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News: Cedar Key School Adds LIFE to Its Lessons
February 13th, 2013

Law Enforcement News: Levy County Arrest Report 2/11/2013
February 12th, 2013

Announcements: Muscle Car Invasion Saturday the 17th
February 12th, 2013

City News: CEDAR KEY RESOLVES SOME PERSONNEL ISSUES, STATE ROAD 24 PEDESTRIAN PATHWAY CONTRACT ISSUES
February 10th, 2013

City News: Cedar Key Water & Sewer District 2/11 Agenda
February 9th, 2013

Conservation: Fish of the Week: Bluefish
February 8th, 2013

Announcements: PATCHOULI CONCERT IN CEDAR KEY -- FREE PERFORMANCE
February 8th, 2013

City News: IS A SIDEWALK COMING TO STATE ROAD 24?
February 7th, 2013

School News: Shark News 2/7
February 7th, 2013

Announcements: Friends Annual Meeting and Refuge Open House
February 6th, 2013

Announcements: February Nature Walks
February 5th, 2013

Announcements: Give Blood, Save Lives at the Cedar Key Community Drive
February 5th, 2013

Law Enforcement News: Levy County Arrest Report 2/04/2013
February 5th, 2013

Public Notices: CITY OF CEDAR KEY PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT
February 4th, 2013

Chamber of Commerce News: CEDAR KEY WOMEN’S CLUB HOSTS 27TH ANNUAL SPAGHETTI DINNER
February 4th, 2013

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Local Rivers May Reach Flood Stages this Weekend, Activating Idle-speed, No-wake Zones

Local Rivers May Reach Flood Stages this Weekend, Activating Idle-speed, No-wake Zones

Karen Parker

The middle Suwannee and lower Santa Fe rivers will approach flood stage Sunday, possibly activating two flood zones along the rivers, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).

The FWC has been working with Suwannee River Water Management District personnel, who expect the Santa Fe to reach 17 feet above mean sea level at the Three Rivers gauge, where flood stage is 19 feet. The Suwannee River is expected to reach 47 feet above mean sea level at the Ellaville gauge, where flood stage is 54 feet.

This would activate boating restrictions on Zone 5 on the Santa Fe, a 32-mile zone that runs from River Rise in O`Leno State Park west to the confluence of the Suwannee River, and Zone 1, a 39-mile segment that runs from the U.S. 90 Bridge at Ellaville south to the State Road 51 Bridge at Luraville.

"The Suwannee River may reach that level on Saturday and the Santa Fe on Sunday. We want to give boaters a heads-up," said Capt. Martin Redmond, area supervisor at the FWC`s Lake City office.

An idle-speed, no-wake zone means a vessel must proceed at a speed no greater than that required to maintain steerageway and headway. The FWC doesn`t require any vessel to proceed so slowly that the operator can`t control it or anything it may be towing. If the FWC activates a speed zone, officers will patrol the area of the river to ensure the idle-speed, no-wake zone is enforced, Redmond said.

"Water levels on the Suwannee and Santa Fe rivers can fluctuate rapidly, especially with the rain we`ve been getting lately. These fluctuations can create navigational hazards for unsuspecting boaters, such as floating debris, submerged rocks and stumps and new shoaling conditions. We want everyone to be safe," Redmond said.

Once activated, the idle-speed, no-wake zones would stay in effect until the water level recedes below 17 feet at Three Rivers and 47 feet at Ellaville.

The other three zones are:

- Zone 2, from the S.R. 51 Bridge at Luraville to Little River Spring. This 18-mile segment becomes an idle-speed, no-wake zone when the Suwannee River reaches 26 feet or more above mean sea level at the Branford gauge, where flood stage is 29 feet.

- Zone 3, from Little River Spring to the County Road 340 Bridge at Rock Bluff. This 23-mile segment becomes an idle-speed, no-wake zone when the Suwannee River reaches 24 feet or more above mean sea level at the Branford gauge.

- Zone 4, from the C.R. 340 Bridge at Rock Bluff to one mile below the Fowler Bluff Boat Ramp. This 51-mile segment will become an idle-speed, no wake-zone when the Suwannee River reaches 9 feet or more above mean sea level at the Wilcox gauge, where flood stage is 11 feet.

To obtain real-time river level information, visit http://www.mysuwanneeriver.com

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