Reproduction of owl totem found near Hontoon Island State Park in the St. Johns River
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Archaeological Resources
The Wekiva and St. Johns River basins provided abundant natural resources for pre-European
communities. Native American artifacts from several archaeological periods have been discovered in
significant numbers at many sites within the Wekiva and St. Johns basins. Remains of now extinct
animals, like giant sloths and mastodons, have also been found at various locations in the preserve.
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The Wekiva River |
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Natural Communities
Extensive areas of floodplain wetlands, including marsh, swamp, blackwater streams and spring-fed runs,
make up the aquatic preserve. Forests of mixed hardwoods - tupelo, red maple, water ash, bald cypress
and hickory - line the river banks. Laurel oak, sweet gum, wax myrtle, buttonbush and swamp dogwood
share the floodplain. Eelgrass is the dominant submerged vegetation, and spatterdock, pennywort and
pickerel weed dot the water's surface.
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Baby alligators
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Wildlife
The wetlands, as well as the uplands, of the aquatic preserve provide rich habitat for central
Florida's diverse wildlife population. From micro- and macro- invertebrates, to amphibians, reptiles
and mammals, the Wekiva and St. Johns rivers support an extensive list of native species, including
those designated as endangered, threatened, rare or of special concern. The natural communities of
the aquatic preserve provide food, water, shelter, and breeding sites to support healthy populations
of wildlife - fish, turtles, alligators, wading birds, manatees and black bear - to name but a
few.
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2012 State of Florida