Ocklawaha & Silver River News & River Reports

The hot days of summer are almost upon us and there is no better place to cool down than on a boat ride down a river.  Memorial Day weekend signals the start to enjoying all the many lakes and rivers around the Ocala National Forest.  BE SAFE OUT THERE!  Keep the small ones in life jackets and give Mother Nature her respect.

The manatee sightings around the area this year have given us hope that we will be able to continue to enjoy these gentle giants as we boat the Silver and Ocklawaha Rivers.  That they are still in the area toward the end of May indicates promise that they are content to be here. 

The Rhesus Monkeys have been at it again, showing up in different parts of Florida.  HAVE BANANA…WILL TRAVEL!  You can see the monkeys on almost every tour we take down the Rivers, however, they are wild and have their own appearance schedule.  Think twice about feeding them as it can result in aggressive action on their part.

Saturday afternoons on the Silver and Ocklawaha Rivers are getting busier each weekend.  The docking area at Ray Wayside Park/Ocala Boat Basin can develop a waiting line. If you need to check on water levels to see if your boat is suitable for the current level, just drop us a line or give us a call. 

Have a safe Memorial Day Weekend as we show our appreciation for all that have given their lifes to keep us safe and to ensure our freedoms.  May God Bless them and their families.

Until next time…see you on the Rivers!

Want to see some Gators? Well, Ocala/Marion County is Gator Country.  To the north we have the University of Florida Gators, and in our lakes and rivers you will find the Florida Alligator.  Orange and Blue or reptilian green, you are in Gator Country.

Boating or kayaking the Silver and Ocklawaha Rivers you will find these big boys (and girls), and we are heading towards their favorite time of year.  As our temperatures start reaching the 90’s they spend a lot of time basking in the Florida sunshine.  They also enjoy this time of year as they spend a bit of their day hanging out under the birds nests along the river, hoping perhaps that a fledgling Cormorant may take a tumble.

The Alligators along our Rivers are used to their many visitors.  As they find their spots in the sun, you can boat or kayak  within good camera range.  It is never a good idea to get too close, and it is always against the law to feed them.  Gators will defend their eggs or hatchlings,  and care should be taken when kayaking along the banks of the Rivers where they will nest in spots of overgrowth for protection.

With the warmer temperatures you can best enjoy the Silver and Ocklawaha Rivers with early morning or late afternoon departures.  From spring to fall the Rivers busy up on the weekends with boat traffic.  You will want to keep that in mind when planning your trip on these Rivers.

The draw down at the Rodman Reservoir is finally over.  The water level on the Ocklawaha River from the Moss Bluff Lock and Dam to Rodman Dam has been coming up over the past few weeks.  Although the higher water levels are a welcome sight on the Rivers, it comes at a price.  There are several new snags from fallen trees in several locations.  Use extreme caution when boating on the Ocklawaha.

Until next time…see you on the Rivers!

Ocala and Marion County have a special treasure in the Silver River State Park and the Ocala National Forest.  With both of these areas to the east of Ocala, there is a great expanse of forests and lands that have been preserved as much as possible in their natural states.  The enjoyment of these lands and waterways continues today as it has for many hundreds of years.

Throughout the history of the River and the Springs, the Silver Rivers’ constant water temperature of 72 degrees has drawn both man and wildlife.  Many birds come this way on a migratory path, and the conditions along the River induces them to stay.  The eco-system that surrounds these birds has changed many of them from “snow birds” to year-round residents.  They have flourished along the Silver River and are not shy of boat traffic.  You can easily get up close for viewing and photos.

It is quite a show this time of year.  Migratory birds enhance the resident bird population, and as spring approaches, we enjoy observing their mating rituals, the nesting of the birds, and the feeding and first flight of the baby birds as they leave the nest.  A constancy of sound fills the air as the hawks teach their young to hunt.  The swooping and wild call of the Pileated Woodpeckers is stunning, almost primeval.  Herons, Ducks, Ibis’s, Egrets, Limpkins, Cormorants, Moorhens, Storks, Kites, Ospreys and Turkeys are some of the many birds you can expect to see as you travel the River микрозайм онлайн.

Be careful while boating or kayaking the Silver and Ocklawaha Rivers due to the continued low level of the water.  We are keeping an eye out to see if any of the manatees spotted along the Silver and Ocklawaha Rivers last year return this winter.  The 2011 sightings were the first in many years along these waterways.

‘Til next time…see you on the Rivers!