Rosen Shingle Creek Resort, Orlando
(Orange County)
End
Makinson Island (Osceola County)
Approx. Distance
16 miles
Outreach Events
Environmental Education Session Field Lab
with 7th grade students at Hunter’s Creek Middle School:
Students from Hunter’s Creek Elementary School interacted
with the team and conducted water quality testing to learn
more about watersheds, wetlands and aquatic ecosystems.
A Lake Kissimmee State Park prescribed
burning expert was on hand to educate the travelers on
the benefits of controlled fire. Prescribed burning is one of the most
successful tools land managers use to improve ecosystems
and reduce wildfire danger. Prescribed burning mimics
natural fire cycles to restore natural communities, reduce
undergrowth that accumulates over time and decrease the
potential for wildfire. Burned lands experience an increase
in native wildflowers, birds and other wildlife.
Interview with Agriculture Experts at
Brahma Island to discuss the history of the area's cattle
operations: A representative from a local ranch informed
the expedition team of the rich history of cattle ranching
in the Kissimmee River area. Prior to the 1940s, human
habitation was sparse within the Kissimmee basin. Land use
within the basin consisted primarily of farming and cattle
ranching.
Interview with Restoration Experts at
River Ranch on Land Acquisitions for Conservation: The team
heard from experts regarding the aggressive land
acquisition buying program to put the
lands needed for restoration projects in state ownership. In April 2006,
Florida celebrated the completion of land acquisition needed
for the Kissimmee River Restoration Project. The 12,000
acres purchased for $35.8 million completed the total
acquisition of 102,061 acres needed for construction of the
entire project.
Interview with Restoration Experts at
Bluff Hammock Trailhead regarding Kissimmee River
Restoration: Chuck Wilburn, Kissimmee River Restoration
Project Manager for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers gave a presentation on current restoration activity to team
members. The Kissimmee River restoration project was
authorized by the U.S. Congress in the Water Resources
Development Act of 1992.
Environmental Education Field Lab at
Micco Shelter Primitive Camp: Middle and High School
Teachers from Okeechobee and Highlands Counties conducted
lab exercises at the Riverwoods Field Lab and then traveled
to the Micco Shelter, where the team met with the
teachers and conducted activities such as water quality
testing and a macro-invertebrate bioassessment.
Interview with Restoration Experts at Riverwoods Field Lab
regarding Ecological Successes in Restored Areas: The
Kissimmee River restoration project is restoring an
estimated 40 square miles of river/floodplain ecosystem,
including 26,500 acres of wetlands, 43 continuous miles of
meandering river and will provide habitat for over 300
species, including the endangered bald eagle, snail kite
and wood stork. This area of the expedition allowed the
team to study the benefits of the restored portions of the
river. Speakers included Joel Koebel and Lawrence Glenn,
Project Managers from the South Florida Water Management
District Kissimmee Division.
Interview with Restoration Experts at Edna Pearce-Lockett
Estate regarding the history of Edna Pearce-Lockett Estate:
A representative from the estate gave a presentation on
the life of Edna Pearce-Lockett, who was a teacher in a
one-room school house in the late 1800’s, and how the estate
is part of the restoration process.
