The South Fork of the St. Lucie River is the heart of Halpatiokee Regional Park. It is its reason for being. It is one of the few blackwater streams remaining in South Florida. Others, like the Hillsboro River in northern Broward County, have been channelized or dried up by canals. Blackwater refers to the natural dark color of the water that results when leaves and other plant material fall into the water and give off tannins and other compounds as they decay. It's "clean" water. Still, the St. Lucie is subject to fouling from green algae blooms occasionally when fresh water releases from Lake Okeechobee coincide with high tides. Halpatiokee covers four miles of riverfront on the west bank and extends westward all the way to Interstate 95; Atlantic Ridge Preserve State Park and its 5,000 acres covers the east bank. It is tranquil; it is beautiful.
NEXT STOP: EXPLORING THE ST. LUCIE
RETURN TO THE MAIN PAGE
NEXT STOP: EXPLORING THE ST. LUCIE
RETURN TO THE MAIN PAGE