Apalachicola Bay

Apalachicola Bay is an estuary and lagoon located on the northwest coast of the U.S. state of Florida. The Apalachicola Bay system also includes St. George Sound, St. Vincent Sound and East Bay, covering an area of about 208 square miles (540 km2). Four islands, St. Vincent Island to the west, Cape St. George Island and St. George Island to the south, and Dog Island to the east, separate the system from the Gulf of Mexico. Water exchange occurs through Indian Pass, West Pass, East Pass and the Duer Channel. The lagoon has been designated as a National Estuarine Research Reserve and the Apalachicola River is the largest source of freshwater to the estuary. Combined with the Chattahoochee River, Flint River, and Ochlockonee River they drain a watershed of over 20,000 square miles (50,000 km2) at a rate of 19,599 cubic feet (550 m3) per second according to the United States Geological Survey in 2002. Biodiversity Apalachicola Bay is part of The National Estuarine Research Reserve System. The region features 1,162 species of plants, and includes the largest natural stand of tupelo trees in the world. The area is also home to 308 species of birds, 186 species of fish, 57 species of mammals, and boasts the highest species density of amphibians and reptiles in all of North America, north of Mexico stated by the Apalachicola Reserve, 2002. Endangered Species Threatened and endangered species reside in the Apalachicola. Previous and current threatened and endangered species include the Gulf Sturgeon, the Fat threeridge mussel, the Purple bankclimber mussel, and the Chipola slabshell mussel. According to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, changes in flow rate affect the physiological processes of mussels in the Apalachicola Bay. Temperature increases with flow rate while oxygen concentrations decreases. Low flow and dissolved oxygen displayed a direct relationship with mussel mortality in Flint River. Drought in the Apalachicola Bay has led to growing concerns for its threatened and endangered mussel species.