Econlockhatchee River
Encyclopedia
The Econlockhatchee River (Econ River for short) is a 54.5 miles (87.7 km) north-flowing blackwater
tributary of the St. Johns River
that flows through Orange
, Seminole
, and Osceola
counties in Florida
. Its name means "River of mounds". It flows through the eastern portion of the Orlando
Metropolitan Area (east of State Road 417).
The river flows north from its source, Lake Conlin
, through the Econlockhatchee River Swamp (see below) south of State Road 528. Near Oviedo
, the tributary
Little Econlockhatchee River
joins, and the river turns east. The Econlockhatchee joins the St. Johns River near Puzzle Lake
. The river's floodplain
is forest
ed for its entire length.
, the swamp is 13 miles (20.9 km) long, from Lake Conlin
to State Road 528. South of State Road 532, the swamp is known as Cat Island Swamp, named after an island near Osceola County Road 500A. The river is at its widest (one mile) here, bordered by Lake Preston to the west. Seven miles downstream, the river's elevation is 61 feet (18.6 m). The Disston Canal joins Lake Mary Jane and Lake Hart to the swamp. Turkey Creek Bay is an arm of the swamp
, through which the tributary Turkey Creek
flows. North of Wewahootee Road, the Econlockhatchee River leaves the swamp and remains a free-flowing river for the rest of its journey to the St. Johns River
.
Blackwater river
A blackwater river is a river with a deep, slow-moving channel that flows through forested swamps and wetlands. As vegetation decays in the water, tannins are leached out, resulting in transparent, acidic water that is darkly stained, resembling tea or coffee. Most major blackwater rivers are in...
tributary of the St. Johns River
St. Johns River
The St. Johns River is the longest river in the U.S. state of Florida and its most significant for commercial and recreational use. At long, it winds through or borders twelve counties, three of which are the state's largest. The drop in elevation from the headwaters to the mouth is less than ;...
that flows through Orange
Orange County, Florida
Orange County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida and is part of the Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford Metropolitan Statistical Area . As of 2010 U.S. Census, the county had a population of 1,145,956....
, Seminole
Seminole County, Florida
Seminole County is a county in the U.S. state of Florida. Located between Orlando to the south and Deland and Daytona Beach to the north, it is part of the Greater Orlando metropolitan area. Its county seat and largest city is Sanford...
, and Osceola
Osceola County, Florida
Osceola County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 172,493. The U.S. Census Bureau 2006 estimate for the county is 244,045, making it the 17th fastest-growing county in the United States. Its county seat is Kissimmee.- History :Osceola County was...
counties in Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
. Its name means "River of mounds". It flows through the eastern portion of the Orlando
Orlando, Florida
Orlando is a city in the central region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of Orange County, and the center of the Greater Orlando metropolitan area. According to the 2010 US Census, the city had a population of 238,300, making Orlando the 79th largest city in the United States...
Metropolitan Area (east of State Road 417).
The river flows north from its source, Lake Conlin
Lake Conlin
Lake Conlin is a lake in Osceola County, Florida, United States just north of Old U.S. Route 192 near Holopaw. It is the source of the Econlockhatchee River, Cat Island Swamp, and the Econlockhatchee River Swamp. These bodies of water flow northward to the St. Johns River, downstream. The source...
, through the Econlockhatchee River Swamp (see below) south of State Road 528. Near Oviedo
Oviedo, Florida
Oviedo is a city in Seminole County, Florida, United States. The population was 26,316 as of the 2000 census. As of 2009, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 32,961...
, the tributary
Tributary
A tributary or affluent is a stream or river that flows into a main stem river or a lake. A tributary does not flow directly into a sea or ocean...
Little Econlockhatchee River
Little Econlockhatchee River
Little Econlockhatchee River is a major tributary of the Econlockhatchee River. It originates at an unnamed lake at , near Orlando, Florida in southeast Orange County. It is approximately long, from unincorporated Orange County to its mouth at Oviedo. It is located within the Middle St. Johns...
joins, and the river turns east. The Econlockhatchee joins the St. Johns River near Puzzle Lake
Puzzle Lake
Puzzle Lake is a lake near Geneva in Seminole County, Florida. It forms the border of Volusia and Seminole counties. It is one of the lakes that make up the St. Johns River system. north of the lake is the mouth of the tributary, the Econlockhatchee River. It has a surface area of...
. The river's floodplain
Floodplain
A floodplain, or flood plain, is a flat or nearly flat land adjacent a stream or river that stretches from the banks of its channel to the base of the enclosing valley walls and experiences flooding during periods of high discharge...
is forest
Forest
A forest, also referred to as a wood or the woods, is an area with a high density of trees. As with cities, depending where you are in the world, what is considered a forest may vary significantly in size and have various classification according to how and what of the forest is composed...
ed for its entire length.
Econlockhatchee River Swamp
The upper course of the river is called the Econlockhatchee River Swamp. Located southeast of OrlandoOrlando, Florida
Orlando is a city in the central region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of Orange County, and the center of the Greater Orlando metropolitan area. According to the 2010 US Census, the city had a population of 238,300, making Orlando the 79th largest city in the United States...
, the swamp is 13 miles (20.9 km) long, from Lake Conlin
Lake Conlin
Lake Conlin is a lake in Osceola County, Florida, United States just north of Old U.S. Route 192 near Holopaw. It is the source of the Econlockhatchee River, Cat Island Swamp, and the Econlockhatchee River Swamp. These bodies of water flow northward to the St. Johns River, downstream. The source...
to State Road 528. South of State Road 532, the swamp is known as Cat Island Swamp, named after an island near Osceola County Road 500A. The river is at its widest (one mile) here, bordered by Lake Preston to the west. Seven miles downstream, the river's elevation is 61 feet (18.6 m). The Disston Canal joins Lake Mary Jane and Lake Hart to the swamp. Turkey Creek Bay is an arm of the swamp
Swamp
A swamp is a wetland with some flooding of large areas of land by shallow bodies of water. A swamp generally has a large number of hammocks, or dry-land protrusions, covered by aquatic vegetation, or vegetation that tolerates periodical inundation. The two main types of swamp are "true" or swamp...
, through which the tributary Turkey Creek
Turkey Creek (Florida)
Turkey Creek is a creek and tributary of the Econlockhatchee River. It is 3 miles long. The source of the river is Turkey Creek Bay, which is the beginning of the Econlockhatchee River Swamp, which extends into Lake Conlin, the source of the Econlockhatchee River. A tribuary of the creek itself is...
flows. North of Wewahootee Road, the Econlockhatchee River leaves the swamp and remains a free-flowing river for the rest of its journey to the St. Johns River
St. Johns River
The St. Johns River is the longest river in the U.S. state of Florida and its most significant for commercial and recreational use. At long, it winds through or borders twelve counties, three of which are the state's largest. The drop in elevation from the headwaters to the mouth is less than ;...
.
List of crossings
| Bridge | Route | Location | Coordinates | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Snow Hill Road | Oviedo Oviedo, Florida Oviedo is a city in Seminole County, Florida, United States. The population was 26,316 as of the 2000 census. As of 2009, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 32,961... |
28°40′40"N 81°06′50"W | ||
| State Road 419 Florida State Road 419 State Road 419 is a highway in Orange and Seminole counties, in Central Florida, United States. It is one of the 2 access roads to Chuluota, the other being Snow Hill Road. From SR 426 to the southern terminus, it is known as Chuluota Road. In Oviedo, it crosses the Econlockhatchee River. To the... |
Oviedo Oviedo, Florida Oviedo is a city in Seminole County, Florida, United States. The population was 26,316 as of the 2000 census. As of 2009, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 32,961... |
28°39′20"N 81°10′12"W | ||
| CR 420 | Orlando Orlando, Florida Orlando is a city in the central region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of Orange County, and the center of the Greater Orlando metropolitan area. According to the 2010 US Census, the city had a population of 238,300, making Orlando the 79th largest city in the United States... |
|||
 State Road 50 |
Bithlo Bithlo, Florida Bithlo is a census-designated place and an unincorporated community in Orange County, Florida, United States. The population was 4,626 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Orlando–Kissimmee Metropolitan Statistical Area. For 20 years in the early 20th century, Bithlo was an incorporated... |
28°33′55"N 81°09′16"W | ||
 State Road 528near Dallas Boulevard |
Orlando Orlando, Florida Orlando is a city in the central region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of Orange County, and the center of the Greater Orlando metropolitan area. According to the 2010 US Census, the city had a population of 238,300, making Orlando the 79th largest city in the United States... |
28°27′05"N 81°06′28"W | ||
| Wewahootee Road | Orlando Orlando, Florida Orlando is a city in the central region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of Orange County, and the center of the Greater Orlando metropolitan area. According to the 2010 US Census, the city had a population of 238,300, making Orlando the 79th largest city in the United States... |
28°25′29"N 81°07′09"W | ||
 State Road 532 |
Holopaw Holopaw, Florida Holopaw, Florida is a small unincorporated community in Osceola County, Florida, United States. It is located at the eastern end of the multiplex of highways US 192 and US 441. It has a population of fewer than 5,000 people and is part of the Orlando–Kissimmee Metropolitan Statistical... |
28°16′31"N 81°06′33"W |
See also
- St. Johns RiverSt. Johns RiverThe St. Johns River is the longest river in the U.S. state of Florida and its most significant for commercial and recreational use. At long, it winds through or borders twelve counties, three of which are the state's largest. The drop in elevation from the headwaters to the mouth is less than ;...
- Lake ConlinLake ConlinLake Conlin is a lake in Osceola County, Florida, United States just north of Old U.S. Route 192 near Holopaw. It is the source of the Econlockhatchee River, Cat Island Swamp, and the Econlockhatchee River Swamp. These bodies of water flow northward to the St. Johns River, downstream. The source...
- Oviedo, FloridaOviedo, FloridaOviedo is a city in Seminole County, Florida, United States. The population was 26,316 as of the 2000 census. As of 2009, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 32,961...
- Puzzle LakePuzzle LakePuzzle Lake is a lake near Geneva in Seminole County, Florida. It forms the border of Volusia and Seminole counties. It is one of the lakes that make up the St. Johns River system. north of the lake is the mouth of the tributary, the Econlockhatchee River. It has a surface area of...
- List of Florida rivers