Elizabeth (UR) - Let's test the Tomoka River

"How does the water quality vary from the head to the mouth?"

The water moves a lot slower as you move towards the head of the river

This past weekend I went for a boat ride up the Tomoka River to see how far I could make it trying to reach the headwaters. I know that many portions are not passable by boat and probably not even by kayak the further you go but I was up for the adventure. I was able to get go south of Ormond Beach but not by much; probably bordering the city line between Daytona Beach and Ormond Beach.

Elephant ears

As we traveled by boat around the basin the Captain taste tested the water. "Yup, salty." He has fished this river since he was a young boy. He has been on it by boat since about the age of 12. He would travel up river tasting the water and once he didn't taste salt any longer he would cast his line to bass fish. That location is called the "change over" and it truly tastes different than out in the basin. This area is just west of the railroad bridge that parallels US 1. The water becomes fresher and you begin to see the aquatic vegetation change. From mangroves in the mouth to elephant ears, pickerel weed, spider iris'; even the trees change a bit. The cedar trees that were once abundant in and around the mouth of the Tomoka River are taking a hard hit. They are not salt tolerant trees so many if not most are dying or already dead. Move towards the head and cedar and cypress are alive and thriving. There is even a 40+ year old azalea bush on the bank of the river.

Man made island with lots of dead trees

Over the last few decades the areas around and on the Tomoka have changed. Some areas drastically and others showing only some signs of change. From housing developments to bridges to dragline / mosquito ditches there have been many ways this river has changed. My main focus though is to see just how far up the head the salt water reaches. The Tomoka River is a tidal flux river. The tide changes from high to low throughout the day and night. The tide runs about 5 hours difference from the Granada Bridge. 

supergreen lawns = run off

I plan to test the water of the Tomoka River in 5 different locations from the Tomoka Basin inland as far towards the headwaters as I can go. I will check the salinity, pH, turbidity, total suspended solids, oxygen and feces... yes poop! Many houses along the river are still using septic tanks and the waste water from those can and will eventually flow into the river. 

An alligator sunning with a fishing lure stuck in his mouth :(

Stay tuned as we see what is in the Tomoka River water samples.