| Galt Preserve (GP) totals 265 acres and is made up of three separately purchased C20/20 acquisitions; two parcels were acquired in 2002, while a third parcel was acquired in early 2007. The Preserve is located approximately 7 miles south of Pine Island Center at about Pine Island mile marker 2 off York Road in St. James City. GP consists of twelve plant communities; the dominant ones include tidal swamp (mangroves), mesic flatwoods, melaleuca and mixed exotic plants.
The Preserve is bordered by a Lee County Mosquito Control District (LCMCD) helicopter pad along with Stringfellow and York Roads to the east, mangrove swamps to the west, a palm nursery to the north, and a residential development to the south.
The Preserve contains twelve plant communities including tidal swamps, mesic flatwoods, melaleuca monocultures, mixed exotics, borrow ponds, and tidal marshes. Galt Preserve is home to variety of animal species, mainly wading birds, including white ibis, snowy egrets, little blue herons and American alligators.
Once major restoration projects are completed, amenities will be installed making it more user friendly for hiking, bird watching, photography and fishing. The proposed nature trails at GP will be marked and will total a length of 2.0 miles. The nature trails will begin at a trailhead near the borrow pond and loop through the Preserve allowing visitors to see the results of different exotic plant control techniques and restored native plant communities. A sign with a map of the trail system and Preserve information will be posted at the trailhead along with a brochure box containing trail maps and environmental education information. A fishing pier and picnic tables are also proposed adjacent to the borrow pond. |
