River History
The Indians' name for the river was THLATHLOTHLAGUPHKA or PHLAPHLAGAPHGAW, which means "Rotten Fish" but the European settlers couldn't pronounce it. Jean Ribault (1520-65) upon finding it May 1, 1562, called it the SEINE. The present name originated from that of the early mission.
A remote blackwater stream, the St. Marys River is located in southeastern Georgia and northeastern Florida, forming the easternmost border between the two states.
The St. Marys begins deep within the Okefenokee Swamp and flows along a twisting 130-mile-long path into the Cumberland Sound and the Atlantic Ocean only 40-air miles from its headwaters.
The river, with it extensive marsh system, relative lack of urban development and few pollution discharge points, has generally excellent water quality. The lower portion of the St. Marys is tidally influenced, and Okefenokee reverse flows occur daily. Forests comprise a substantial portion of the entire basin area, much of which are managed tree plantations, and assist in maintaining good water quality.
From its cypress and bottomland hardwood swamps to its salt marshes and mud flats, the St. Marys River Basin provides habitat for a diversity and abundance of animals and plants. Many native plant species are found in the basin, including cypress, yellow pine, gum, magnolia, maple, holly, poplar, willow, river birch and a variety of oaks.
Wildlife in this area includes deer, otter, beaver, raccoon, alligator, gopher tortoise, turkey and ribbon snakes. The middle portion of the river supports bear, panther, bobcat and the red-cockaded woodpecker.
The river has a rich history. Evidence of the Native American use of the St. marys has been found along the river, although much about the area's prehistory is still unknown and yet to be studied. The river was also home to the early Spanish settlers and is said to have been the scene of pirate activity.
The river played an active role in the settlement of northeast Florida and southeast Georgia. British occupation in the late 1700s brought commerce to the region as crops of cotton, indigo and rice were introduced. In the early territorial days of Florida, schooners and sloops traveled the river and in the late 1800s, steamers carried passengers, cargo and mail along the river, which had become an active shipping route for numerous lumber mills along its banks. This activity lasted until the early 1900s, when the mills closed their doors due to lack of accessible timber, leaving the river to settle back and develop into its present tranquil state.
The St. Marys River offers many opportunities for recreation and sightseeing. Canoeing, boating, fishing, camping and water-skiing are just some of the ways to enjoy the river. The upper reaches of the St. Marys, the north and middle prongs,a re narrow, twisting steams with good current and beautiful cypress and tupelo trees.
After the two prongs meet, the river becomes wider and is characterized by bluffs, swamps and snow-white sandbars. It is an excellent touring river because development along the banks is scattered and infrequent, and campsites and plentiful. Popular sportfish include redbrest sunfish, bluegill, largemouth bass, and various catfish.
In addition to the Okefenokee Swamp at the river's headwaters, other public land among the St. Marys is the Ralph E. Simmons Memorial Forest. The state forest encompasses more than 3,600 acres along the south bank of the river, northeast of the community of Boulogne. This property, managed by the St. johns River Water Management District, ensures preservation of 6.7 miles of the St. Marys River shoreline. The state forest also serves as a habitat for numerous animals and as a refuge for a number of rare and globally endangered plants. The state forest offers a range of of recreational activities, including fishing, hiking, bicycling, horseback riding, canoeing, bird-watching and seasonal hunting.
A remote blackwater stream, the St. Marys River is located in southeastern Georgia and northeastern Florida, forming the easternmost border between the two states.
The St. Marys begins deep within the Okefenokee Swamp and flows along a twisting 130-mile-long path into the Cumberland Sound and the Atlantic Ocean only 40-air miles from its headwaters.
The river, with it extensive marsh system, relative lack of urban development and few pollution discharge points, has generally excellent water quality. The lower portion of the St. Marys is tidally influenced, and Okefenokee reverse flows occur daily. Forests comprise a substantial portion of the entire basin area, much of which are managed tree plantations, and assist in maintaining good water quality.
From its cypress and bottomland hardwood swamps to its salt marshes and mud flats, the St. Marys River Basin provides habitat for a diversity and abundance of animals and plants. Many native plant species are found in the basin, including cypress, yellow pine, gum, magnolia, maple, holly, poplar, willow, river birch and a variety of oaks.
Wildlife in this area includes deer, otter, beaver, raccoon, alligator, gopher tortoise, turkey and ribbon snakes. The middle portion of the river supports bear, panther, bobcat and the red-cockaded woodpecker.
The river has a rich history. Evidence of the Native American use of the St. marys has been found along the river, although much about the area's prehistory is still unknown and yet to be studied. The river was also home to the early Spanish settlers and is said to have been the scene of pirate activity.
The river played an active role in the settlement of northeast Florida and southeast Georgia. British occupation in the late 1700s brought commerce to the region as crops of cotton, indigo and rice were introduced. In the early territorial days of Florida, schooners and sloops traveled the river and in the late 1800s, steamers carried passengers, cargo and mail along the river, which had become an active shipping route for numerous lumber mills along its banks. This activity lasted until the early 1900s, when the mills closed their doors due to lack of accessible timber, leaving the river to settle back and develop into its present tranquil state.
The St. Marys River offers many opportunities for recreation and sightseeing. Canoeing, boating, fishing, camping and water-skiing are just some of the ways to enjoy the river. The upper reaches of the St. Marys, the north and middle prongs,a re narrow, twisting steams with good current and beautiful cypress and tupelo trees.
After the two prongs meet, the river becomes wider and is characterized by bluffs, swamps and snow-white sandbars. It is an excellent touring river because development along the banks is scattered and infrequent, and campsites and plentiful. Popular sportfish include redbrest sunfish, bluegill, largemouth bass, and various catfish.
In addition to the Okefenokee Swamp at the river's headwaters, other public land among the St. Marys is the Ralph E. Simmons Memorial Forest. The state forest encompasses more than 3,600 acres along the south bank of the river, northeast of the community of Boulogne. This property, managed by the St. johns River Water Management District, ensures preservation of 6.7 miles of the St. Marys River shoreline. The state forest also serves as a habitat for numerous animals and as a refuge for a number of rare and globally endangered plants. The state forest offers a range of of recreational activities, including fishing, hiking, bicycling, horseback riding, canoeing, bird-watching and seasonal hunting.
SOURCES:
- Georgia RIVER Network
- Kenneth K. Kraklow, Georgia Place Names: Their History and Origins (Macon, GA: Winship Press, 1994) 2000
Committee Purpose Statement
The St. Marys River Management Committee (SMRMC) is a quasi-governmental advisory council formed by an interlocal agreement of two Georgia (Camden and Charlton) and two Florida counties (Baker and Nassau) to facilitate the conservation and wise use of the St. Marys River. To that end, SMRMC engaged with the local communities as well as county and state governments to develop the St. Marys River Management Plan, which we now work to implement.
SMRMC is charged to act in good faith as an agent of due diligence on behalf of local governments and communities. As such, committee meetings serve as a public forum for the discussion of issues potentially impacting the river and its stakeholders, including such things as regulatory concerns, land use practices, and economic development projects. Current and continuing discussions include projects to address coliform bacteria contaminations, changes in Clean Water Act wetland definitions, and proposed industrial developments, including large-scale urban mixed-use projects, coal ash disposal in Chesser Island landfill and titanium dioxide sand mining operations.
SMRMC is charged to act in good faith as an agent of due diligence on behalf of local governments and communities. As such, committee meetings serve as a public forum for the discussion of issues potentially impacting the river and its stakeholders, including such things as regulatory concerns, land use practices, and economic development projects. Current and continuing discussions include projects to address coliform bacteria contaminations, changes in Clean Water Act wetland definitions, and proposed industrial developments, including large-scale urban mixed-use projects, coal ash disposal in Chesser Island landfill and titanium dioxide sand mining operations.
Committee History
The St. Marys River Management Committee is a group of citizen volunteers that seeks to provide guidance for the local management of the river and aid in the development of a management plan to guide the river's future. The committee was formed in 1991, when the river was being studied for inclusion in the Federal Wild and Scenic Rivers Program.
The committee consists of representatives of each of the four counties that border the river and predominantly comprise the basin: Camden and Charlton counties in Georgia, Baker and Nassau counties in Florida. This group meets monthly as part of its river management planning process and sponsored the St. Marys River Clean-Up until 2017 when the
St. Marys Riverkeeper was established and took over the River Clean-Up. In addition, the Georgia Department of Environmental Protection and the St. Johns Water Management District are engaged in ongoing water quality monitoring and assessment efforts in the St. Marys River.
The committee consists of representatives of each of the four counties that border the river and predominantly comprise the basin: Camden and Charlton counties in Georgia, Baker and Nassau counties in Florida. This group meets monthly as part of its river management planning process and sponsored the St. Marys River Clean-Up until 2017 when the
St. Marys Riverkeeper was established and took over the River Clean-Up. In addition, the Georgia Department of Environmental Protection and the St. Johns Water Management District are engaged in ongoing water quality monitoring and assessment efforts in the St. Marys River.
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St. Marys River Planning Effort
The Vision:
To protect the scenic beauty and ecological health of the St. Marys River watershed for the benefit of present and future generations. This can be accomplished through coordinated local action that involves the full spectrum of the basin's citizens and through increased public education efforts that foster greater awareness, appreciation and stewardship of the basin's resources.
The Guiding Principles:
To protect the scenic beauty and ecological health of the St. Marys River watershed for the benefit of present and future generations. This can be accomplished through coordinated local action that involves the full spectrum of the basin's citizens and through increased public education efforts that foster greater awareness, appreciation and stewardship of the basin's resources.
The Guiding Principles:
- Plan for the St. Marys River Management Committee and local government leaders to manage the river over the next ten to fifteen years.
- Strongly emphasize maintaining the serenity, solitude, and pristine beauty of the river.
- Plan for the watershed in both Georgia and Florida, with primary focus on the river corridor and secondary focus on the river basin.
- Involve and inform local government leaders, the St. Marys River Management Committee, and the public.
- Use cost-effective, creative, scientifically sound strategies to meet goals.
- Use incentives and voluntary cooperation to accomplish conservation goals.
- Emphasize public education and awareness.
- Develop consistent river protection standards across boundaries and emphasize inter-governmental coordination.
If you would like a copy of the St. Marys River Management Plan document please contact the committee at stmarysriverinfo@gmail.com