Cross Florida Greenway - Withlacoochee Barge Canal Boat Ramp

The Withlacoochee Barge Canal boat ramp provides access to a large river system in Citrus County that drains to the Gulf of Mexico. The Withlacoochee River is classified as a Stream Order 6 river, indicating a substantial waterway with an average flow of 706 cubic feet per second and a drainage area of 1,212 square miles. The ramp location sits at very low elevation near sea level, approximately 141 miles from the river mouth, making this a lower coastal reach of the system. With an average velocity of 2.83 feet per second and a gentle gradient of 0.8 feet per mile, the water conditions in this section tend toward slower-moving flows typical of lower river reaches approaching tidal influence zones. Boaters should be aware that the Withlacoochee system has a total elevation drop of 108 feet across its 140-mile length, but at this coastal access point the gradient is quite mild. The barge canal component indicates this waterway has been modified for navigation purposes, which may affect water conditions and traffic patterns compared to natural river sections.