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Article #297: Troublesome Times on the Apalachicola River!

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To those of us who've spent early oystering for generations, now find that
evenings mesmerized by astoundingly the once large hauls of oysters are
beautiful purple and gold sunsets over getting smaller each year. While it's
Apalachicola Bay in Northwest Florida, hard work for the oystermen, or tongers,
the drought in Georgia and Alabama is as they're called in Apalachicola, it's a
becoming a personal matter. Even though very picturesque scene to see the oyster
I live 400 miles from this blissful bay skiffs on a mirror flat bay, bringing up
between Apalachicola and St. George oysters as they've done for years.
Island, I dream that some day I'll be a The reason for the alarm is the drought
resident of the area and fish to my farther north in Georgia. Television
heart's content! I hope the bay will news has told us that Atlanta's main
continue to be the wonderful place it source of water, Lake Lanier, is drying
now. up. Some say that they have less than 90
While attending the annual Oyster Spat days before the lake is emptied of
Festival on St. George Island in the useable water. The situation is so
early part of October, I learned what a desperate the Governor held a prayer
spat was and the trouble Apalachicola meeting for rain. Prayer! What a
oysters were facing due to water concept!
shortages in Georgia. I also learned The U.S. Army Corp of Engineers, who
that in addition to killing my grass at control the amount of water sent down the
home in Alabama, the drought was river from Georgia, has recommended to
responsible for the Apalachicola River Washington to reduce the amount of water
not pouring enough fresh water into allowed to flow downstream to
Apalachicola Bay! Apalachicola, leaving more water for
After a little investigation I learned those folks in Atlanta. That's a scary
that a spat is actually a baby oyster; a proposition for oysters!
fact I never knew. I'd never really The great debate of course is whether the
given the subject of how oysters people of Atlanta need fresh water more
reproduce a lot of thought! A female than the oysters of Apalachicola Bay.
oyster or a male oyster, depending on the Without enough fresh water in the bay,
salinity and temperature of the water can grass beds also dry up, thereby
produce over 100,000 eggs. eliminating safe breeding grounds for all
The eggs that don't get eaten by small manner of fish, including grouper,
fish or other predators can drift up to snapper, redfish and many other
two weeks in a great white cloud until hatchlings. All this means less fish for
settling to the bottom of the bay and the region in years to come. Let's not
cementing themselves to any solid surface forget the mussel and sturgeon of the
as a tiny oyster, called spats. bay, which are on the endangered species
The Apalachicola River, which is fed by lists.
the Chattahoochee River in Georgia, The drought is severe! It not only
provides fresh water to the Bay, breaking affects the residents of Georgia and
down the salinity of the salt water. The Alabama, by allowing the reduction in
result is a paradise for oysters, water flow of the Apalachicola River, but
scallops and other marine life. Now that it could wipe out the oyster industry and
river is providing less fresh water each destroy a beautiful and pristine body of
year, with more and more oysters being water.
found dead in their shell. The ecology of the bay area is changing
Apalachicola Bay is a fertile and at an alarming rate. I like people, but
friendly body of water and a workplace I love oysters too! Maybe Georgia
for hundreds of residents of the area. An Governor Sonny Perdue is on to something!
estimated 10 percent of the nation's There might be something to this prayer
oysters are supplied by the Apalachicola thing!
area. Men and women, who have been






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