This kayak excursion into the Mothers Arms will explore a remote portion of Lake Monroe seldom seen by other paddlers and boaters with interpretive guide and author Bill Belleville and St. Johns Riverkeeper. The Lake Monroe Conservation Area is preserved for its ecological, archaeological and biological significance by the St. Johns River Water Management District and stretches for more than 3,098 acres. Floodplain marsh and wet prairie are interspersed with scrubby hardwood hammocks. This is clearly a transitional zone where the wooded swamps of the lower river become treeless savannahs and marshes. In this way, it resembles the upper river that extends well over another 100 miles to the south.
Our tour begins at the tip of the larger of the two peninsulas mapped as “Mother’s Arms” which extends about a mile into Lake Monroe from its eastern shore. This portion of Lake Monroe is rich with wildlife---from fish, wading birds, and cranes to raptors like ospreys and an occasional bald eagle. The role of wetlands in creating a natural habitat for the breeding of fish creates far more wildlife activity here than in other domesticated parts of the lower river.
Naturalists John and William Bartram navigated along the northern shore of Lake Monroe during their visit in the 1760’s, reporting the presence of springs as well as a massive Indian shell midden at Stone Island which we will have the chance to explore. Another shell mound nearby at “Old Enterprise” was later examined by archaeologists who determined it gradually accrued over a period of 6,000 years.
Itinerary:
Be prepared to depart at 10 a.m. at the kayak launch of Monroe Harbor Marina. Your guides will spend 15-20 minutes on paddling safety and basic instruction. Afterwards we will casually make our way to the area known as Mother's Arms. A relaxing picnic lunch will provide for further exploration and explanation of this incredible protected part of the St. Johns River. The trip concludes with a brief paddle through the arms and along the shoreline of downtown Sanford.
Trip Runs: October 13, 2014 at 10:00AM till 2:00PM
Trip Meets: Monroe Harbor Marina 531 N Palmetto Ave Sanford, Florida
Trip includes: Kayaks, paddles, life jackets, bottled water, a light lunch, and guides
Trip Cost: $60.00 per person
What To Bring:
Sun protection (hat, sunglasses, and sun screen)
Bugspray
Clothes that can get wet and possibly dirty
A waterproof camera and/or drybag
Reusable Water bottle
Bill Belleville - http://www.billbelleville.com/index.htm
Bill Belleville is an award-winning writer and documentary filmmaker specializing in environmental issues, and how a ‘sense of place’ helps shape local culture. He’s published more than 1,000 national magazine articles, co-produced and scripted three PBS documentaries, and served as a writer on Discovery Channel oceanographic expeditions in the Galapagos Islands, Cuba and the Dominican Republic. Bill's books include "River of Lakes: A Journey on Florida's St. Johns River" (2000) "Losing It All To Sprawl: How Progress Ate My Cracker Landscape" (2006), and most recently "The Peace of Blue: Water Journeys" (2014). His film company Equinox Documentaries is also working on new and interesting projects. http://equinoxdocumentaries.org/
St. Johns Riverkeeper http://www.stjohnsriverkeeper.org/
The St. Johns Riverkeeper mission is to work on behalf of the community for clean and healthy waters in the St. Johns River, its tributaries and its wetlands, through citizen-based advocacy. We are a privately-funded, independent and trusted voice for the St. Johns River and the public to whom it belongs.
