Office of Submerged Lands and Environmental
Resources
Florida Deadhead Logging
 |
Most of the Southeastern US was being intensively logged from
the late 1800’s to the early 1900’s. Rivers were the best
method of transportation due to lack of roads. If rivers were
not readily available, loggers dug their own canals to move
logs. |
| Rafts of logs were transported downstream
towards mills or pullout locations where the logs could be
loaded onto railway cars for shipment to another location. It
has been estimated that about 10% of these rafted logs sank
before they reached their final destination. Most of the
deadheads harvested today are Bald Cypress and Yellow Pine. |
 |
|
Houseboat used by loggers |
Log rafts constructed to transport logs |
Cypress mill on the river |
|
Deadhead logging, as it is called, is the
recovery of these lost “pre-cut” timbers. Florida Statutes state
that anything found in state waters is considered property of
the State; therefore, anyone wishing to recover deadheads must
receive authorization from the state of Florida. Authorization
for deadhead logging activities is given through permits and use
agreements.
Photos from the Florida Photographic Collection:
http://www.floridamemory.com/PhotographicCollection/ |
History of Deadhead Logging in Florida
|
|
Before 1974 |
The Board of Trustees of the Improvement Fund of the State of
Florida authorized deadhead logging activities through an
agreement, lease and permit. |
|
1974 |
Request to log the Suwannee River was denied because of
environmental concerns. A moratorium was placed on deadhead
logging activities in the state of Florida. |
|
December 1998 |
Authorized Deadhead Logging through the
issuance of a Dredge & Fill Permit and a Use Agreement |
|
December 1999 |
Moratorium of any new recovery operations.
Developed the Technical Advisory Committee to research the
biological effects, permit regulations and program structure. |
|
April 2000 |
Cabinet reconsideration of deadhead logging
regulation. |
|
May 2000 |
The State of Florida began issuing new Deadhead Logging
Permits. |
|
|
|
What do you need to do to deadhead log?
|
- Apply for a SLERP Dredge & Fill Permit from the
Northwest District Office
- A Dredge and Fill permit is issued for a period of 5
years.
- Form # 62-312.900(1)
- The application fee for this permit is $500.
|
Joint Application for Works in the Waters of Florida |
- Enter into an agreement with the State through a Board
of Trustees of the Internal Improvement Trust Fund of the
State of Florida – Sovereignty Submerged Lands Use Agreement
for Recovery of Pre-cut Submerged Timber.
- A Use Agreement is executed for a period of 1 year
- The fee for this agreement is $5,500.
- As a condition of the Use Agreement, you will be
required to maintain liability insurance in the amount
of $100,000 per person and $200,000 per accident for
personal injury or death.
|
Environmental Resource
Permitting (ERP)
Sovereign Submerged Lands Authorizations
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
For more information please contact the Deadhead Logging
Permitters at:
|
|
|
