APALACHICOLA — Thus far the Florida Legislature has been long on presentations but short on solutions for Franklin County’s devastated oyster harvest.
It may be because there is no solution, except increasing water flow down the Apalachicola River. That’s what Sen. Bill Montford, D-Tallahassee, says. He represents Franklin County and chairs the Agriculture Committee, which saw multiple presentations Tuesday on the oyster situation in the Apalachicola Bay.
“Without more water coming down, the bay will continue to die as will other parts of the Apalachicola River Valley,” he said. “Torreya trees are dying. There’s all kinds of negative impact up and down that river basin and nothing’s going to solve that problem except more water.”
Low water levels means high salinity in the bay and a decreased oyster harvest. Also the flow of freshwater down the river and into the bay pushes out predators that feed on oysters, Montford said.
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