How do freshwater flows, or lack thereof, affect the marine life downstream?

The drought that set upon the United States this year is affecting marine life and a valuable fishing economy downstream in the Deep South’s Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint River Basin, the most biodiverse river system in North America. When flows from freshwater streams are low, higher salinity levels bring conchs, oyster drills, oyster crabs, and other predators to the Apalachicola Bay. This can translate to decreased oyster numbers in Florida’s Franklin County, which accounts for 90 percent of the state’s oyster harvest. Click the infographic below to learn more.

Infographic Apalachicola Bay Oyster industry florida gulf of mexico
Infographic © Alec Aja / Circle of Blue
Infographic of Apalachicola Bay oyster industry statistics. Click image to enlarge.

Alec Aja is an undergraduate student at Grand Valley State University and a Traverse City-based design intern for Circle of Blue. This infographic was made to accompany an article by Circle of Blue’s Alabama reporter, Codi Yeager: Florida Oyster Harvest Suffers As Drought Intensifies Water Battle with Georgia and Alabama. Contact Codi Yeager

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