Figure 45. Ditching and diking associated 

 with agricultural activities in the lower 

 Aoalachicola floodplain. 



Figure 46. The extent of diking by 

 agricultural interests along the western 

 bank of the lower Apalachicola River. 



industrial and agricultural wastes 

 (Georgia Department of Natural Resources 

 1Q78, 1^82). A thorough scientific 

 analysis of the biological resoonse to 

 eutrophication and the influx of toxic 

 substances to these rivers is lacking, 

 however. Recent studies by the L). S. 

 Geological Survey (H. Mattraw pers. 

 comm. ) concerning the levels of toxic 

 substances in the Apalachicola River 

 indicate relatively low levels of heavy 

 metals and negligible concentrations of 

 herbicides. In the Apalachicola estuary, 

 from l'^72-1976, there was a orecipitous 

 decrease of organochlorine residues in 

 sediments and associated estuarine 

 organisms. This decrease was attributed 

 to the banning of DDT in 1Q72, the 

 flushing action of the river, and the 

 heavy sedimentation associated with the 

 estuary (Livingston et al. l'^78). 



Recent studies (Winger et al. 1^582) 

 indicate that residue concentrations of 

 organochlorine insecticides (DDT, toxa- 

 phene), ool ychlorinated biphenyls, and 

 heavy metals in aguatic biota are higher 

 in the upper Apalachicola River than in 

 the lower river. Total organic 

 contaminant residues, particularly from 

 the upper river, exceeded permissible 

 levels for the protection of wildlife. 

 The authors considered that such 

 moderately high residues indicated that 

 the Apalachicola River "may be in the 

 early stages of contamination." The 

 highest levels of cadmium and lead in 



sediments and biota of the 

 Apalachicola-Chipola drainage system are 

 found in tributaries leading to the 

 Chipola River below an industrial plant 

 that discharged battery wastes into the 

 svstem (Livingston et al . 1°82). The oH 

 levels of runoff water approximated 1.2 to 

 1.4. Concentrations of lead and cadmium 

 in sediments of the Little Dry Creek-Dry 

 Creek tributary to the Chipola River were 

 particularly high. Studies are currently 

 under way to evaluate the biological 

 resoonse to this contamination (R. J. 

 Livingston unoubl.). Recent analyses 

 indicate that this contamination has not 

 reached the Apalachicola Bay system 

 (Florida Department of Natural Resources, 

 pers. comm.). 



7.3.3. Muni cipal Developme nt 



Municipal development in Florida is 

 concentrated along the coast. The Big 

 Bend region, which includes the 

 Apalachicola Bay system, remains one of 

 the last undeveloped coastal areas in 

 Florida. In Franklin County, urbanization 

 is restricted to the cities of 

 Apalachicola (approximately 3,000 people) 

 and Carrabelle (aoproximatel v 1,000 

 people). A municipal waste system is 

 currently under construction in 

 Apalachicola to eliminate point sources of 

 waste discharge (Scipio Creek) into 

 surrounding areas. Nutrient, 

 phytoplankton, and dissolved oxygen data 

 indicate no discernible tendency for 



105 



