Index
Introduction
Bradwell Bay Wilderness is located in the Apalachicola National Forest approximately 25 miles southwest of Tallahassee, Florida. The 24,602 acre area was designated a wilderness in 1975. The area is comprised mainly of titi swamps, hardwood swamps, pine-titi mixtures, un-drained pine flatwoods and low pine ridges. Some cypress is intermingled with short, scrubby pond pine. Bradwell Bay is a large, nearly level, fresh-water flat and swamp area. The Wilderness lies in the Sopchoppy River and Ochlockonee River watersheds.
Air Quality Related Value
Flora
Plant communities found in Bradwell Bay Wilderness include titi swamps, hardwood swamps, pine-titi mixtures, undrained pine flatwoods and low pine ridges. Some cypress is intermingled with the hardwoods and pine in lower un-drained areas. The main "Bay" consists of a 6,000 acre titi swamp intermingled with short, scrubby pond pine. Normally this area is relatively wet, with one to four inches of water throughout. The titi swamp is bordered on the west by a large hardwood swamp containing tupelo gum, black gum, red maple and widely scattered slash pine and cypress. The perimeter of the area is principally un-drained flatwoods and low slash and longleaf pine ridges. In the southeast portion, there is a stand of large slash pine which contains what was once the largest living slash pine. Bordering this area of large slash pine is a blackgum swamp with blackgum trees that are about 100 feet tall. Savannah type vegetation also occurs on the west side of the area including dense growth of grasses and sedges interspersed with a spectacular array of wildflowers numbering well over 100 species including many orchids and insectivorous plants.
Fresh Air
Lack of unnatural odor.
Resource Concern Thresholds
| Pollutant Exposure Concern Thresholds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Pollutant Exposures | Level Name | Thresholds |
| Nitrogen | DEPOSITION | Nitrogen deposition may be expected to cause cation leaching in soils when N levels are greater than 12 kg/ha/yr. Below 5 kg/ha/yr, negative effects to soil and vegetation are not expected |
| Nitrogen | EXCEEDANCE | The Deposition Analysis Threshold for nitrogen deposition below which estimated impacts from a source are considered negligible is 0.010. kilograms/hectare/year. |
| Ozone | W126 | Biomass reduction of ozone sensitive species may occur when the W126 ozone metric (for April-September) is ≥ 14.5 ppm-hours. This should be evaluated in conjunction with the N100 value. |
| Ozone | N100 | Biomass reduction of ozone sensitive species may occur when the number of hours from APRIL-SEPTEMBER with an ozone concentration greater than or equal to 0.100ppm equals or exceeds 4. This should be evaluated in conjunction with the W126 value. |
| Sulfur | DEPOSITION | Sulfur deposition may be expected to cause cation leaching and increased aluminum toxicity in soils when levels are greater than 20 kg/ha/yr. At 5 kg/ha/yr or below, sulfur negative effects to soil and vegetation are not expected. |
| Sulfur | EXCEEDANCE | The Deposition Analysis Threshold for sulfur deposition below which estimated impacts from a source are considered negligible is 0.010 kg/ha/yr. |
| General Information | |
|---|---|
| State(s): | Florida |
| County(s): | Wakulla |
| Forest Service Administrative Unit(s): | Southern Region (Region 8) -- National Forests in Florida |
| Size: | 24602 acres |
| Elevation Range: | 40 - 67 feet |
| Image(s): | https://www.wilderness.net/images/ |
| Detailed wilderness information: | https://www.wilderness.net |
| GIS Map/Official Boundary: | https://www.wilderness.net/NWPS/ |
updated: 02/28/13