National Park Service National Parks of South Florida U.S. Department of the Interior Biscayne, Dry Tortugas and Everglades National Parks Big Cypress National Preserve Park Stories Current Stories and Events for the National Parks in South Florida, 2005 Hurricanes: Reclaiming Nature in South Florida South Florida’s National Parks National Parks... ... protect coral reefs, fragile estuaries, When faced with the swirling image of a hurricane, you might might obliterate what remains of this part of the Bay’s color- sub-tropical forests and some of the larg- imagine yourself hunkering down in a concrete bunker or ful history. Although hurricanes may eventually be the undo- est natural areas east of the Mississippi River, and preserve a rich human history. high-tailing it out of town. The thought of crouching behind ing of Stiltsville, they help preserve its reason for being. Hur- a sand dune, clinging to a mangrove tree or treading water ricanes temporarily restore the pulse of fresh water needed ... are home to a variety of temperate and next to a coral reef to ride out the storm probably sends shiv- to maintain healthy seagrass beds which, in turn, support rich tropical plants and animals that co-mingle ers down your spine (and, is not recommended!). But during fi sheries. nowhere else within the United States. a hurricane our human-made structures weather, by far, the worst of the storm while these “fragile” natural features are Shifting Sands and Mud at the Dry Tortugas ... provide a wide range of recreational op- designed to temper nature’s fury. Seventy miles from Key West, the islands of the Dry Tortugas portunities for visitors and residents. also appear isolated and vulnerable to ravaging storms. But While exploring, take time to learn more about the complex the extensive coral reefs surrounding the seven islands of the ... are interconnected by water fl owing eff ects of hurricanes on South Florida’s National Parks. Tortugas act to dampen the eff ects of storm surge, protecting through Florida from Kissimmee to the natural harbors amid the islands. It was these harbors and the Keys. Reshaping Communities in Biscayne Bay strategic location that led the U.S. Army to fortify the Tortugas The most destructive part of a hurricane is usually not its during the 19th century. The thick walls of Fort Jeff erson seem ... are special places saved by the Ameri- can people so that all may experience our wind. It’s the storm surge – the swell of water pushed land- Continued on page 9 heritage. ward by the hurricane’s winds. In Au- gust of 1992, Hurricane Andrew pushed a wall of water more than thirteen feet high towards Biscayne Bay. The storm What’s Inside? surge overtopped many of the Bay’s Big Cypress National Preserve ... 2-3 Keys – including Elliott and Boca Chita. Biscayne National Park ... 4-5 Andrew’s storm surge took a shot at a collection of stilt houses that stand on Everglades National Park ... 6-7 submerged sandbanks north of Boca Chita. This enclave of houses, known Dry Tortugas National Park ... 8 collectively as Stiltsville, got its start in the 1930s when its founders were at- Kids’ Corner ... 9 tracted to the fi shing prospects of the seagrass beds below. Originally a col- Hurricanes (continued) ... 9 lection of modest shacks, it grew to South Florida include private clubs, such as the Quar- National Parks Partners ... 10-11 terdeck Club and upscale houses. Endangered Species in Hurricanes have slowly disassembled South Florida National Parks ... 12 Stiltsville, exposed and vulnerable to the shifting nature of sand and water. The hurricane season in Florida begins in June and goes through the end of November. These storms can be Check out the South Florida devastating on the human scale, destroying property and taking lives. In the natural world, the storms “just Donna, Betsy, and Andrew all took a are” and have helped to shape South Florida into the place it is today. National Parks Trip Planner swipe. Andrew left only seven struc- for details on park facilities. tures standing. The next direct hit Big Cypress National Preserve Exploring the Backcountry Article by Reid F. Tillery, copyright 2004 continuing until we hit Monument water, the favorite haunts of big alliga- Road, the swamp-buggy trail which led tors. Pine trees indicate relatively dry The young cottonmouth lay sunning us the fi nal 7 kilometers back to civiliza- land. And the majestic sabal palm, Flor- himself in the trail dead ahead. Coinci- tion. Our trip ended at Monument Lake ida’s offi cial state tree, is always a wel- dentally, I had stopped only 3 feet short Campground on US Highway 41. comed sight for it’s an almost sure sign to adjust my gear when I caught sight of of high, dry ground. As the afternoon him in my peripheral vision. Except for Since it was the winter dry season, water shadows lengthened we would scan Big Cypress National Preserve that delay, I might have traipsed right levels within the preserve were not too distant treetops for pines and palms in over the venomous snake, perhaps re- Established in 1974 high. The highest water we encountered search of a dry place to pitch our tents. 729,000 acres ceiving a nasty bite in the process. was thigh deep and that was in only one spot where we walked through the deep During our daytime travels, we fl ushed Important Information It was a sunny, warm February day water for perhaps fi fty meters. Nor- several wild turkeys and observed the and we were deep in the Big Cypress mally, we slogged through damp prairies distinctive white-fl ag tails of deer as Mailing Address Swamp — a 2,400-square-mile wilder- or ankle to knee-deep through cypress they bounded across the prairies ahead HCR 61, Box 110 ness, an integral part of the Everglades swamps. Jungle boots, with their drain of us. We saw only 3 snakes, a black Ochopee, FL 34141 itself, located in the center of otherwise holes which allow water to escape with racer and a small water snake, both of heavily populated south Florida. The each step, proved to be just the right which are harmless and which quickly Phone name Big Cypress refers to the size of footwear for the trip. Had we been slithered off , as well as the venomous Toll-free 24 Hour Emergency the swamp and not to the trees within there during the summer rainy season, cottonmouth water moccasin men- (800) 788-0511 it. A drive along the stretch of Interstate the situation likely would have been a tioned earlier. The distinctive 45-degree Big Cypress Visitor Center 75 called Alligator Alley or along US (239) 695-1201 lot diff erent. In the summer, water levels tilt of the cottonmouth’s head, as well as Big Cypress Hunting Information Highway 41, also known as the Tamiami tend to be higher and the mosquitoes, the black stripe running by the eye and (239) 695-2040 Trail, between Naples and Miami off ers which were present but not in great alongside the head provided an instant Report hunting violations immediately to some idea of the vastness of this great numbers, would have been much worse. positive identifi cation. After observing (800) 788-0511 wilderness. Within its boundaries are Plus, it would have been hot and humid. it a short while, we snapped its photo, wide and soggy sunlit prairies, forests of For these reasons, many people avoid then left it to continue sunning while we Website slash pine and palmetto, great clusters trips through here in the summertime. went on our way. We kept watch, hop- www.nps.gov/bicy of cypress trees arranged in circular ing to glimpse a rare Florida panther, of domes or in lengthy strands, and here Do much walking through Big Cypress which only 80 - 100 remain. But these and there a hardwood hammock that and you’ll soon learn to read trees and creatures are reputed to be shy and provides welcomed dryness underfoot plants for clues as to water levels. Cy- elusive. If they were present at all, they National Park Service and perhaps a suitable place to camp for press trees mean wet and swampy. Al- certainly lived up to their reputation, U.S. Department of the In te ri or the night. ligator fl ag, a wetland plant with large, for we never saw so much as a panther spearhead-shaped leaves, signals deep track, much less a panther. Within the Big Cypress Swamp is the Big Cypress National Preserve, 729,000 acres, most of which were set aside by South Florida National Parks Guide federal legislation in 1974 after a public is published as a service to park visitors outcry went up against a huge jetport by the Florida National Parks and Monu- ments Association (FNPMA). that was to be built in the area. Thanks to that legislation, the area escaped The National Park Service, an agency development and remains wild today. In of the Department of the Interior, was addition to other recreational activities, established in 1916 to manage a grow- hunting and off -road vehicles (ORVs) ing system of national parks. Today, the are allowed in the preserve. National Park System consists of more than 380 units. National Parks, National My friend, Don Richards, and I were Preserves, Seashores, Monuments, His- on a 5-day backpacking trek through toric Sites, Lakeshores, Battlefi elds, and this magnifi cent wilderness. It was the others make up a great repository of na- sprawling wildness of the place that tional treasures entrusted to the National attracted us to it.