?s on Little River

[RN]

What are the chances of Little River getting river intrusion these days?

What time are they locking the gate?

[WEPIV]

I've been diving Little River a lot and while conditions can certainly change depending on the amount of rainfall it does not seem like the river is going to come up into the basin area any time soon. As for the gate, 6 pm is "closing time" for this time of year but I have not been there past that so I don't know how quick they are to lock it.

[RN]

Thanks! I don't think I'll be there after 6. Just wanted to make sure it wasn't as early as Peacock.

[apitkin]

Little River was free of river water, and other divers for that matter, yesterday morning (Saturday). Flow is still down and visibility fantastic. It's a great time to dive it.

[Line Squirrel]

LR probably will not reverse until the Okefenokee Swamp gets a significant amount of rain. That water will run down the Suwanee River and over power the cave/aquifer.

In contrast, the low flows in the caves we are experiencing means it won't take a whole lot of river rise to reverse all but the most powerful Magnitude 1 springs. So it's sorta a balancing act isn't it?

Localized rain fall generally has minimal effect on the river levels...inches [if that] not feet.

I've been told by the locals that with normal water levels, when the swamp gets an inch it equals, on average, one foot on the Suwanee.

If we don't get the rain we need during or normal rainy season this year, wait untill all the trees take off in the spring, there like giant straws with humidifiers on top. They will suck the already very low rivers down to historic low levels. Currently the historic record low at the Branford station is 6.74ft in July 2002.

EDIT: Looking at SRWM website river levels at the Branford station have come up from 8.11ft on 1/21 to 9.34ft on 1/27 Over a foot in 7 days. They got some rain somewhere!!

[metaldector]

I dove it on Jan. 30th. Still very clear all the way back through the Florida Room. Very little flow, easy diving. While the river is tannic it hasn't pushed into the flow from LR yet.

[tomhauburn]

Please keep in mind that once they lock the gate the person that might unlock it might be on the other end of the county. On a cold October day along with my fellow student I got locked in and we had a pretty long wait. I have not forgotten it.

LR was great a few weeks ago, just plan well so you do not get locked in unless you really like the place!

Tom

[RN]

LOL...he was probably right around the corner having dinner laughing about the folks he just locked in at LR!

[Line Squirrel]

Dove LR early this morning, in the water at 8:05am Vis was cracklin' clear, flow is up slightly. Great way to spend a Friday morning.

[chimie007]

Dove LR early this morning, in the water at 8:05am Vis was cracklin' clear, flow is up slightly. Great way to spend a Friday morning.

Mike, haven't you been told in another thread to stop bragging about your weekday dives....