Sassagoula color and depth

[VA_mouseman]

We've stayed at POFQ many times before, and enjoy the water taxi ride down to Downtown Disney. My son dubbed the Sassagoula the "rootbeer river" due to its unique shade of brown. I recall a boat captain telling us why the water is that color, but now I can't recall why. Something to do with the organic runoff from the wetlands of the area? Or something else??

Also, I'm curious about the depth of the water. I note that the water taxis and large watercraft available for rent at POR are pontoon boats, which have a shallow draft. Given that, I'm guessing that the river is no more than a few feet deep. Would anyone be able to clarify on that?

 

[ironz]

No idea on the depth (probably not super deep), but I recall that a boat driver said it was due to tannins from the trees (like iced tea, sort of). Bay Lake is similar...swimming in there for the triathlons is a little weird...fairly murky.

 

[mlittig]

My daughter refers to the Sassagoula River as rootbeer colored too As the PP says, it is caused by the tannins from the trees. That is why it gets less rootbeerish as you get closer to DownTown because there are less trees along the banks! Have no idea about the depth though I think having access to the boats to DTD is one of the great perks at the French Quarter

 

[TTAfanatic]

If i remember correctly from "All Jazzed Up" the training course at Port Orleans Resort, the river is 12-14 feet deep. And it is that color because the runoff.

 

[SuzieN]

Haha!! My sister and I also dubbed it "The Rootbeer River" on our trip to "Dixie Landings" in 1992!!! Thanks for bringing back a good memory!

 

[VA_mouseman]

That's so funny that a lot of people refer to the water as "rootbeer." Great minds think alike!

That's, it, it's from the tannins I recall now. I'm trying to remember though what trees and plants are in the wetlands area of the river, around the Treehouse Villas.

TTAfanatic, what's the "all jazzed up" training? Is that for POR/POFQ CM's?

 

[TTAfanatic]

Yes, "All Jazzed Up" is the training for POFQ/POR CM's I did that for my WDWCP.

 

[Dopey420]

I went fishing and the fishing guide said all Disney lakes and rivers are at most 6 feet deep.

 

[Dopey420]

Oh and the color is from the tannins.

 

[Maggi May]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taxodium_distichum

I think the tannins come from cypress trees.