WOLF BRANCH SINK
Wolf Branch Sink is an active sinkhole that collects storm water runoff from a five square-mile drainage basin. The water collects into Wolf Creek, runs down a ravine and empties into the underground aquifer. At the bottom of the ravine is a WATERFALL...quite a "natural phenomenon" for flat terrain of Central Florida. Because of the sensitivity of this process, LWCA only opens this area to the public a couple times a year.
On February 14, LCWA opened the area to the public. I cancelled golf just to see this. If you invite people they will come...the parking area was full. There were LCWA staff stationed at several locations to describe the area and answer questions.
The waterfall and Wolf Creek disappear during dry weather. Luckily we have had some good rains lately and both were flowing.
In addition to seeing the sinkhole and waterfall, Brian and I took a 30-minute walk that looped through the preserve. There was lots of natural Florida beauty to explore in that short time. I love the twists and turns of the large live oak trees.
HIDDEN WATERS PRESERVE
I followed up by visiting another LCWA property, Hidden Waters Preserve. This area is also a sinkhole...here is an aerial view from Google Maps.
The property has a 90 foot drop in elevation from the top rim to the pond at the bottom (pretty interesting because remember Central Florida is flat). There is a trail around the rim at the top, a trail to the pond and another trail around the pond. A small stream feeds the pond at the bottom.
FLAT ISLAND PRESERVE
This week I was on a roll visiting LCWA properties! I remembered seeing a small sign for Flat Island Preserve on Route 27 (a major road in the area), so I checked it out next. This LCWA property consists of two wooded islands surrounded by wetlands.
The trail in the park was flat and open, but I needed to watch where I walked because of the roots.
It was a quiet day (no wind or traffic sounds). I kept hearing light rustling off the trail. It was armadillos! I saw/heard about a dozen on my 3-mile walk. They didn't seem to be concerned until I was about 6 feet away.
Close to the end of my walk I saw a dug up area and a snout impression the the trail. Then I heard a loud snort and BIG rustling in the woods. I am pretty sure it was a wild pig. If I would have come up on a wild pig on the trail, it would have been a cartoon moment with my screams and the pig's squeals...and lots of crazy running!
I saw a gopher tortoise, but it ran into it's hole before I could get a picture.
About halfway around the island is a boardwalk leading to a dock. As I was walking up to the dock I saw a heron take off and fly across the water. With a wingspan of 4 to 6 feet it is a beautiful sight watching it fly over the water. I heard a woodpecker in the surrounding woods. Lots of birds in the area. It would be a fun place to paddle around.
All of the parks were similar (quiet, full of natural beautiful, interesting plants and trees). Still each of the preserves has it's own identity (water fall at Wolf Branch Sink, walk through the different elevations at Hidden Water Preserve and armadillos at Flat Island Preserve).
Florida is full of natural beauty, on the beaches and in the forests
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