What we’re about

Suwannee Audubon’s No. 1 Mission is to work toward building a deep and wide appreciation of the Suwannee River ecosystem. This system embraces many springs, rivers, creeks and swamps which form an aquatic orchestra. The region of interest is east of the Gulf of Mexico, southeast of St. Marks, north of Inglis and west of Gainesville, Florida. This area is similar to the boundaries that define the Big Bend or “Nature Coast.” This vast riverine system includes such streams as the Ichetucknee, the Santa Fe and the Ga.–Fla. Withlacoochee. Significantly, the Suwannee system boasts more clearwater springs than anywhere in the U.S.A. Scuba divers come here from afar. Scientists study the system. Sometimes the news is good. Too often, it is bad.

And here lies the heart of our mission: To cultivate an understanding and love of the natural Suwannee eco–network, a system that makes impossible our supporting any activities or programs which harm it in any substantial way. Here is a great and famous river truly endangered by relatively recent acts of man. Danger to the river will continue if the people of the area do not understand the reasons for protection. Among those reasons must be the aesthetic one: Rivers are God’s creations and they deserve to remain natural. Improving on God’s handiwork almost always has bad consequences for the inhabitants of the planet, including the humans causing the problems,typically fueled by greed. The Suwannee River System is a natural piece of art and we know who the Artist was. This must be accepted as an even better reason to save it than the scientists’arguments.. Still, the scientists do report that without attention now the river’s future is apt to be marked by significant degradation in both water quality and water life.

We make available this message for schools and youth groups via a program called “What’s it good for?” Participants learn that everything in Nature has a place and a purpose and it is fun and probably even important to discover their secrets.

Suwannee Audubon has a long history of supporting Florida Xeriscaping. (Xeric =dry.) Most native plants survive droughts and even moderate freezes. They require little or no “watering” and so help to conserve the Suwannee resource (water.) Native Florida plants should be favored in Suwannee Country.

People who appreciate Nature (rivers, forests, critters) do not maliciously attack Nature. Nature appreciation is an educational need.

Suwannee Audubon partners with other groups local, regional and national. To name a few: Sierra Club, Four Rivers Audubon Society, Florida Defenders of the Environment,Clean Water Network, Save Our Suwannee, and Friends of the Great Suwannee Reef.

The Suwannee River absolutely deserves, by virtue of its character and its history, to stay as natural as possible. Every bottling plant on its springs, every motor churning its surface, every house, enterprise and septic tank on its banks is a degrading influence. The task ahead is large