Florida Deadhead Logging

The late 19th century brought countless changes to the face of Florida. The landscape of towering pine trees and expansive cypress swamps on the southerly peninsula invited new inhabitants and pioneered new industries, including several northern logging companies. In those early years, armed with only an ax, loggers clear cut the longleaf pine forests and harvested the giant cypress.

photograph of log rafts floating down the Oklawaha River photograph of loggers floating logs down a manmade canal photograph of cypress trees in 1930

These hundred year old pines and cypress, some thousands of years old, and subsequent hand-cut logs were then rafted together and floated downriver to nearby sawmills. It has been estimated that nearly 10 percent of these cut timbers sunk while in transit and were lost to river bottoms where they were preserved by the cool water and lack of oxygen.

Photos from the Florida Photographic Collection: http://www.floridamemory.com/PhotographicCollection/

photograph of a fireplace mantle made from deadhead pine

Modern day craftsman highly regard the wood that is milled from these pre-cut submerged timbers, or deadhead logs, because of their great strength, durability and resistance to rot. Wood from the sunken logs, revered for its tight grain and array of colors ranging from blond to caramel to black, is up to 10 times more valuable than conventional wood. It is used to make upscale paneling, flooring and furniture.
photograph of a pine log with a logging brand

The State of Florida claims ownership of most of the logs since they are located on sovereign submerged lands. In 2000, a moratorium prohibiting deadhead logging was lifted allowing loggers to retrieve deadhead logs from Florida water bodies upon authorization and according to specific legal and environmental conditions. However, logs that were originally branded by the logging companies may still be claimed by their original owners. Today, the authorization is provided through DEP’s issuance of a Dredge and Fill Permit from the Submerged Lands and Environmental Resource Permitting Program and through a Use Agreement from the Governor and Cabinet serving as the Board of Trustees of the Internal Improvement Trust Fund.

What do you need to do to deadhead log?

Apply for an Environmental Resource Permit from the Northwest District Office

A Permit is issued for a period of 5 years.

For projects located in the Northwest District, use the application for the Environmental Resource Permitting Program, Form #62-346.900(1). (Adobe PDF - 239 KB)

The application fee for this permit is $500.

For projects located in any other District of the State, use the application for Environmental Resource Permitting, Form #62-343.900(1). (MSWord - 797 KB)

The application fee for this permit is $710.

Enter into an agreement with the State through a Board of Trustees of the Internal Improvement Trust Fund of the State of Florida – Sovereignty Submerged Lands Use Agreement for Recovery of Pre-cut Submerged Timber.

A Use Agreement is executed for a period of 1 year

The fee for this agreement is $5,500.

As a condition of the Use Agreement, you will be required to maintain liability insurance in the amount of $100,000 per person and $200,000 per accident for personal injury or death.

Environmental Resource Permitting (ERP)

Sovereign Submerged Lands Authorizations

Frequently Asked Questions

2011 Classroom Training for the Master Deadhead Logger Certification (Adobe PDF 328 KB)

The Deadhead Logging program is based out of DEP’s Northwest District Office in Pensacola.

For more information please contact the Deadhead Logging Permitter at: photograph of an ax cut pine log from the Suwanee River

Phone:    (850) 595-0617
Fax:        (850) 595-8311
Email:    Sara Merritt (sara.merritt@dep.state.fl.us)