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

    Big Cypress

    National Preserve Florida

  • ORV Related Closures

    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 »

Zone 4 Remains Closed Due to Low Water

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Date: June 10, 2011
Contact: Bob DeGross, 239-695-1107

Due to dry conditions Zone 4 of the Stairsteps Unit within Big Cypress National Preserve will remain closed until further notice. The area was scheduled to reopen on Friday, June 10, 2011 following the annual 60-day recreational access ORV closure. After consultation with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), the National Park Service (NPS) has determined that dry conditions hinder safe travel within the zone. Recreational off-road vehicle use within this unit is allowed by airboat only. The NPS will continue consultation with the FWC and monitoring water levels to determine when safe travel can resume and the area will reopen for recreational access.

For more information on hydrologic conditions in South Florida go to - http://www.gohydrology.org/

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