Sawgrass Lake Park
Dusty Swanson
October 15th, 2015

Temperature: 86 degrees F.
Wind: 9 mph ENE.
Sunrise-Sunset: 7:31-7:02.
Precipitation: 0%.
Humidity: 42%.

Sawgrass Lake Park began as a flood control zone but has recently undergone a restoration project in order to clean its waters and support native species. We underwent the long drive south in order to study this fantastic example of both swamp and lake ecosystems. The first of many creatures we encountered was a gopher tortoise conveniently eating lunch near an identification sign.

After the visit from our shelled friend we began trickling onto the bridge leading into the main part of the park. Right near the bank on our side of the bridge were three War Hens using their webbed feet to walk on the floating and emergent plants at the waters edge.

Further into the park we began to see trees such as Cypress and Red Maple that extend their roots out in a similar fashion to the prop roots of a Red Mangrove. This secures the trees in the occasionally submerged and unstable soil of a swamp. 

As seen in the second picture some of these trees will tip (or fall) over but because of their interconnecting roots these trees can continue to grow (just in a new direction). These root masses also provide a habitat for plants that require a stable base to begin growing. 

At the end of the boardwalk was a observation tower overlooking an open part of the lake. On the far side of the water we could see a spit of land where (as part of the restoration project) cypress trees had been planted. 

On our walk back through the park we saw a mother Alligator sunning herself with her many baby alligators. 

Sawgrass Lake has taken the place of my favorite park visited this semester. Not only was it beautiful and educational but how often do you get to see something as prehistoric as an Alligator from four feet away.