Rice Creek offers visitors a wealth of flora and fauna that are typical of a natural Northeast Florida environment. We are dedicated to preserving the natural wonders of Rice Creek and the St. Johns River for all citizens of the region, including the many Georgia-Pacific workers who live in the Palatka, Fla., area.
This field guide will provide a brief overview of the plants and animals that can be found at the creek.
Rice Creek is a tributary of the St. Johns River, and its headwaters are formed by the Rice Creek Swamp (located about six miles west of Palatka), Palmetto Branch, Oldtown Branch and Hickory Branch. Nearby is the Rice Creek Wildlife Management Area, located south of State Road 100. This area offers visitors excellent opportunities for hiking and observing nature.
Aquatic Life
Rice Creek has a thriving fish community comprised of small fish, gambusia (mosquitofish), minnows, catfish (white, yellow and bullheads), gar, bowfin, shad and sportsfish such as sunfish, crappie and largemouth bass. Georgia-Pacific has conducted research into the aquatic life of the creek and has found that fish reproduction is similar to that found in other locations throughout the St. Johns River Basin. More than 25 scientific abstracts and seven published articles in scientific journals show that there have been recent improvements in the reproductive health of fish populations in the basin. In addition, University of Florida researchers have found that the fish community structure downstream from the Georgia-Pacific mill was consistent with other locations in the river basin.
Vegetation
A rich and varied range of vegetation is encountered along the banks of Rice Creek. Common hardwood species include bald cypress, blackgum, red maple, sweetgum, magnolia, red bay, hickory and various species of oaks.
Wildlife
Visitors to Rice Creek are not alone. Wildlife species that may be encountered in the area include deer, turkey, squirrel, raccoon, bobcat, otter, hogs and even the occasional bear. As in so many areas of Florida, alligators also make themselves at home in the creek. You may often see them accompanied by yellow-bellied turtles, resting on logs along the creek banks.
Birds and Waterfowl
In Northeast Florida, when you see fish, you are also likely to encounter the waterfowl that feed on them. Rice Creek residents include the great blue heron and the American egret. Wood ducks, gallinule, swallow-tailed kites and hawks can also be found. And it's not at all uncommon to spot ospreys and bald eagles in the areas surrounding Rice Creek.
The St. Johns River Accord
Georgia-Pacific is committed to protecting the environment and working with the Palatka community to reduce its environmental footprint and protect the natural beauty of Rice Creek and the St. Johns River Basin for generations to come.
In line with this commitment is our support of the St. Johns River Accord, an effort recently undertaken by the State of Florida and the City of Jacksonville to restore the health of the river. This $700-million cleanup project promotes the sustainable use of the river. Georgia-Pacific has given the River Accord a head start by spending more than $200 million in improvements that benefit water quality, turning our Palatka paper mill into a state-of-the-art facility. We are proud that this effort has resulted in demonstrable environmental progress in the ecosystems of Rice Creek and the St. Johns River Basin.
