Apalachicola Bay
Apalachicola Bay is an estuary and lagoon located on the northwest coast of the U.S. state of Florida. The Apalachicola Bay system also includes St. George Sound, St. Vincent Sound and East Bay, covering an area of about. Four islands, St. Vincent Island to the west, Cape St. George Island and St. George Island to the south, and Dog Island to the east, separate the system from the Gulf of Mexico. Water exchange occurs through Indian Pass, West Pass, East Pass and the Duer Channel. The lagoon has been designated as a National Estuarine Research Reserve and the Apalachicola River is the largest source of freshwater to the estuary. Combined with the Chattahoochee River, Flint River, and Ochlockonee River they drain a watershed of over at a rate of per second according to the United States Geological Survey in 2002.
The region features 1,162 species of plants, and includes the largest natural stand of tupelo trees in the world. The area is also home to 308 species of birds, 186 species of fish, 57 species of mammals, and boasts the highest species density of amphibians and reptiles in all of North America, north of Mexico stated by the Apalachicola Reserve, 2002.Wildlife
The Apalachicola Bay formerly produced 90 percent of Florida’s oysters but the oysters, which thrive in brackish water, appear to be diminishing rapidly as a result of climate change, which is diminishing the fresh water flowing into the bay. The increasingly salty water also increases the presence of oyster predators.
Apalachicola Bay is part of The National Estuarine Research Reserve System.
