| Prairie Pines Preserve is located in north central Lee County, within Sections 1, 2, 3, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, and 16 of Township 43 South, Range 24 East. It was acquired as two parcels in 2001 and 2003 for a total of 2,709 acres. In 2009, nearly 55 acres were transferrd to LDOT for a road right-of-way along Del Prado Blvd. Extension.
The Preserve is bordered by an active railroad and I-75 on its northeast side, Lost Lane, which is unimproved, and a drainage ditch on its east side, Del Prado Extension/Mellow Drive and a drainage ditch on its south side. On the west side there is an abandoned railroad grade that is owned by the Division of Utilities, with 320 acres of the 2,654 acre Preserve extending west beyond this railroad grade towards US 41. The west, east and south boundaries are surrounded mainly by housing developments. The north boundary of the Preserve runs along the Lee/Charlotte County line.
The Preserve consists of a mosaic of several native plant communities, including wet and mesic flatwoods, depression marshes, wet prairies, prairie hammocks and a small baygall. Past agricultural practices have disturbed about 7% of the Preserve. |
