PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION

The Perdido River was named by the Spanish who occupied Northwest, Florida until 1813. The word “perdido” in Spanish is translated as “lost”.

The Perdido River Watershed flows through Baldwin and Escambia counties in Alabama and Escambia County Florida. The river forms the boundary between the states of Alabama and Florida. The watershed encompasses an area of 1,250 square miles. Before flowing into the Gulf of Mexico the river forms Perdido Bay which covers an area of around fifty square miles. (Strategies 1998)

The Perdido System is a coastal stream in South Alabama.

The river is characterized by a sand bottom visible through the clear water, and large white sandbars occurring frequently along the numerous bends in the river.

The river is excellent for canoeing and is recognized as one of Florida’s official canoe trails.

Major cities within the Basin are Perdido, Bay Minette, Robertsdale and Summerdale.

The River is about 44 miles before reaching Perdido Bay just north of Lillian, Alabama.

Annual precipitation in the watershed averages about 64 inches (USGS)