beachLIFE 2022 Issue 16 | Page 77

Spanish moss , a close relative of the pineapple , drifts in the coastal breeze . Both are “ air plants ,” or epiphytes , that draw moisture from the atmosphere . Various creatures use it as cover to hide from predators and as nesting material .
Surrounding forest and a sandy riverbed make the Choctawhatchee watershed a suitable tropical storm and hurricane anchorage . In the distance , a sailing ketch is moored among a stand of pines .
Cruising out of the Choctawhatchee River and into the Bay . The mouth of the watershed lies northeast of the 331 Bridge ( the Clyde B . Wells Bridge ). An excellent launch point for exploring the eastern Bay is the new Pilcher Park located directly under the bridge . Opened in 2017 , the park features a 380-foot fishing pier , six boat docks , four boat ramps , and parking for boat trailers . The Choctawhatchee watershed and the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway are just a few miles to the northeast and the east , respectively .
WATERWAYS OF THE PANHANDLE EXPERIENCES beachLIFE 77