The East Fork of the Manatee River
The slow moving stream below may not seem impressive, but
the dark calm waters are actually part of a 36-mile long waterway
that terminates in a wide mouth emptying into Tampa Bay. This
is the East Fork of the mighty Manatee River, one of the area’s
richest sources of drinking water for wildlife and humans alike.
While this particular section of the river may seem quiet, the life
here is vibrant and busy. Enterprising spiders stretch their webs
out across the gaps in the trees, hoping to catch juicy insects.
In spring and summer, dragonies bu around, newly emerged
from their water based nymph stage. Examine the willow trees
lining the banks, and look for evidence of the presence of viceroy
caterpillars. Have the leaves been munched? These native
plants are a host plant for the viceroy’s larval form and also
commonly grow in wet areas along rivers. Their presence, here,
alongside red maple trees and buttonbush, indicate a riparian –
or river’s edge – habitat.
The shape of a river changes over time, and the size of the
Manatee itself has uctuated as the years have passed. This
section in particular was once deeper and wider, a favorite
spot for the locals to visit and considered to be one of the best
swimming holes around. This river has also changed from
human inuence. Development and agriculture have ditched and
transformed many of its feeder creeks, affecting the ow of water
within the watershed. Pesticide and fertilizer runoff from farms
and homes has resulted in a decrease in the quality of the water
too. Anticipating potential problems such as these, the County
acquired the land at Duette in order to protect a portion of the
river.
Coastal Plain Willow photo by Mark Proch
Scott Zona (inset)
American Alligator photo by Matt Roback
Red maple photo by Mark Proch
Nachuwm Hernandez (inset)