| Orange River Preserve (ORP) is over 58 acres and was acquired in 2002. The Preserve is divided into two parcels by a privately owned outparcel. The Preserve consists of three plant communities: scrubby flatwoods, mesic hammock and tidal swamp.
The Preserve is located approximately one mile east of Interstate 75 just after crossing the Orange River. State Road 80 (Palm Beach Boulevard) is the northern border and the Orange River is the southern border; it is bordered by private property to the east and west.
In January 2008, habitat restoration work began on the preserve. These activities inluded rollerchopping overgrown areas of saw palmetto, removing large invasive exotic melaleuca trees off-site, and having the FL Dept. of Corrections exotic plant work crew removing Brazilian pepper trees. In October 2008, a coordinated effect between staff from the FL Division of Forestry (Caloosahatchee District) and local fire departments performed a prescribed burn on 24 acres of scrubby flatwoods. On-going stewardship activities will include exotic plant control and prescribed burns.
Lee County's Department of Parks and Recreation is exploring the possibility of building a bridge for manatee viewing over the FPL canal and a boardwalk connection to the Preserve. These plans will be subject to obtaining permission from FPL, the Crossroads Baptist Church whose land is located between the two areas, successfully applying for permits and obtaining funding from an outside source, such as the Tourist Development Council. (see Land Stewardship Plan for more information). |
