STATE FOREST SPOTLIGHT Tings to Know When Visiting Forest Service Hydrological Restoration Picayune Strand The Picayune Strand is critical to the health State Forest of the ecosystem. Historically, the wetlands that composed the Strand contributed • Drive on designated roads only. Picayune Strand to groundwater recharge and regulated the flow of freshwater through the landscape and into • Unlicensed vehicles, motorcycles and ATVs the estuaries to the south. The canal system (all terrain vehicles) are not allowed on the State Forest established in the 1970s altered the hydrology of forest. the Strand and surrounding areas by draining the • Foot trafc, bicycles, and horses are welcome wetlands and increasing freshwater point source on trails designated for their use. discharges into the estuaries. Consequently, former wetlands were invaded by upland and • Do not make new roads or trails. No cross- non-native vegetation and the delicate balance of country travel. fresh and saltwater in the estuaries was disrupted. • Take all garbage with you when you leave the The result was an extensive loss of wildlife forest. Containers are not provided. habitat. Restoration of Picayune Strand was planned as part of the Comprehensive Everglades • Kirkland Hammock camping requires a State Restoration Plan. Forest Use Permit. Permits are available at Picayune Strand State Forest Headquarters, Monday-Friday, 8a.m. - 5p.m. Love the state forests? So do we! • Reservations for all other campsites can be made by calling 877.879.3859 or go to https:// Te Friends of Florida State Forests is a direct- www.FloridaStateForests.ReserveAmerica. support organization of the Florida Forest Service com dedicated to ensuring Florida’s state forests are • Visitors may be required to pay entrance available for future generations to enjoy. Make a or recreation use fees in designated areas. diference by joining today to help protect Florida’s Annual Day Use Entrance Passes are forests. available. • Hunting requires a permit and license Membership dues go to the forests for conservation and is allowed in designated areas during and improvement projects. To join Friends or for appropriate seasons. more information, visit: • We encourage all visitors to check the www.FloridaStateForests.org Wildlife Management Area regulations and hunting season dates before visiting the forest. For further information visit: www.MyFWC.com. FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE For more information, visit: AND CONSUMER SERVICES www.FDACS.gov/FLStateForests DACS-P-00142 Rev. 10-2019 History Natural Resources Picayune Strand was logged for cypress and pine Picayune Strand State Forest is a critical link within trees in the 1940s and 1950s. Afer logging was a network of publicly managed lands that include completed, the land was purchased by developers Fakahatchee Strand State Preserve, Big Cypress and drained for the construction of what was National Preserve, Florida Panther National intended to become the largest subdivision in Wildlife Refuge, Collier State Park, and the world. Tis area became the setting for the 10,000 Islands National Wildlife Refuge. Picayune infamous “swampland in Florida” scam. Potential Strand State Forest provides habitat to many unique buyers were shown the land from the air during the species of fora and fauna, including the only stable dry season, and many lots were sold to people who population of panthers east of the Mississippi River. never saw their land from the ground. Few homes Other wildlife with confrmed sightings on the were built in the subdivision named “Golden Gate forest currently listed as endangered, threatened, Estates” due to the lack of electricity and high or of special concern include: Bald Eagle, Eastern summer water levels. Cypress Marsh Indigo Snake, Florida Black Bear, Gopher Tortoise, Red-cockaded Woodpecker, and Wood Stork. Te By the 1970s, it was obvious that the extensive canal Picayune Strand provides foraging and nesting system was having an adverse efect on the natural habitat for a large, diverse wading bird population. communities of Picayune Strand and associated ecosystems, including Faka-Union Bay and the Ten Rare plants of special importance occurring within Tousand Islands area. the forest include numerous epiphytic orchids and bromeliads, Florida Royal Palm and Everglades Te frst parcels of land in Picayune Strand were Palm. Te forest contains some of the best hydric purchased in 1985 and acquisition of the remaining pine fatwoods in . 52,000 acres of swampland accelerated in the following years. Te Picayune Strand State Forest was ofcially named in May of 1995. Recreation Picayune Strand State Forest ofers horseback riding along the 22-mile Belle Meade Horse Forestry A Bald eagle scans the forest Trail; accompanied by 30 paddocks, non-potable Te mission of the Florida Forest Service is water, and an equestrian group camping area. Te to protect and manage the forest resources of Tie-back Levee Trail links the 3 Picayune Strand Florida, ensuring that they are available for future Restoration Project pump stations on a raised berm generations. Te FFS manages more than 1 million and can be accessed from Merritt Blvd., Everglades acres of state forest land for multiple uses including Blvd., and Miller Blvd. for hiking, biking, and timber production, recreation and wildlife habitat. wildlife viewing. On the southern end of the forest, Picayune Strand State Forest is managed by the FFS the Port of the Islands recreation area provides for the primary purposes of ecological restoration, freshwater fshing in the Faka-Union Canal. wildlife habitat preservation, water quality improvement, generating forest products and public On the western part of the forest, hiking the 3.2- use. A variety of management strategies and tools mile Sabal Palm hiking trail provides plant and are used to achieve these objectives. wildlife viewing opportunities in a pine fatwoods community. Go camping at a limited number of Te application of prescribed fre is used to reduce primitive tent and RV campsites that are available; fuels and mimic the natural fre regime that camping fees apply. Cycling over an extensive historically maintained the natural communities Recreational pavillion and horse paddocks road system provides excellent terrain for of- on the Forest, removal of invasive exotic species, For more information contact: road biking. rails may be wet during the summer preservation of historical and archaeological sites, Picayune Strand State Forest months. maintenance of recreation facilities, reforestation 2121 52nd Ave. SE Naples, FL 34117 and tree harvesting are just a few of the integral Te Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation components of the Picayune Strand State Forest (239) 348-7557 Commission coordinates hunting activities on the management plan. www.FDACS.gov/FLStateForests forest. Visit www.MyFWC.com for information.