St John’s River Trip - November 3, 2022

This is my second trip into the Jane Green Swamp on the St Johns, courtesy of hurricane Ian. My trip into Penny Wah October 19 was amazing. Because of high water I was paddling where I had paddled and hiked 6 months earlier. In hindsight I should have made Jane Green a priority when the water level was at its zenith.

Today I head South into the iconic Jane Green, named after a lady of the night who was infamous with servicing the loggers and cowboys of the time. The history of this area is the history of Melbourne itself. George Hopkins bought 104 thousand acres along 192, before it existed. He was a logger and railroad man from Michigan before coming here in 1896. His intent was to log cypress from Jane Green but also Penny Wah and Wolf Creek swamps. He also owned the vast stands of Yellow Pine what is now Bull Creek Wildlife Management Area.

Hopkins ran a rail line from Deer Park to what is now South Melbourne. Called it Hopkins. Across Crane Creek was the fledgling town Melbourne. In fact, the power that ran the Mill was the first power source the small town of Melbourne had. From 1912 to 1932 Hopkins cut down the Cypress and Pine that took centuries to grow.

Because of high water I make it further into Jane Green than my last attempt. But even with the higher water table the creek does not flow as shown and the historic creek bed has probably been divereted or just starved of water. I find a cross cut section running perpendicular to Jane creek.
Might have been a tram road or rail spur line. The main rail line and a main log camp is a mile or so north of here thru thick swamp. According to NOAA Station MELFI the water level at Sawgrass Lake on my last attempt was 3.25 ft. Today its 4.88 ft. but still not enough water to get to my destination of Puzzle Lake and further into Clay Lake. Disappointed but I will be back.

Without a water level of 6 ft or better it would be futile to try another attempt. Regardless I am fortunate to paddle these hallowed places where time seems to have stopped and there is little chance to encounter anything but nature and your thoughts.

Appendage:
All the swamps and tributaries into the St Johns, have been severally diminished. Jane Green and Taylor Creek swamps have been dammed for flood control Cocoa Water and agriculture. Penny Wah, Wolf Creek swamps and Cox Creek have been starved of water. Historically all emptied into the river. The mouth of Wolf Creek into the river no longer exists. Further north at Bronson State Forest, Christmas, Buscumbe and Turkey Creeks have been bermed
for agriculture use as is the case for most. The high-water levels into these tributaries and swamps are almost all by back flow from the river during large water events.

Although the 3 major tributaries of the St Johns the Little Econ, Wekiva and the Ocklawaha Rivers still flow. All have been diminished. I want to thank Billy and Reed Kempfer for allowing me access into their property. Took a break at North Indian Fields before heading back last
2.5 miles thru Big Saw Grass. North wind to 20 to 3 ft swells. Fun time!
With Eric Mason