Eleven State Parks temporarily closed due to flooding

Walton Outdoors · 04-07-2009, 11:38 AM

Trail between Campbell and Morris Lake temporarily closed due to flooding. Lori Ceier/WaltonOutdoors.com

U.S. Highway 98 entrance of Topsail Hill Preserve State Park beach access temporarily closed

TALLAHASSEE — Eleven of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s State Parks located in north Florida are experiencing partial closures today after severe weather recently caused flooding.

Due to the recent rains, the trail between Campbell and Morris lakes at Topsail Hill State Preserve is inaccessible, while the remainder of the park is open. Standing water between the lakes blocks the trail, making it impassable without disturbing the sand dunes.

“The water is anywhere from ankle to chest deep in some areas, and due to the sensitive nature of the dunes, we didn’t want people walking through them to access the beach,” park manager Tony Tindell said.
Visitors can access the park via the Scenic Hwy. 30A entrance. The tram will shuttle beachgoers on the hour from 9 a.m. – 7 p.m. from the day-use area.
Topsail Hill Preserve State Park
7525 W. Scenic Highway 30A
Santa Rosa Beach, Florida 32459
Tel: 850-267-0299
These are temporary closures and services will resume once conditions allow:
Holton River Camp
C/o Suwannee River State Park
3631 201st Path
Live Oak, Florida 32060
*Closed until further notice.
Dowling River Camp
C/o Suwannee River State Park
3631 201st Path
Live Oak, Florida 32060
*Closed until further notice.
Madison Blue Springs State Park
8300 N.E. State Road 6
Lee, Florida 32059
*Closed until further notice.
Peacock Springs State Park
12087 SW US Highway 27
Ft. White, Florida 32038
*Closed to swimming and diving. The park remains open for day use visitors.
Lafayette Blue Springs State Park
799 N.W. Blue Spring Road
Mayo, Florida 32066
*Campground and swimming closed for visitors until further notice. The park remains open for day use visitors.
Suwannee River State Park
3631 201st Path
Live Oak, Florida 32060
*Campground and cabins are closed to visitors until further notice. The park remains open for day use visitors.
Troy Springs State Park
674 N.E. Troy Springs Road
Branford, Florida 32008
*Closed to swimming and diving until further notice. The park remains open for day use visitors.
Fanning Springs State Park
18020 N.W. Highway 19
Fanning Springs, Florida 32693
*Closed to swimming until further notice. The park remains open for day use visitors.
Florida Caverns State Park
3345 Caverns Road
Marianna, Florida 32246
*Campground, cave tours and the Blue Hole use area are closed until further notice. The visitor center and hickory picnic areas are open for day use visitors.
Blackwater River State Park
7720 Deaton Bridge Road
Holt, Florida 32564
*Campground is closed to visitors—anticipated to re-open midweek. The park remains open for day use visitors.
Visitors can contact state parks directly for the most up to date information on park closures, or visit, www.FloridaStateParks.org.

kurt · 04-11-2009, 07:05 AM

14 state parks now closed due to flooding - News - The News Herald

Quote:

TALLAHASSEE - Fourteen of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection's state parks are experiencing closures today after severe weather recently caused flooding. These are temporary closures and services will resume once conditions allow. Continued state park closures include:
Adams Tract River Camp at Troy Springs State Park in Branford - Closed until further notice.
Holton Creek River Camp at Suwannee River State Park in Live Oak - Closed until further notice.
Dowling Park River Camp at Suwannee River State Park in Live Oak - Closed until further notice.
Fanning Springs State Park in Fanning Springs - Closed to swimming until further notice. The cabins and park remain open for day use visitors.
Ichetucknee Springs State Park in Ft. White - Park remains open but visitors can expect extended tubing float times up to three hours from midpoint to last take-out point.
Madison Blue Springs State Park in Lee - Closed until further notice.
Lafayette Blue Springs State Park in Mayo - Closed until further notice.
Manatee Springs State Park in Chiefland - River and spring access closed to swimmers, divers and vessels. The park remains open for camping and day use visitors.
Peacock Springs State Park in Ft. White - Closed to swimming and diving. Some portions of the park are closed to visitors until further notice.
Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park in White Springs - Hiking trails and some portions of the park are closed to visitors until further notice.
Suwannee River State Park in Live Oak - Closed until further notice. Adjacent U.S. 90 bridge is also closed to traffic.
Troy Springs State Park in Branford - Closed to swimming and diving until further notice. The park remains open for day use visitors.
Topsail Hill Preserve State Park in Santa Rosa Beach - The isolated day use area accessed by Topsail Road, off of Highway 98 is closed until further notice. The rest of the park remains open for day use and overnight visitors.
Florida Caverns State Park in Marianna - Campground, cave tours, the Blue Hole use area, and the Hickory picnic area are closed until further notice. The visitor center is open for day use visitors.
Visitors can contact state parks directly for the most up to date information on park closures, or visit www.FloridaStateParks.org .

jensieblue · 04-11-2009, 09:45 AM

The closed parks are some of the most beautiful areas. I hope this loss will not prove to be permanent and that the state of Florida will commit to restoring parks to useable condition prior to reopening. I often feel that in hard times we loose the best of ourselves..