The Santa Fe River is Unsafe 

The upper Santa Fe is saf 6:52 e for paddling. Between 441 High Springs Boat ramp to 47 bridge boat ramp. More then 8 springs to play in and not to many boats. I’m on the river on a paddle board with a group every weekend. Any part past the beginning of 3 rivers has way to many boats. For the most part they slow down but that can be uncomfortable on a paddle board. I love the Santa Fe

It’s so upsetting! The injury to the manatee! There is no safe place to swim. And the racing boats are just mortifying . Total disrespect for the river, the environment and anyone who has come for a peaceful time. We went and and hour later we left. It was awful. Thank you for making the video

Thank you for creating this awesome video I agree those boats are crazy!

In the 80. Not even a teen yet alone I would float for hrs and miles in an inner tube on that river and not see 1 person. This hurts my heart to see.

WOW. I didn't know they even allowed boats like that in the river.... I thought a small fishing boat or canoe at best. Maybe one of those paddle boats.

I didn't see any boats speeding or being dangerous in the video. The video didn't have a clock showing it being all day either. This is not to say that it doesn't happen because I don't know, but showing a few boats on one day (if it was one day) doesn't mean that it is a problem. You never showed four or five boats going one way all at the same time and then four or five more a minutue later.

Thx for the vid karen!!

I live in Three Rivers Estates and love fishing the Santa Fe but I can not fish from our boat ramp above or below where the Ichetucknee interes the Santa Fe in my canoe. I have been almost swamped several times by large boaters who have no regard for small craft.

That's OK, we been laying pokers in tye river for years now

in the 70's i used to camp at the head of this beautiful but very small spring along the sante fe. beautiful then and quiet. a friend scuba diving that river found many native artifacts. all lost to the joy of motorized boredom.

good video. never seen it like that. thats nuts.

Thought about moving there... Not after seeing this.. No Thanks.. Purchased a place on the Peace River in Charlotte County. Just mostly kayaks out there.

I've been sitting here watching everything from kayak camping to Jon boats fishing to jet skis exploring and not EVEN ONE of those videos gave even the slightest interpretation that this river is any where near that busy...then again this video is memorial day weekend.

So, what's the problem ???

I agree there needs to be some sort of limit but be carful what you wish for , i also live on a river where they made it idle speed and now your boat is almost useless because it takes way to long to get anywhere , and I also dont agree with anyone who comes along and builds their fancy house on the river and goes out a places no wake signs just because they dont like the boats going by , in alot of areas the boaters were there first. its nice to be able to get to Elly Rays before the sun goes down. Just sayin

Many parts of the river are and have been no wake zones since i was a child and im 50. This is completely out of context.

Hey speedboat and jet ski people, Please think from a swimmer’s perspective for a bit. Why I absolutely can’t stand motor boats for it’s for obvious reasons! I wear a big bright colored buoy with a Diver’s Flag when ever I go for a swim and still don’t see me! It’s extremely scary having a speeding boat or jet ski come at you so fast and not see you until the very last second! Let me tell you it’s stinking scary! When you have your life flash before your eyes! I don’t like being on a speed boat or even near one! I know I see the damage boats do to the shoreline and under the water! They also pollute water too! The boat propeller can hurt/injure the manatees! It’s spinning fast and sharp! The blades on a propeller are sharp like knives and that to me sounds like a huge ouchie! I have read many stories about manatees getting injured because of boats and their propellers! Did you ever think of that? By the way It’s a whole other world under water. There are many beautiful plants under the water as well! It’s beautiful having fish swim by you and birds flying over your head. The turtles on logs are cute! By the way a River is NOT a gosh dang Racetrack! It’s a River, It’s an ecosystem and Rivers Are very fascinating with their beautiful currents! The nature is lovely and I think the way they were driving their boats up and down that river it made me cringe! Poor River! Did you ever Think about how loud the boats are and if you lived in your house, would you want to listen to that all day? I know I sure as heck would not! Also swimming and listening to the sound of boat motors underwater is deafening and holy loud! Just think about the fish and other animals have you ever thought of that? Think about the kayakers, canoes and other not motorized watercraft. When you create your big wakes it swamps them and can be very unsafe! So Think about other people who wanna enjoy the river! Please don’t be so reckless! Thank you!

I’m in love with that river and the High Springs area. Would love to move there one day, but this really makes me mad! Had no idea it was this bad! Is it still like this or have they cracked down?

I dint look like that 35yrs ago there were high banks and trees to the edge of the water

I used to Scuba dive there. Drunk boaters tryed to kill me. Dive flags dont work.

I learned to swim on the river and we used to swim out to the middle so we could do so against the current. It is one of my fondest memories as a child. We also had a rope swing that would allow you to fly out nearly to the middle. No child can safely do these things now. I agree that the river is now unsafe and that there is a disregard for other recreational uses.

I've lived on the River all of my life been running boats forever the faster a bigger boat goes the less of a wake it makes when you make him go at idle speed they make more of awake or they make rollers is what we call them where I'm from in small boats like hydro streams and you know stv's and Allison's and stuff like that they don't make any kind of a wake ..

Hey man. I’ve lived on the Suwannee River my entire life and while it is a larger river, this is a problem there too. These people have no respect for the river or the people that live here. It’s painful to watch that damage, and it should be regulated more often. Nobody needs to go that fast on that river.

Stretch rope or cable or wire taught across river so it stays close to surface of water to entangle propeller. Float sealed 2x4s with long nails drivin in both sides. Place as many obstacles in the water as u want. It outa get the dip shits to slow down.

This is sad. I had fond memories of a quiet river canoeing during late80's early 90's was thinking of going back to reminisce but this overwhelmed me😭

Not to mention they are showing the video when the river is at really low tide as well not to mention it is memorial Day weekend? I don't know about you but I don't want to cook in the sunlight. Cuz I have to idle for an hour and a half down the river to get where I'm going more people keep having kids and babies and more boat traffic is going to be figure it out?

I’m scared because of La llrona

I agree, I have had boats pass me while I was canoeing on this river. It can be a potentially dangerous situation.

Big center consoles, and power boats over 16' belong in lakes or the gulf. No respect for conservation or sportsmen. I had a 19' center console and live 10 minutes from the Santa Fe, and never once ran it on that river. Only took it to the Suwannee twice. I spent it's time on the gulf of Mexico. I now have a 16 aluminum bass boat and it's in the gulf more than the river. When in the river I operate at idle speed or use the trolling motor.

Why isn’t this a no wake zone?

Put up a rock shoal,across the river about 2’ under the water. Guaranteed bottom end buster! That should help with the big boat traffic!!

float a few of those downed trees out in the river every day!!!!!!!!

I've been on the Santa Fe many times and never thought if crowded or dangerous. Boat drivers are just like automobile drivers, some are better than others.

Totally agree! After moving to FL 5 years ago, I was shocked to see this kind of stuff. Back home, rivers this narrow (I’m from Kentucky, we call them creeks) are almost always no wake. There are PLENTY of areas to go fast in FL. This and others like it shouldn’t be one of them. We jet ski AND kayak so I can def sympathize!

Wow that’s terrible

I'm sorry but I have to comment here. To deem the entire Santa Fe River unsafe based on the the boat traffic very near the Itchetucknee, the most popular destination on the river, on one of the busiest weekends of the year is inaccurate at best. I have owned my home on the river for 20 plus years and live here full time. Most of the time we enjoy the river with minimal boat traffic. We don't need more government regulations limiting the use of our waterways. How about we ask FWC to enforce the laws we have? Keep in mind that deeming the entire river a no wake zone could and most likely will affect the values of properties along the river.

Throw some logs out there

I'm retired, I only go out to play during the week. You own the waterways then. Weekend's are for amateurs.

My first trip on the Santa Fe back in the 80's it was clear that there was significant bank erosion on the Santa Fe from top to bottom. Exposed roots, fallen trees and at the time cows standing in the river drinking with huge cuts in the bank to accommodate their path. Since then I have gone to dozens of meetings where bank erosion, wake speed and the safety of power boats mixing with canoes/kayaks was discussed. Rather than regulate (except in case of flood stage where a boat wake will wash into someone's living room during high water), the FWC, the state of Florida nor the counties will do anything at all to regulate the speed or presence of power boats on the Santa Fe or Suwannee. Not sure how they are keeping them out of the Ichetucknee but I have seen a few small motorboats going upstream against a stream of tubers. At some point during the development of the Suwannee Wilderness Trail, the designated the Lower Suwannee as the "power boat section" but other than that bank erosion or danger to swimmers and non-motorized craft has not been discussed by any of our decision makers.

As a former resident and regular visitor there, I can say the traffic has increased. Florida’s resources belong to the citizens not just property owners. There is a balance. That being said , the manatees and shoreline would benefit as the itchetucknee has with the season limits. No wake would be better than nonpowered. Also education and stiffer fines for violating should be adopted. Problem solved. I should run for governor

Don't worry its happening everywhere, even in Australia as well. More and more people are getting wake boats and surf boats and they are oblivious to other water users as long as THEY are having fun they don't give a rats about anyone else. small fishing boat are constantly trying to not get capsized by these monstrosities. Marine authorities should have put restrictions on certain water way from the get go.

Sounds like you need to move to river rise or run island. Blame it on Covid record boat sales in 2019/2020. It’s like this everywhere

whats anyone gunna do about it? its 2019 n0w

Nothing you can do. Enjoy the weekdays

Most of those people don't give a crap about erosion, their deal is I need to get where I'm going really fast so I can start drinking! They should slow down, enjoy and drink on the way.😎

I would have to disagree, this was filmed on Sunday of Memorial weekend. July 4, may have even been busier. I live in the area and canoe, kayak, and power boat on the river. I almost always see law enforcement on the river in way of the FWC, as well as officers from the counties bordering the river (except Suwannee county). Most of the power boats can't go past the 47 bridge. You can canoe or kayak from River Rise Park to the 47 bridge with minimal boat traffic, but you didn't film that.

The only way to stop the traffic is stiff fines for speeding above the posted speed. No boat is going to want to bother going up or down the river at 5 mph will take forever to get anywhere so they will stop traveling the river..... stiff tickets is the key

You're just jealous because your boat doesn't have a motor 😆

I am a reasonable man. I spent thousands of hours on the upper sante fe studying wildlife. It's too small of a river for the type of vessel traffic going on in this video. Think there is a toll on the river. The lower suwannee by old town is large enough for boat racing and hot rodding. There are a few lakes around for some heavy duty motoring. The st. John's river. Some bays by Jacksonville. Folks ought to quit ripping up that river. Just my humble opinion surely others think they've got recreational right to destroy under fun and excitement. Poor river and poor wildlife. Fucking turtles cant even climb on a log to sun in a dry spot. Oh well we got less then 100 years anyway. Better colonize Mars with Elon musk or bust.

I've been fishing it for years. When my son was small, I'd take him up river into a small aluminum jonboat and larger power boats would run by at top speed, with no respect for the safety of others, or the sport of fishing. Respect is dead.

did you know at this part of the river it is 100% legal to operate a vessel at whatever speed you please

Ban powerboats period. No need for powerboats on the Santa Fe at all at any speed. Probably just ban all boats with 25 HP engines and above period.

Except for the crowds of Boats at the mouth of the Ichetucknee River and the Santa Fe River, the boat traffic is only somewhat over what it has always been on Holiday weekends. My dad bought our place in Three Rivers Estates when I was 6 months old, it was only accessible by boat back then. There wasn't as much boat traffic then, but it didn't take long to really get going. I remember as a kid, loving to swim in the waves from the boats, or diving from our mobile driving board into the waves, or swinging on our rope swing out into the river amongst the waves. My kids and grandkids have enjoyed the same thing. The erosion has been happening for a long time and not only caused by boats, but by some of the land owners who wanted a lawn over cypress trees and knees, and from the rise and fall of the river. We lost dozens of trees to erosion when I was a kid. In fact our shoreline hasn't changed much since I became an adult... Our family boat actually leaves much less wake on a plane than half speed. At idle speed you would never get anywhere. We still swim across the river, just not in the middle of the day on a Holiday Weekend. I even remember a time when there were a lot of water skiers out there. Some of them would come real close to you and spray you with their wake. Even though I own land on the river, I know that it belongs to all of us and the entire length of the river as an idle speed zone would stop a lot of folks from being able to use their river. BTW... I am working on year number 60. That means 59 years of Santa Fe River experience...

Get a grip, Karen. I didn't see anyone driving like a maniac in that video. If you weren't at the river you'd be exaggerating the dangers of someplace else...

I haven’t seen anything unsafe ? Looks like you don’t like boats…..

Memorial day is not the best representation of what you are trying to accomplish. Secondly if it is damage by a boat wake just remember it is the medium speed boat, with the bow high and stern low, that produces the most wake, not the high speed boat. The boat at 2:40 is an example of a displacement wake and is a biggg wake! Wake is produced by displacement, the less hull you have in the water the less wake is produced. "unsafe" is an opinion only. Based on what you are saying in this video I would also bet I know who you voted for back in 2016!

Kinda makes you miss low water conditions

Slow speed yes maybe 10mph. Minimum wake around parks and iddle when canoes or kayaks are present. But minimum wake is too much. I certainly agree they are going too fast and are not being responsible with their wake.peace

Have a few more beers and speed on you fools.

How could anyone canoe, kayak, swim or fish with all that going on. Thanks for posting, I'll never go there.

It's like complaining that cars are driving on roads😆

This is comparable to having a home on the shoulder of I-95. Good luck ever being able to sell your house on the banks of this river.

Where are the officers? No patrols? Accident waiting to happen..

I live near a railroad track. And, pesky trains give me hell 24/7. Guess I better move?

Well you know the laws could change all this ...IF they would but it wouldn't suprise me if when off duty they aren't guilty same thing ? and no I do not live there BUT have close kin that does, ...it is such a shame that people are so rude , and imporant that they have NO respect for anything ...even them selves John Harrington

I think it would be better if I didnt bring my boat there.. although it really looks pretty and I would love to go there!!! Safty first!!!!!!!!!!

Don’t just blame power boats all them canoes out there is like your on the bumper cars at the fair throwing their trash in the water beer cans are taking over the bottom of the river from where bigger power boats don’t even go

we have the same problem at hollingsworth bluff with jet skis! i hate them! they are like hell's angels or juvenile delinquents

Id come thru with my glitter boat on pad!

Time For Change..... when there was only a few the impact Was minimal. With so many, it spoils Everything Nature has provided for Countless years. Time for Change...

can you say holiday weekend in sunny Florida get a life went fishing last week 85 out pass 6 boats all day put in at ramp on 129 find a new hobby!!!!!!!!!

It's cause of lla llorona

I dove the Santa Fe several years ago, along the Ginnie Springs stretch, and thought it was beautiful. Very unique dive. Like diving in ice tea or something. Then, I could see the decline. There was trash in a hole on the bottom in one location in the river, full of cans, potato chip bags, etc. Sad to see. If something beautiful can be screwed up, people find a way to do it. Sickening. And yes, slow down in your boats for freaking sakes. How hard is that to understand!

I would hardly call 25-35 mph "high speed" There are many more power boaters that like to enjoy the river than canoeists and kayakers. Been there a million times and it is almost never that many boaters. Maybe you should go to a local farm pond so you can enjoy your canoe.

Put up some NO WAKE SIGNS.. it’s your right to do so if you own the frontage..

GO AND BY A BOAT AND ENJOY FLORIDA WATERS WAYS

Then move away if you dont like it i see no laws broken

Clearly you've never been to Lake Austin, which isn't much wider than this river and you've got 50' Cigarette boats doing 60mph.

This is normal for living on a waterway , price you pay for living in paradise , Should try a different approach.

Love propaganda. The real complaint here isn't about boating safety it's the misleading perception that the wakes are going to destroy the river which won't happen. Cypress trees fall all the time. I remember kayaking areas of florida with downed cypress trees that look just like that in areas where boats can't access so you have NO IDEA whatsoever if that tree fell because of the boats. However I do agree that many of those boats are far too big to be on that narrow stretch of river at those speeds. The problem is even worse at Weeki Wachee where the river is more narrow. I would also like to see footage showing this is going on all day, every day versus this possibly being filmed on a weekend where everything is a hundred times more crowded and busy. YOu lost credibility with the tree reference so it brings everything else into question. I think there should be speed limits on the river. It shouldn't be a place for speeding but enjoying nature. If you want to speed go out in the gulf where you have all the room in the world. I don't think the size of the boats is the issue but the speed. Not because it's destroying the environment but because the rivers shouldn't be a racetrack. There are still plenty of places around the actual springs that are not populated by racing boats due to the number of people in the water

Where are all the boats going? Like most of Florida, the Santa Fe River isn't a very scenic place for boating.

You don't own the river, nothing wrong or illegal is going on here

As a river fisherman in MO, I am appalled at the nonsense there. Hate to say it but, a speed restriction which is strictly enforced is what is needed there. Damn that's bad.

quit complaining even with boat traffic I paddle boarded that entire stretch just last weekend from the itch headspring all the way to 129

This is not the Santa fe river this is a fanning springs on the Suwannee river

FWC DOES NOT CARE

so not a night

gonna go right by there tomorrow on my jet skis going a very responsible 45 mph, i'll be sure to wave

Probably northerns

It’s only getting worse. The more people that move here the worse it gets. Please leave Florida you’re ruining our state

the boats are not creating most of the erosion as it's created through torrential rainfall and runoff. l see no Diver Down Flags. I didn't see any near misses either. it's summertime it's what people do, want to see busy go to Salt Springs run on Memorial Day. Live and Let Live enjoy

I hope by now there have been some restrictions put on the hp and boat size allowed on this stream .

WE OWN A PLACE ON THE SUWANNEE.

Karen

I think this is the Suwannee river

the river flow erodes it also, let's dam it up to stop that too.

First, I did not see one "reckless or unsafe" boater in this video. I did not see one "speeding" boat in this video. I have been boating in the rivers of South Louisiana for almost 50 years and I have never seen a Cypress tree uprooted by wakes. The Santa Fe is a beautiful river and can be used by both nature lovers and boaters. I am quite sure your video would be very different if shot on Monday-Thursday as well as October thru March.

Cry me a river 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

Jack wagon, should of bought a house above 47 bridge then. theres no wake zones everywhere there needs to be. where ever you came from is where you need to be.

Get a life buddy 😂