Big Cypress National Preserveis aUnited StatesNational Preservelocated inSouth Florida,about 45 miles (72 kilometers) west ofMiamion theAtlantic coastal plain.The 720,000-acre (2,900 km2) Big Cypress, along withBig Thicket National PreserveinTexas,became the first national preserves in theUnited States National Park Systemwhen they were established on October 11, 1974.[3]In 2008, Florida film producerElam Stoltzfusfeatured the preserve in aPBSdocumentary.[4]
| Big Cypress National Preserve | |
|---|---|
 | |
 Map of the preserve | |
| Location | Collier,Monroe,&Miami-Dadecounties,Florida,United States |
| Nearest city | Everglades City, Florida |
| Coordinates | 25°51′32″N81°02′02″W/ 25.85889°N 81.03389°W |
| Area | 720,566 acres (2,916.03 km2)[1] |
| Established | October 11, 1974 |
| Visitors | 2,903,159 (in 2022)[2] |
| Governing body | National Park Service |
| Website | Big Cypress National Preserve |
  Big Cypress National Preserve (Florida)  Big Cypress National Preserve (the United States) | |
Big Cypress borders the wet freshwatermarl prairiesofEverglades National Parkto the south, and other state and federally protected cypress country in the west, with water from the Big Cypress flowing south and west into the coastalTen Thousand Islandsregion of Everglades National Park.
History
editArchaeologyatPlatt Islandin the preserve shows humans settled there more than two thousand years ago.[5]TheCalusapeople had an extensive presence in the area when Europeans arrived. Big Cypress was historically occupied by various cultures ofNative Americans;the last were theSeminoleof the nineteenth century. Their descendants include the federally recognizedMiccosukee Tribe of Indians of Floridaand theSeminole Tribe of Florida.
Early European-American settlers hunted herons and egrets, whose feathers were popular with 19th and 20th century hat-makers in New York andParis.Poachers huntedAmerican alligatorsandAmerican crocodilesto near extinction. When the timber industry began to operate in the area, it built railroads, and cut and hauled out most of thecypressecosystem'sold growth trees.Portions of the Big Cypress, which is slightly more elevated than the western Everglades, were farmed for winter vegetables.
The search for oil in Florida began in 1901 with no success. After almost 80 dry holes had been drilled throughout the state, on September 26, 1943, Humble Oil Company (later to becomeExxon) discovered Florida's first producing oil well in the northwest portion of what is now Big Cypress National Preserve.[6]When Everglades National Park wasestablishedin 1947, Big Cypress was originally intended to be included; however, because the land had not been purchased from its private owners, Big Cypress was ultimately released from the park system.
In the 1960s, the site was proposed to become the Miami Jetport, a massive new airport intended to replaceMiami International Airport.Construction began in 1968, but due to efforts of Native Americans, hunters, and conservationists, construction was halted in 1970 after only one of the proposed six runways was completed. They followed up with a campaign to have Big Cypress included in the National Park System. The single completed runway is now known as theDade-Collier Training and Transition Airport.
Big Cypress National Preserve differs from Everglades National Park in that, when it was established by law in 1974, the Miccosukee, Seminole and Traditional people were provided with permanent rights to occupy and use the land in traditional ways; in addition, they have first rights to develop income-producing businesses related to the resources and use of the preserve, such as guided tours.[7]They and other hunters[8]may useoff-road vehicles,and home and business owners have been permitted to keep their properties in the preserve. As in Everglades National Park,petroleum explorationwas permitted within Big Cypress in the authorizing legislation, but plans are under way for the government to buy out the remainingpetroleum leasesin order to shut down non-governmental commercial access to the environment.[citation needed]
Climate
editBig Cypress has atropical monsoon climate(Amaccording toKöppen climate classification), bordering ontropical savanna climate(Aw). Days are some of the hottest in Florida. January has an average high of 78.0 °F (25.6 °C) and August has an average high of 93.6 °F (34.2 °C). However, nights cool down into the 50s °F (low 10s °C) in winter. Means range from 66.5 °F (19.2 °C) in January to 84.7 °F (29.3 °C) in August. Highs exceed 90 °F (32 °C) on 154 days per year, while they fall below 70 °F (21 °C) on just 8 days.Hardiness zoneis 10b, with an average annual minimum of 35 °F (2 °C). The lowest recorded daily high was 48 °F (9 °C) in 2010, while the highest low on record was 89 °F (32 °C) in 2005.
| Climate data for Oasis Ranger Station, Florida, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1978–2016 | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 90 (32) |
91 (33) |
94 (34) |
97 (36) |
100 (38) |
103 (39) |
101 (38) |
101 (38) |
101 (38) |
98 (37) |
96 (36) |
91 (33) |
103 (39) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 86.4 (30.2) |
87.6 (30.9) |
89.8 (32.1) |
92.1 (33.4) |
96.4 (35.8) |
97.6 (36.4) |
97.6 (36.4) |
98.0 (36.7) |
96.9 (36.1) |
93.9 (34.4) |
90.1 (32.3) |
87.1 (30.6) |
98.8 (37.1) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 78.0 (25.6) |
80.7 (27.1) |
83.0 (28.3) |
87.0 (30.6) |
90.5 (32.5) |
92.3 (33.5) |
93.4 (34.1) |
93.6 (34.2) |
92.2 (33.4) |
88.6 (31.4) |
83.5 (28.6) |
80.1 (26.7) |
86.9 (30.5) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 66.5 (19.2) |
68.8 (20.4) |
70.6 (21.4) |
74.4 (23.6) |
78.2 (25.7) |
82.4 (28.0) |
84.3 (29.1) |
84.7 (29.3) |
83.9 (28.8) |
79.9 (26.6) |
73.6 (23.1) |
69.6 (20.9) |
76.4 (24.7) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 55.1 (12.8) |
57.0 (13.9) |
58.2 (14.6) |
61.7 (16.5) |
65.9 (18.8) |
72.5 (22.5) |
75.1 (23.9) |
75.8 (24.3) |
75.7 (24.3) |
71.2 (21.8) |
63.8 (17.7) |
59.0 (15.0) |
65.9 (18.8) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | 36.1 (2.3) |
38.8 (3.8) |
43.4 (6.3) |
48.1 (8.9) |
56.4 (13.6) |
65.8 (18.8) |
69.9 (21.1) |
71.3 (21.8) |
70.7 (21.5) |
60.0 (15.6) |
50.2 (10.1) |
41.1 (5.1) |
33.6 (0.9) |
| Record low °F (°C) | 26 (−3) |
26 (−3) |
32 (0) |
41 (5) |
50 (10) |
57 (14) |
62 (17) |
62 (17) |
63 (17) |
48 (9) |
39 (4) |
26 (−3) |
26 (−3) |
| Averageprecipitationinches (mm) | 1.92 (49) |
1.56 (40) |
2.10 (53) |
3.02 (77) |
5.77 (147) |
10.45 (265) |
9.13 (232) |
9.66 (245) |
8.09 (205) |
5.16 (131) |
1.88 (48) |
1.63 (41) |
60.37 (1,533) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 0.01 in) | 7.0 | 5.6 | 5.8 | 6.1 | 9.0 | 18.0 | 17.6 | 19.9 | 17.8 | 11.3 | 5.5 | 6.0 | 129.6 |
| Source: NOAA (mean maxima/minima 1981–2010)[9][10] | |||||||||||||
Flora and fauna
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The preserve is highly diverse biologically. It is dominated by a wet cypress forest, but while "few giant cypress remain...one third of the swamp is covered with dwarf pond cypress."[11]It is host to an array of flora and fauna, includingmangroves,orchids,alligators,crocodiles,venomous snakes like thecottonmouthandeastern diamondback rattlesnake,a variety of birds,river otter,deer,bobcat,coyote,black bearandcougar.
The preserve is also home to federally listedendangered speciesincluding theeastern indigo snakeand the Floridasandhill crane.[citation needed]
Tourism
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Twelve campgrounds in Big Cypress are tailored to motor vehicles, where tourists planning overnight stays can park their vehicles and off-road vehicles in designated areas. The southern terminus of theFlorida National Scenic Trailis located in Big Cypress, and provides hiking opportunities during the winter months.[12]Hiking throughout Big Cypress is enjoyable in all seasons, with most of the cypress country more hospitable to hikers than the densesawgrassprairies of the central Everglades. Some of the most beautiful wading and walking can be found in cypress strands and prairies between the Loop Road and theTamiami Trail.
Wildlife is abundant in the preserve. Most notable and regularly seen, the American alligators can be up to around 12 feet in length. Another notable and endangered animal, the Florida panther calls the Preserve home. Though both generally relatively timid, wading through the cypress country requires constant alertness. Before going out, visit one of the preserve's visitor centers for information on the current conditions and local trails. The visitor centers offer an educational video about the surroundings, also viewable on the Big Cypress YouTube channel. Rangers often lead swamp walk hikes in the dry winter months, as well as canoe trips, and boardwalk talks.[13][failed verification]
Hunting is a long-established recreational activity in the area and is protected in the designation of the area as a Preserve. Hunters were instrumental in protecting this corner of remote, wild Florida. Hunting activities continue today and include seasons for archery, muzzle loading and general gun. Typical game species are white-tailed deer, turkey and hogs. Alligator hunting is not allowed within the national preserve. Hunting within the preserve is managed cooperatively between the National Park Service and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.[8]
Controversy over off-road vehicles
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Touted as a "recreational paradise" by the Department of the Interior, Big Cypress was created in part to accommodate access withoff-road vehicles (ORVs)[14]by the hunters and the Miccosukee and Seminole people who had worked to protect Big Cypress from drainage and development. However, scientists and conservationists have noted an increase in ORV recreation that prompted the National Park Service in 2001 to proactively manage ORV recreation and to reduce 400 miles (640 km) of primary trails within the preserve,[15]despite persistent calls for more from hunters and ORV enthusiasts.
According to a 2001 study conducted by theUnited States Geological Survey,
ORV use in Big Cypress National Preserve has impacted wildlife populations and habitats through modifications to water flow patterns (direction and velocity) and water quality, soil displacement and compaction, direct vegetation damage, disturbance to foraging individuals, and, ultimately, overall suitability of habitats for wildlife.[16]
Given these conclusions, environmental groups opposed the announcement by park officials in 2006 of a new study to determine whether the recreational benefit of more trails is worth the risk of additional damage to the ecosystem.[17]
Gallery
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Cypresses growing along SR 94 (Loop Road) -
State Road 94 (Loop Road) in Big Cypress -
Cypresses growing along Loop Road SR 94 -
Prairie in Big Cypress N. P. -
-
Prairie in Big Cypress N. P. -
A brown water snake rests on a branch above the water -
Double-crested cormorant cruises through the water -
An anhinga perches among the branches above the water -
An American alligator swims through the water
References
edit- ^"Listing of acreage – December 31, 2011"(XLSX).Land Resource Division, National Park Service.RetrievedMay 14,2012.(National Park Service Acreage Reports)
- ^"NPS Annual Recreation Visits Report".National Park Service.
- ^"Big Cypress".Nps.gov.RetrievedFebruary 20,2016.
- ^"Welcome to Big Cypress Swamp · The Western Everglades".Bigcypressswamp.org.Archived fromthe originalon October 26, 2018.RetrievedFebruary 20,2016.
- ^Widmer, Randolph J. (1988). "The Prehistory of Southwest Florida".Evolution of the Calusa: a Stratified Non-Agricultural Chiefdom on the Southwest Florida Coast.University of Alabama Press. p.72.ISBN978-0-8173-0358-7.
- ^"Florida's First Oil Well - Petroleum History Resources".Sites.google.com.RetrievedFebruary 20,2016.
- ^National Park Service, James A. Goss,Usual and Customary Use by the Miccosukee and Seminole Indians in Big Cypress National Preserve, Florida,National Park Service, 1995, pp. 4-5
- ^ab"Hunting - Big Cypress National Preserve (U.S. National Park Service)".Nps.gov.January 5, 2015.RetrievedFebruary 20,2016.
- ^"NOWData - NOAA Online Weather Data".National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.RetrievedMay 9,2021.
- ^"Summary of Monthly Normals 1991–2020".National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.RetrievedMay 9,2021.
- ^Scott, David (2004).Guide to the National park areas.Guilford, Conn: Globe Pequot Press. pp.17–18.ISBN0-7627-2988-0.OCLC55075855.
- ^"Hiking - Big Cypress National Preserve (U.S. National Park Service)".Nps.gov.January 5, 2015.RetrievedFebruary 20,2016.
- ^"Ranger-Led Activities - Big Cypress National Preserve (U.S. National Park Service)".www.nps.gov.RetrievedAugust 30,2019.
- ^"Off-Road Vehicle Use".Nps.gov.RetrievedFebruary 20,2016.
- ^"ORV Access"(PDF).Nps.org.RetrievedFebruary 20,2016.
- ^"Effects of Public Land Use on Threatened, Endangered, and Ecosystem Restoration Indicator Species' Populations and Habitats in Big Cypress National Preserve".Archived fromthe originalon September 22, 2006.RetrievedOctober 18,2006.
- ^"Big Cypress off-road riding will be studied".Archived fromthe originalon March 11, 2007.RetrievedJune 7,2006.
External links
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