Se7en Wetlands Gopher Tortoise Tour Preview

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Gopher Tortoise Gate

The Gopher Tortoise Gate is one of two public entrances to Se7en Wetlands. As you walk the trails, pay attention to the trail markers. Red gopher tortoise markers point the shortest route back to the Gopher Tortoise Gate. Blue wood stork markers lead the way to the Wood Stork Gate, which exits into Polk County's Lakeland Highlands Scrub.

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Control Structure 3 and Distribution ditches

Se7en Wetlands uses a series of structures called control structures, which maintain the flow of water from one wetland cell to the next. Control structures can be adjusted to raise and lower the water levels in each wetland. They can be used to temporarily stop the flow of water completely between wetlands if needed. Distribution ditches are adjacent to Wetlands 1, 2, and 3. These ditches slow the water's velocity and help to reduce erosion. Animals such as wading birds, turtles, and young alligators also hang out in the calm, shallow water of the distribution ditches.

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Control Structure 4

Control Structure 4 allows water to move from Wetland 1 into Wetland 2. Notice the picnic pavilion close by. You can listen to the sounds of the flowing water and watch for wading birds at this covered pavilion.

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4

Boardwalk over Marsh Habitat

This boardwalk takes you over marsh habitat, where the soil is often saturated or flooded and plants such as grasses and sedges dominate. Listen carefully for the call of a pig frog, which sounds exactly like the grunt of its namesake. You can also see many examples of marsh vegetation, such as cattails, carolina willow, and the aggressively insvasive brazilian pepper.

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5

Marsh habitat

Marshes are transitional wetland habitats that are often flooded, and they support a wide variety of plants and wildlife that are adapted to the constantly saturated soil conditions. Marshes are incredibly important to the environment because they help prevent flooding by slowing and storing water, and the plants that thrive there help remove excess nutrients. Look closely and you may be able to spot frogs hiding in the duckweed, small mosquito fish flitting around, or a blue heron stalking its prey.

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6

Boardwalk over Wetland 5

The boardwalk over Wetland 5 takes you out over an open-water lake, which was dug out and left over from phosphate mining operations in the early-mid 1900s. The lake is now home to alligators, turtles, fish, and a variety of wading birds. Using the boardwalk's binoculars will give you a great view of the spoil islands, where Federally Threatened wood storks raise their young in the spring.

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Alligators

If you look out over the lake, you're likely to see the bumpy ridges of a mostly-submerged alligator. Alligators play an important role in wetland ecosystems as a major predator keeping fish populations in balance, and through their creation of 'gator holes. These are depressions where water collects during the dry season to provide food and shelter for other organisms.

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8

Outreach Pond

This small marshy pond is called Outreach Pond, which is a microcosm of the diversity of the wetlands. This is a great place to explore and observe the smaller organisms that are such a vital part of the wetland ecosystem. Listen for the croak of frogs from the water and watch for small animals darting in the vegetation, such as green anoles, orb weaver spiders, and non-venomous rat snakes.

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9

Uplands and Distribution ditch

This area is a great showcase of Florida uplands, where the habitat changes drastically from wet marsh to pinelands and oak hammocks. The upland habitat of Se7en Wetlands provides an important ecosystem to many native animals such as gopher tortoises, raccoons, bobcats, and red-shouldered hawks. Vegetation that can be found in the uplands include pine trees, oak trees, wildflowers, and grasses. Up ahead on the left is another distribution ditch that feeds the water coming from Wetland 1 slowly into Wetland 2. Keep an eye out for alligators in the shallow water!

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10

Purpose of the Berms

You may have noticed that in many places, the ground slopes down on either side of the trail. These sloping hills are earthen berms, which form the walls that separate each wetland cell from the others.The berms serve as a barrier to keep water contained within the cells. In this way, water is only allowed to flow from one wetland to the next via control structures, which can control how much water is flowing and when it flows. Trees and other large vegetation are not allowed to grow on the berms, because the roots can cause damage and a way for water to escape.

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11

Bobcats

If you're quiet and observant, you may be lucky enough to spot one of Florida's most elusive animals, the bobcat. As solitary animals, bobcats spend their time hunting stealthily through their swamp and forest habitats in search of prey. Bobcats play an important role in their ecosystem by exerting “top-down control”, which means they help balance the ecosystem by keeping populations of other consumers in check.

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End of Tour

Thank you so much for taking the self-guided hiking tour of Se7en Wetlands. Please visit again soon!

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