Piney Reach on the Apalachicola River

Despite its numerous waterways, Florida is still susceptible to drought, and some parts of the State are currently undergoing drought conditions. This pair of photographs shows low-water conditions during a previous drought (left, taken November 16, 2001) and high-water conditions during the normal spring flood cycle (right, taken February 12, 2002) at Piney Reach on the Apalachicola River, Florida. Declining flows in the river caused by droughts and upstream water consumption have increased the severity and duration of disconnected backwater habitats during low-flow periods of the year, typically early summer through mid-fall.