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Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge

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Monday, December 5, 2011 at 4:11:04 PM

Welcome to the official Web site of the

Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National

Wildlife Refuge.

We sincerely hope that your visit here is pleasant and rewarding. On our

web site, you'll get tips on enjoying the Refuge safely. You'll also learn

about some of the things we are doing to be responsible stewards of the

Florida Everglades, and the things that live here. Arthur R. Marshall

Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge is the last northernmost portion of

the unique Everglades. With over 221 square miles of Everglades habitat,

the Loxahatchee Refuge is home to the American alligator and the critically

endangered Everglade snail kite. In any given year, as many as 257 species

of birds may use the Refuge's diverse wetland habitats. Please help us

protect the resources so your children and their children will have the same

opportunity for enjoyment in the future. If there's anything we can do to

make your experience more enjoyable or rewarding, just ask a Ranger,

volunteer or any Refuge employee.

Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National

Wildlife Refuge Canoe Trail

During this dry season, use of the Canoe Trail is dependent on water

conditions. Please call the VisitorCenter (561-734-8303) for updated

information on the Guided Canoe Trips identified on the calendar of events

as well as to determine if the Canoe Trail is open to the public.

Quick Links

• Calendar of Events

• Volunteer

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Management

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L-40 Levee and canal closure

Beginning October 1, 2010 the Refuge L-40 Levee and canal will be closed

from Loxahatchee road continuing north for two miles to boating, hiking,

bicycling, and all other public use due to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

construction. The closure is scheduled to last 12 months. The Site 1

Impoundment Project (Fran Reich Preserve) will capture and store storm

water that would otherwise be lost to tide during dry times. It will also

preserve clean water in the Refuge along with other related environmental

benefits. This project is part of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration

Program (CERP).

Youtube Site 1 Video

South Florida Water Management District News Release

CERP Site 1 Impoundment Community News

Site 1 Temporary Closure Map

Getting Here . . .

The Refuge is located about 10 miles west of Boynton Beach, Florida. It is

accessible from Interstate 95 and the Florida Turnpike by going west on

either Boynton Beach Blvd or Atlantic Ave in Delray Beach, until you reach

Highway 441/State Road 7.From Boynton Beach Blvd., proceed south on

Hwy 441/SR7 for two miles and turn west (right) onto Lee Road. From

Atlantic Ave, proceed north on Hwy 441/SR7 for two miles and turn west

(left) onto Lee Road. The Refuge Visitor Center is open daily from 9:00 -

4:00. Closed Christmas and Thanksgiving. There is a $5.00 entrance fee per

vehicle.

For more information contact us at:

10216 Lee Road

Boynton Beach FL. 33473

(561) 734-8303

New National Wildlife Refuge Proposed for

region

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is proposing a new federal National

Wildlife Refuge in Central Florida. The newly protected area would be the

Everglades Headwaters National Wildlife Refuge and Conservation Area.

According to Charles Pelizza, a refuge manager with the U.S. Fish and

Wildlife Service’s Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge, The area under

consideration, extends from mid-Osceola County southward to the northern

shoreline of Lake Okeechobee, encompassing approximately 1 million

acres.

More Information

Four Public Scoping Meetings have been scheduled in the area of the

proposal to provide the public the opportunity to discuss the proposed

Everglades Headwaters National Wildlife Refuge and Conservation Area.

Information, location and dates of Public Scoping meetings.

• Fire

• Newsletter

• LILA

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge##### Page 2 of 4

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A new hobby for the 21st century Virtual

Geocaching is now available at the Arthur R.

Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge

A new hobby for the 21st century; Virtual Geocaching is now available at

the Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge. It started

only five years ago, but already a popular sport in more than 200 countries.

This internationally growing outdoor recreational activity is best described

as a high-tech scavenger hunt activity. Virtual Geocaching utilizes a hand

held Global Positioning System (GPS) device that guides you to existing

points of natural and cultural features or wayside exhibits on the Refuge.

Use your GPS device to go on a self-guided adventure in locating one or all

of these virtual caches located on the Refuge. The love of the outdoors and a

love of technology don't have to be mutually exclusive -- you can put your

tech-savvy skills to work while enjoying the Refuge and discovering the

Everglades! Whether you go Virtual Geocaching with family, friends or

solo, one thing is for sure; this is an experience you will always treasure. If

you're looking for a fun and interesting way to spend a few hours or a whole

day,Virtual Geocaching at the Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National

Wildlife is the perfect answer.

More Information

Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge Offers

Full RV Hook Ups For Volunteers

Trailer pads with full RV hookups are available to volunteers who have a

recreational vehicle or trailer and can volunteer 32 hours per week per

person (24 hours per week for couples).

More Information

Current weather conditions at the Refuge

Come visit our new $1-million, state-of-the-art

Everglades Exhibition.

Virtual Airboat Tour pictures

Please take your seat and stay seated during your trip. As you begin to

move, the seats and floor vibrate, you feel the breeze blowing from the

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screen in front of you as your boat skims over the water. You are not on a

ride at Disney World or on a real air boat ride in the middle of the

Everglades. You are about to experience what promises to be the most

popular new exhibit at Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife

Refuge, a virtual Airboat Tour. If you want to see the progression of the

virtual airboat tour exhibit, click here. Other informative and interactive new

exhibits and displays, include the history of the Refuge, Everglades

Attitudes, the refuge Management Game, an American alligator “gator hole”

diorama,

a tribute to Arthur R. Marshall, and night sounds of the Everglades.

INVASIVE SNAKEHEAD ALERT

If you catch or see a snakehead, please call the Refuge Invasive Species

Coordinator Lisa Jameson at 561-735-6025.Thanks for helping us protect

our Refuge from this Everglades invader

Northern Snakehead

The Refuge embarked upon a fish survey to determine if Channa spp. or

snakehead had invaded as reported. Of the 1,078 fish we caught and

measured from eight sample locations, we caught no

snakeheads. Snakeheads are native to Africa and Asia but are imported to

the US as aquarium fish and for food. They can cause ecological damage as

they are top predators and have no natural enemies outside of their native

habitats. Remarkably, snakeheads can breathe atmospheric air and survive

on land for up to four days! They are also known to migrate up to 1⁄4 mile on

wet land to other water bodies by wiggling with their bodies and fins!

Click here to find out more about our work

More

Last updated:October 6, 2011•

• Web Master: Charles Ryan

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Home PageDepartment of the InteriorUSA.gov About the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

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