Marion County issued a notice last week advising boaters of low water levels. Boaters were encouraged to use caution due to the increased hazards of just getting boats in and out of the water.
Boater Chris Moody's trip on the Ocklawaha River last week was cut short when his boat got caught on a log. Moody said he had to get out of his family's boat and push it off a log, with a six-foot alligator nearby.
The accumulative effects of the current drought situation in much of Florida has led to many rivers and waterways suffering from low water conditions, said Jim Couillard of Marion County Parks and Recreation.
If water levels continue to decrease without substantial rainfall in the near future, more boat ramps might become unusable and close, according to the notice.