This preserve, which totals 428 acres in Bonita Springs, consists of several natural communities, including wet flatwoods, live oak hammocks, freshwater marshes and cypress. Its large size and diversity of communities make Hidden Cypress Preserve very beneficial to wildlife, including many wading bird species, as well as the Florida black bear, Florida panther and fox squirrel.
This land is within Lee County's Density Reduction/Groundwater Resource Area (DR/GR), the area from which the county collects the majority of its drinking water from underground aquifers. Maintaining this land as open space has many benefits, including natural flood protection for a significant upstream drainage area and preserving a wetland system that naturally purifies surface waters. These benefits have been additionally enhanced through restoration efforts at this preserve, including removing a large monoculture of melaleuca, an invasive exotic plant species.
Although this preserve is very wet for most of the year, especially during the rainy season, this site is open for public access and has marked trails.
Recreation Opportunities:
Bird Watching, Hiking (Unmarked or Fire Lines), Nature Study/Photography
Preserve Links:
|