Investigating After the Storm

I took a friend of mine up the Weekiva River last Sunday to investigate the condition of the little river. I wanted to see how the last three storms had affected it. Charlie, Francis and Ivan had dumped many inches of water all over our region the last 30 days. So much rain that all the rivers and streams have swollen over their banks. The pretty little Weekiva as well.

Motoring up the Waccasassa to get to the mouth of the Weekiva I didn't even see my familiar tree falls I use as directions. They had been washed away. For years there has been an ocean going trawler anchored on the bank. It too had been ripped from its anchorage and shoved downstream 200 yards, until it slammed into another bank and came to rest. It might stay there for years. This boat is 72` long and made of Ferro cement. Lots of power in that flood water.

We made our way up and into the Weekiva, (I smacked into an underwater log) and I noticed it wasn't a beautiful little river anymore. The water was so high; I had to guess where the river was. You couldn't tell where river and bank separated. I just kept the boat in the middle of where the river might be. Very slowly we made our way up and into the swampland.

As far as you could see into the forest on either side water covered the ground. We passed a cypress tree that had a recent water stain on its trunk 5 feet above the river level. The water was a gray-brown and didn't smell too good either. Of course I had brought along a fishing rod, but I thought I shouldn't catch and eat anything swimming around in that water. Besides, there was evidence of a fish-kill. Bloated fish carcasses were floating along the way. With so much organic debris washing into the river, it takes up so much of the oxygen in the water, the fish can't get enough to breathe. An old timer told me it would be at least 2 months before it would be back to it's beautiful self again. Mother Nature washed-down the entire countryside. A good hard rinse-off. It'll all come back.

See ya then.
Capt. Dan
e-mail me at: shanadan50@hotmail.com

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