• The Florida panther's watchful gaze- Courtesy- Ralph Arwood

    Big Cypress

    National Preserve Florida

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    Effective 12:01 a.m. Friday, March 23, 2012, Zone 4 airboat access within Big Cypress National Preserve will be closed due to low water conditions. Other areas of the Preserve will be closed to recreational ORV access from June 4 through August 2. More »

Draft Floodplains Statement of Findings Released

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Date: May 12, 2010
Contact: Damon Doumlele, 239-695-1158

Big Cypress National Preserve Superintendent Pedro Ramos announced today that a draft Floodplain Statement of Findings has been prepared for the General Management Plan/Wilderness Study/Off-Road Vehicle Management Plan/Environmental Impact Statement for the Big Cypress National Preserve Addition. The Addition was created in 1988. A draft general management plan was developed for these lands and was released to the public in July 2009. The "Statement of Findings" was prepared to comply with Executive Order 11988, "Floodplain Management", and the National Park Service (NPS) guidelines and policies for implementing the order.

The general management plan for the Addition includes a provision to retain three existing structures that are located in the 100-year floodplain at two sites within the Addition.

Carnestown site (southeast corner of S.R. 29 and U.S. 41/Tamiami Trail in Carnestown, FL)
 Two structures: Collier County Sheriff District 7 substation and the Everglades Chamber of Commerce information center (known as "Everglades Welcome Center")

Copeland site (east side S.R. 29 in Copeland, FL)
One structure: NPS fire operations center

These three sites have been occupied and utilized for many years. Since the general management plan is recommending that they be retained and continue to be used, the National Park Service must prepare the "Statement of Findings" to be in compliance with the executive order and NPS management policies. The "Statement of Findings" describes the flood hazard, alternatives, and possible mitigation measures for the continued use of this area.

The draft "Statement of Findings" is available for public review and comment. The document can be viewed and commented on through the National Park Service’s on-line comment system, Planning, Environment, and Public Comment (PEPC). Comments can be entered electronically and are being accepted through June 4, 2010.

For your convenience, comments may be submitted online at the Internet address listed above or by writing to us at the following address:

National Park Service
Denver Service Center – Planning Division
Attention: Big Cypress National Preserve Planning Team
P.O. Box 25287
Denver, CO 80225-0287

For more information, please call (239) 695-1158

Did You Know?

Hunters entering the Preserve on a swamp buggy. Photo courtesy of Jack Moller.

Big Cypress National Preserve was one of the first national preserves within the National Park System. As a preserve, Big Cypress manages for a broader range of recreational activities, including hunting and off-road vehicle access.