St. Marys River Corridor Management Plan
St. Johns River Water Management District
St. Marys River Management Committee

Pandion prepared a river management plan for the St. Marys River Corridor based on a comprehensive compilation of natural, cultural, and economic resources of the river. The St. Marys River is a remote blackwater stream, which originates in Georgia's Okefenokee Swamp and forms the state border with Florida for much of its length. The river corridor includes two Georgia counties and two Florida counties.

Pandion collected and synthesized existing information and created a series of GIS maps depicting the key resources in the basin and corridor. Along with other resources an analysis of recreational and public uses of the river corridor was made including a survey of selected sites along the corridor.

Significant historical and cultural sites occur in the corridor, major recreational uses include canoeing, boating, and fishing. Major visitor use impacts included dumping of trash, erosion of unimproved access sites, incompatible recreational use (i.e., canoeing and motor boating), and inconsistent enforcement between the two states.

Based on the survey data and a series of goals identified through visioning meetings, Pandion prepared a management plan, which included management recommendations, proposed regulatory and nonstructural measures intended to protect long-term natural and cultural resources of the river corridor, strategies, and a recommended implementation process.

Development of the management plan included stakeholder involvement activities, public presentations, and intergovernmental coordination to balance water quality issues, recreational issues, and habitat conservation.

Key Personnel
Fay Baird, MS
Christian Newman, MS, MBA
Susan Marynowski, MS

Period of Performance
April 2000 to January 2002

Location
Georgia and Florida border