers and creeks as either alluvial, tidal, or blackwater. Alluvial rivers are the ones most people are familiar with. They have a starting point as mountain streams or creeks, sometimes emptying into lakes, then continuing their journeys to the sea and sometimes flowing hundreds if not thousands of miles. The Mississippi River’s headwaters lies far to the north in Lake Itasca, in Minnesota. This watershed has a drainage basin of over one million square miles, in comparison to the Savannah River with a drainage basin of just under 11,000 square miles.

Alluvial rivers are vastly important to our ecosystems as well as to industry, agriculture, and in many instances transportation. They provide drainage for huge swaths of land, helping to control flooding. They carry millions of tons of rich sediment that is deposited all along their paths, bringing enriched soil to farmers. They also create unique biospheres for a multitude of plants and animals, some of which are only found in very localized areas.

Blackwater rivers are somewhat the oddity among our three types of rivers. These bodies of water provide drainage for areas that are normally much lower in altitude than that of alluvial rivers. I refer to blackwater creeks as "creepy crawlers," due to the fact that they drain forested and quite often swampy areas. When I’m out on a blackwater river, I can’t help thinking of Bobby Bare’s classic tune Marie Laveau. (Yeah, I know, I’m a bit messed up in the head.)

Many area rivers have blackwater tributaries, including the Edisto River, the Savannah River, the Satilla River and the Ogeechee River. These bodies of water pass through lands where fallen trees lie, plant matter forms and are often fringed with tupelo and cypress trees.

Often slow moving, the water gathers tannins leached from the biomass, which is what gives it that dark black look. However, it’s

The Guest River, near Jefferson National Forest, where Captain Gator spends time when he returns home. Photo by Captain J. Gary Hill

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