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Turket Creek - Jennings to Alapaha
Turket Creek, Florida, US |
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Jennings to Alapaha
| Usual Difficulty | III-IV (for normal flows) |
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| Length | 1 Miles |
| Avg. Gradient | 20 fpm |
River Description
A big waterfall (by Florida standards).Confessing no firsthand knowledge of this site, but looking at the Topozone map (which is linked to), it appears:
1) the overall gradient may be understated -- it looks like it may be more like 50FPM!
2) However, it appears fairly spread out, except possibly the final ten feet (+/-) of drop, as Turket drops into the Alapahoochee.
3) The description for the Alapahoochee includes mention of this, calling it a "12' waterfall into a beautiful grotto".
4) I wouldn't get too excited about this, as the drainage area is quite small (a few square miles). Therefore it will run only during/immediately after heavy rains (which admittedly can happen with regularity here).
My guess is we're talking 'stupid boater tricks' territory here (I.E., better be there early on, while its pouring -- one hour or so later and you've probably missed it.) This assessment would seem further supported by the comment below. That is, the earlier you can hit this (during/immediately after the rain), the taller it is likely to be; Smaller creeks like this will run 'early' in a rain event, whereas a larger river will take (at least slightly) longer to come up.
StreamTeam Status: Not Verified
Last Updated: 2005-12-27 10:41:36
Rapid Descriptions
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Jennings to Alapaha, Turket Creek Florida, US (mobile)
User Comments
in June 2005, but the Alapahoochee was high enough that day to flood all of its rapids. Turket
Creek is not wide enough to spin a boat 360 degrees. It is such an insignificant creek that it is
not obvious where County Road 150 crosses it south of Jennings, Florida. Keep an eye out for where
the road dips just outside Jennings. This culvert is effectively the beginning of Turket Creek,
since it's blocked by a railroad embankment on the upstream side. Clearly, the drop will be higher
when the Alapahoochee is lower than it was the day I was there. However, for Turket Creek to be
interesting, you'd have to have significant rainfall in Turket Creek's drainage basin, without
enough rain in adjoining drainages to raise the Alapahoochee or the Alapaha. That combination would
likely be very rare. I'd be surprised if Turket Creek would be interesting even one day a year.
When I returned in March 2011 to run the Alapahoochee, the waterfall was much higher, between 6 and
8 feet. However, I noted a sandbar directly below the drop, so paddlers should scout the waterfall
before running it.
interesting one day a year is pretty damn good for gradient hell.