| What's On This Page: - A Timeline of Ichetucknee Springs State Park |
Three Rivers'
ICHETUCKNEE VIEWS
About the Ichetucknee
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| Ichetucknee State Park and others are being considered for adding camping facilities In the last few days, the Gainesville Sun has been telling it's readers that "Area State Parks are eyed for overnight camping". Among those area parks is the Ichetucknee Springs State Park. At this point, no one has said exactly where the Ichetucknee State Park Campground would be located, but it should have an interesting effect on the areas economy. The newspaper goes on to explain that the overnight campgrounds will be offered to the private sector to design, build, operate the campground, and collect the overnight fees. At this point, according to Fl. State Park Director, Mr. Forgioni, the State will step in and receive a percentage of the revenue. So far a couple nature groups have expressed their concern. The Florida Native Plant Society feels there is a difference between "low-impact tent camping or 30-foot long RV's with noisy generators, electrical hookups and blaring TV's that will disturb wildlife." The Florida Audubon Association feels "everybody knows a private contractor is going to be looking at their bottom line" instead of what's best for the public. Forgioni said that about 2/3 of the Florida's 160 state parks have no camping. The 53 state parks that do allow camping offer 3501 family campsites, and they are usually booked solid. The State Parks that are being considered for cam[ping are: Big Shoals State Park, Cedar Key Scrub State Preserve, Crystal River Preserve State Park, DeLeon Springs State Park, Fanning Springs State Park, Ichetucknee Springs State Park, River Rise Preserve State park, San Felasco Hammock Preserve State Park, Troy Springs State Park, Washington Oak Gardens State Park and Wes Skiles Peacock Springs State park, Wakulla Springs State Park and Honeymoon Island State Park. Hearings are being held to discuss the feasibility of this plan which is an overall initiative of Gov. Rick Scott's administration. |
| A Timeline of Ichetucknee Springs State Park By: Samuel A. Cole Park Services Specialist Ichetucknee Springs State Park 12,000 Years Ago and Earlier: Prehistoric Megafauna Toward the end of the last Ice Age, Florida’s environment was radically different from what you see today. The climate was drier and colder, Florida’s land mass extended well out into the Gulf of Mexico, and the landscape was dominated by wide, open savannahs. The animals were very different, too, and the fauna featured now-extinct giants such as the mammoth, mastodon, and saber-toothed cat. The migration of the first human inhabitants to Florida, around 10,000 to 12,000 years ago, may have contributed to the extinction of some of this megafauna due to overhunting. The fossils of these and various other prehistoric animals have been found in many locations throughout the Park. Of particular interest was the discovery of the skull of an American lion (Felis atrox), a now-extinct relative of the saber-toothed cat. This 1968 find represents just one of two such animals ever found east of the Mississippi River. 12,000 Years Ago to the Early 1700’s: Early Inhabitants If the Ichetucknee Springs have a magnetic attraction for people today, they were even more so for Florida’s earliest inhabitants! Aboriginal occupation of the Park spans the entire length of Florida’ s Indian period! 10,000 B.C. – 6500 B.C.: Paleo- Indian Culture Migrations of Asian peoples journeyed across the Bering Land Bridge from Siberia during the last Ice Age. They then moved across Alaska, Canada, and eventually into southeastern North America. This marks the beginnings of Florida’s Native American culture, called the Paleo-Indian period, Groups in Florida were mostly hunters and gatherers, and they were frequently on the move. Paleo-Indians used unrefined stone tools, and they had no ceramic, or pottery, technology. Although no Paleo-Indian settlement sites have been located in the Park, artifact finds indicate that they visited the area, probably for hunting and fishing excursions through the ancient Ichetucknee savannah. 6500 B.C. – 1000 B.C.: Archaic Culture As the sea level started to rise to the present-day coastline, the Paleo- Indian culture gave way to the Archaic period. During this time, people established more or less permanent settlements complete with rudimentary agriculture and more sophisticated hunting implements and tools, including crude pottery. Within the Park, Archaic Indians either camped or established semi- permanent villages mostly along the banks of the river or above the larger springs Next Chapter in the history of Ichetucknee Springs coming soon ... |
| Dear friends and caring North Florida residents: Please visit the new SOS facebook page and if you "like" it, let us know!: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Save-Our-Suwannee-Inc/1594 72370833621?sk=info We've started posting relevant articles about local & state water issues on the wall. There is still a lot to be added. We are always open to input, and try to stay on top of what the board votes on as the priorities within the SOS mission. Also note that you are invited to an upcoming SOS event "Save Our Suwannee Barbecue & Picnic on the Santa Fe River". Invitation flier above; Or facebook invitation at: https://www.facebook.com/events/100582923403806/ . If you think you will come "if the weather is good"... then please click "attending. (If it looks like serious rain, then the event will be cancelled or moved and we try our best to inform everyone via emial and facebook.) Cheers, Barbara SOS Event Committee |