University Colloquium: Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary

Ok, I am not going to lie I was kinda excited to go here. I drive by it all the time but never thought to stop and look around. Needless to say it was kind of a let down to me. I am really not a fauna kind of girl give me some animals and flora and I am there!

There are 6 distinct ecosystems present they are:

Pine Flatwood: They are endangered due to the expanding housing area. I found it interesting that the controlled burns are needed so that the smaller plants don't push the pines out and strangle them.

Wet Prarie: They provide many benefits including hunting grounds for some animals, fresh water source, and a pathway for animals to get to other food sources.

Central Marsh: Help to reduce storm damage from heavy rains, filter out pollutants, and help to stabilize soil for plants.

Bald Cypress: They provide a home and hunting ground for many animals and insects. It is mostly used as a shelter for them though.

This tree was HUGE!

Lettuce Lakes: This provides what most lakes and rivers do and that is to hold water from rains. It also provides a habitat for some species and hunting grounds for others.

The red water kinda grossed me out!

Somethings had been through there


I see how it gets its name, YUCK!

Pond Cypress: A natural buffer between the flatwoods and the cypress. It creates a place where species from both and interact and coexist.

I think it is great that private non-profits were interested in preserving this area of land. By combining two groups you are able to pool resources such as money, connections and people. The motivation to preserve this particular piece of land was to protect the bald and pond cypress from being logged. I think the government should step in and provide some sort of help either financially or people to help run the sanctuary. Ecologically this area is needed to help with the purification of water. With so many farms in the area it is needed to help remove the toxins from pesticides and such.