Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge | park, wetland, nature conservation park / area

 park, wetland, nature conservation park / area

The Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge is the northernmost portion of the unique Everglades. With over 221 square miles of Everglades habitat, A.R.M. Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge is home to the American Alligator and the endangered Everglades snail kite. In any given year, as many as 257 species of birds may use the refuge's diverse wetland habitats. This conservation area is protected from urban development and farming.

The refuge was established in 1951 under the authority of the Migratory Bird Conservation Act and is managed through a license agreement between the South Florida Water Management District and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. In total, the refuge includes 145,800 acres of northern Everglades habitat. The refuge contains one of three water conservation areas (WCA's) in south Florida and is maintained to provide water storage and flood control, as well as habitat for native fish and wildlife populations.

www.fws.gov/loxahatchee/home/default.asp