The Pithlachascotee River, often called the Cotee or "Cootie" River, is a blackwater river in Pasco County, Florida. Originating near Crews Lake, the river flows for over to the south and west, flowing through the Starkey Wilderness Park before turning northwest through downtown New Port Richey, entering the Gulf of Mexico at Miller's Bayou. A Florida State Canoe Trail runs along the river. On a chart representing the west coast of Florida accompanying the annual report of the U.S. Coast Survey for 1851, the name is translated as "Boat Building River". The whole word signifies the place where canoes were chopped or dug out. The Seminole used canoes dug out of cypress trunks. It is derived from the Creek pithlo (canoe), and chaskita (to chop out). List of crossings References FDOT Florida Bridge Data 01-05-2010 USGS Real-Time Water Data for USGS 02310300 PITHLACHASCOTEE RIVER NEAR NEW PORT RICHEY FL External links SWFWMD: Pithlachascotee River FDEP EcoSummary: Pithlachascotee River U.S. Army Corps of Engineers: Pithlachascotee River improvements Rivers of Florida Bodies of water of Pasco County, Florida