Blackwater Creek and Lake Norris

Sunday, February 22, 2009, I visited the Lake Norris Conservation Area and paddled Blackwater Creek and Lake Norris. The Conservation Area is a joint effort of the St Johns River Water Management District(SJRWMD) and Lake County Water Authority. A kiosk at the site provides information.









This sign, on the opposite bank from the put in, is new since my last visit last March.


Also new are orange blazes on trees along the bank, marking the route. Not really necessary now, with the water low. I could have used them in the spring of 2005 when Blackwater Creek was a couple feet higher than it is now. I followed several dead end channels into the swamp that trip. Florida paddlers probably are aware that the Florida National Scenic Trail also uses orange blazes- rectangles on trees- to show the way. The Trail goes through the Conservation Area. Makes me think using orange for the paddling trail isn't such a good idea. I wonder if any hikers have thought they had to ford Blackwater.

It is a short paddle, about 20 minutes, up the Creek into Lake Norris. There is a reason why I led off this Tale with a picture of cypress trees, and why one is shown on the informational kiosk. The entire Lake is ringed with them. They make prime nesting sites for osprey.

Osprey are what Lake Norris is know for. This comes from the SJRWMD "Staff at the Boy Scout Camp located on the northern shore of the lake have reported counting more than 100 active nests in the cypress trees that ring the lake. "

The Lake has large great egret rookery. as shown by these photos. This comes from me.

The great egrets nests, I assume the bunches of twigs under several of the egrets are nests, are elegant in comparison to the massive osprey nests.

Vultures and anhingas also utilize the cypress.

Also wood storks. At least until they take flight.

Blackwater Creek is at the south tip of Lake Norris. I paddled along the western shore, through the cypress trees to the Boy Scout camp at the north end of the Lake. Maybe since I've only paddled Lake Norris on Sundays, I've never seen this vast collection of canoes, kayaks and sailboats in use.

There is a small spring on the Boy Scout property. According to the SJRWMD:

" Camp La No Che Spring is a 4th magnitude spring that discharges from a small cavern in the limestone on the east side of the pool. The semicircular pool is about 25 feet in diameter and is ringed with cypress knees at the base of a wooded, gently sloping hillside that rises northward. The pool is 1 to 2 feet in depth and detritus, green algae, and white sulfur-reducing bacteria cover the pool bottom. A prominent boil is visible in the pool above the vent and a hydrogen sulfide odor is present. The spring run flows about 200 toward the southeast to Lake Norris."

I followed the shore several hundred yards past the boat house,but was unable to find the run. Perhaps it peters out before reaching the Lake. I had been out about two hours. Lake Norris is a large body of water.

Paddling through the cypress turns the Lake into an intimate paddle.

I took a break at the end of a hiking trail just northwest of where Blackwater Creek enters Lake Norris. Other then this spot, there are few landing areas, as the west shore of the Lake, the Blackwater Swamp, is full of cypress trees with cypress knees. Not good for landing, unless you have your own house.

Entering Blackwater Creek, I saw the only alligator of the day. Sorry, no photo, it slid off the log too quickly.

Here are an ibis and raccoon from Blackwater Creek.

Blackwater Creek flows into the Wekiva River. Augmented by several small springs along the way, it is clear, not "black" by the time it reaches the Wekiva. But here, near its source at Lake Norris, Blackwater Creek is. Dark. So dark I did not see the log that snagged the yak. Precariously perched, I positioned to push off without tipping. As I did, a deer appeared from behind a cypress tree. Young buck, two stubby antlers. Behind it, another deer, no antlers, then a second young buck, followed by another. I'm looking right at them, making sure not to tip. Four deer in front of me and I can't get one stinkin photo to show my 10,000 dedicated readers.

Paddling past a man fishing with his son, I told them what I saw. His response, "I saw an eight point buck with five does yesterday" Lake Norris, just south of the Ocala National Forest is part of the wildlife corridor that stretches from the Forest to Wekiwa Spring. The anglers were one of three boats I saw in four hours.

I returned to where I began, and kept on. Had to see how "Not Passable" the Creek was. In addition to the sign across from the put in, there is another just downstream on a bridge crossing the Creek, with a final sign just past that.

None of the signs were present my last visit, eleven months ago. The Creek is full of downed trees, I dodged them for ten minutes.

Until this. Which I paddled around and through 90% of, having only a sapling a few inched above the Creek to push over. But, wanting to make this a short day, and having enough damage on the bottom of the yak, I turned around. More raccoons.

I soon landed.

The board was underwater the first time I launched here. I had a four hour paddle, topped of with a fifty minute walk. The trail is an old road.

Make sure you close the gate behind you. Part of the trail traverses a cattle pasture.

This wooden bridge,

crosses a lovely small stream.

On the way back, a large bird with a white head soared above. Bald eagle, always my first thought. I then remembered where I was. Osprey. The bird then opened its V like tail. Swallow tail kite, first of the season. Nice way to end the day.

No fees, few people, lots of wildlife. I'm thinking Blackwater Creek and Lake Norris are a better paddle than Juniper Creek.