The Important Bird Areas of Florida - National Audubon Society

The Important Bird Areas of Florida: 2000–2002 – Pranty – 2-Jul-02 145EMERALDA MARSHEmeralda Marsh Conservation Area (7089 acres; 2835 ha) and the Emeralda Marsh SOR Project(8617 acres [3446 ha] remaining)Lake and Marion counties15,706 acres (6282 ha), with 7089 acres (2835 ha) acquiredLOCATION: north of Leesburg in the Upper Ocklawaha River basin, in northwestern Lake County andsoutheastern Marion County, along the eastern shore of Lake Griffin. Bordered by State Road 42 tothe north and County Road 452 to the east. Nearly all acquired lands are in Lake County. Contiguouswith the Ocala National Forest–Lake George IBA to the north.DESCRIPTION: former marshland that was converted to vegetable farms in the 1950s and 1960s. Most ofthe soils are rich muck derived from drained peat. Public acquisition began in 1991 and has cost $13million to date. Flooding in the Conservation Area began in 1992 to restore aquatic and wetlandhabitats. Areas adjacent to Lake Griffin are being converted to marsh flow-ways to remove excessphosphorus and sediments from the lake. The Conservation Area receives 1150 recreationists and 150hunters annually.OWNERSHIP: St. Johns River Water Management District (Emeralda Marsh Conservation Area) andprivate owners (remaining acreage of the Emeralda Marsh SOR Project)HABITATS: *agricultural fields, *freshwater marsh, *cattail marsh, *lacustrine, temperate hammock, nonnativepasture, hardwood swampLAND USE: *conservation, *marsh filtering system to clean up Lake Griffin, *vegetable farming,recreation, waterfowl huntingIBA CATEGORIES: significant populations of Endangered species; significant numbers of wading birds;and significant diversityAVIAN DATA: The marshes supports dozens of wetland species, including large numbers of wading birds.SPECIES DATES NUMBERS COMMENTSAmerican White Pelican 27 Feb 1999 878 birds (W)Snowy Egret 27 Jan 1995 350 birds (N)Little Blue Heron 28 Jun 1997 182 birds 1% (N)White Ibis 13 May 1995 457 birds 1% (N)Glossy Ibis 29 Dec 1995 405 birds (W)Wood Stork 25 Oct 1997 1065 birds (N)Osprey 27 Dec 1999 87 birds (W)“Greater” Sandhill Crane 2 Jan 1998 638 birds 2%; (W)Overall diversity 1995–2001 200 natives4 exoticsData provided by Joy Marburger (St. Johns River Water Management District), with some species added to thechecklist by Peter May (Stetson University; )OTHER RESOURCES: Emeralda Marsh is part of the Ocklawaha River Restoration Project and is adjacentto Lake Griffin, the headwaters of the Ocklawaha River. The marsh and adjacent lakes support alarge population of ♦American alligators (Alligator mississippiensis).THREATS: *exotic plants, *habitat succession, human disturbance, feral hogsCONSERVATION ISSUES: Emeralda Marsh Conservation Area consists of 6500 acres (2600 ha) of formeragricultural fields that were purchased by the St. Johns Water Management District to help clean upLake Griffin. Thousands of additional acres currently in agricultural production are sought for publicpurchase and would, if acquired, connect the Conservation Area with Ocala National Forest to thenorth. • Exotic plants and feral hogs are controlled as needed. • Monthly bird surveys wereconducted by Water Management District staff and volunteers between 1995 and 2000.