Santa Fe forecast to reach flood levels Saturday

Santa Fe forecast to reach flood levels Saturday

The Santa Fe River at Three Rivers is forecast to reach 17.2 feet by Saturday, according to weather officials.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) announced today that if the forecast is correct and the river does reach that level, a 32-mile segment of the Santa Fe River will become an idle-speed, no-wake zone for boaters.

Zone 5, which runs from River Rise within O’Leno State Park west to the confluence of the Santa Fe and Suwannee rivers, becomes an idle-speed, no-wake zone when the Santa Fe River reaches 17 feet as indicated on the Three Rivers gauge, where flood stage is 19 feet.

"The Santa Fe could reach that level soon," said Capt. Roy Brown, area supervisor at the FWC’s Lake City office. "We’re encouraging boaters to stay off the Santa Fe River."

An idle-speed, no-wake zone means a vessel must proceed at a speed no greater than required to maintain steering and headway. At no time is any vessel required to proceed so slowly the operator cannot control it or anything it may be towing.

If the idle-speed, no-wake zone takes effect, FWC officers will be patrolling this area of the river to ensure the zone is enforced, Brown said.

"Water levels on the Suwannee River can fluctuate rapidly, creating navigational hazards, such as submerged docks, floating debris, rocks, stumps and shoaling conditions for unsuspecting boaters. We want everyone to be safe," Brown said.

The idle-speed, no-wake zone would stay in effect until the water level recedes below 17 feet.

There are five zones on the Suwannee and Santa Fe rivers, with a water-level gauge in each section. When the water level rises to a predetermined level – ranging from 9 to 47 feet, depending on the zone – idle-speed, no-wake restrictions will be enforced for that zone.

"In the five zones, idle-speed, no-wake restrictions are driven by Suwannee River Water Management District gauges situated within these segments," Brown said. "When the specific gauge reaches the identified water level, idle-speed, no-wake restrictions will be imposed. When water recedes below the specified level within a specific segment, the restrictions will be lifted."

Zone 1 is from the U.S. 90 Bridge at Ellaville south to the State Road 51 Bridge at Luraville. This 39-mile segment will be an idle-speed, no-wake zone when the Suwannee River is at 47 feet or more above mean sea level, as indicated on the Ellaville gauge, where flood stage is 54 feet.

Zone 2 is from the State Road 51 Bridge at Luraville to Little River Spring. This 18-mile segment will be an idle-speed, no-wake zone when the Suwannee River is at 26 feet or more above mean sea level as indicated on the Branford gauge, where flood stage is 29 feet.

Zone 3 covers Little River Spring to the County Road 340 Bridge at Rock Bluff. This 23-mile segment will be an idle-speed, no-wake zone when the Suwannee River is at 24 feet or more above mean sea level as indicated on the Branford gauge.

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

Zone 5 is from River Rise within O’Leno State Park west to the confluence of the Santa Fe and Suwannee rivers. This 32-mile segment will be an idle-speed, no-wake zone when the Santa Fe River is at 17 above feet mean sea level or higher, as indicated on the Three Rivers gauge, where flood stage is 19 feet.

"In addition, the National Weather Service has predicted that the Suwannee River at White Springs will rise above the flood stage of 77 feet on Friday," Brown said. "Although this isn’t a major recreational area and isn’t contained within our idle-speed, no-wake zone system, we are still urging boaters and others recreating in that area to be alert and exercise extreme caution."

To obtain real-time river levels, visit www.mysuwanneeriver.com