Gum Slough, pronounced “slew”, is short, spring fed, stream in Sumter County, Florida. Almost completely wild. To reach the Slough, a paddler has to launch on the Withlacoochee River in Citrus County, as there is no access on the Slough itself. One stilt home about 2/3 of the way up Slough from the Withlacoochee River. Two more at the source. I’ve found four of the fourteen (or more) springs. Narrow, tree lined for about 2/3 of the paddle, than a wider area with dwarf cypress trees in the middle of the waterway. Narrows again as it reaches the springs that start the Slough. In my opinion, not the place for air boats. They belong, if anywhere, on wide rivers like the Withlacoochee. Where the ear damaging noise from the airplane engines aboard these craft won’t echo off the tree canopy of the narrow Slough. It will still ruin the day for anyone attempting to enjoy a peaceful day in the Real Florida, but at least they will be able to get out of the way when the wind blowing vessels blasts by.

The air boat lobby is strong. Which baffles me. I am sure kayakers, canoers, small boat operators and nature lovers in general greatly outnumber air boaters. So, sign up, and lets preserve a piece of Florida as it was when Ponce de Leon landed in 1513.