Much of the land within WCA-1 consists of the Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge. The Refuge covers about 146,000 acres and is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. It is located within the northernmost part of the Everglades and consists of sawgrass marsh and some cypress forest. It is leveed on 3 sides, but its western border contains a gap about 7 miles long, which permits water exchange with the Big Cypress Swamp. Historic flow of water and the quality of water through the WCAs have been greatly reduced.
Marshes generally contain grasses and sedges and contain few if any trees and shrubs.
Here many plants prospers in the marsh. American coots are mainly gray and have a short, thick beak. They are commonly seen in open ponds and marshes and in saltwater bays and inlets. Foods coots may eat include aquatic plants, fish, mollusks and insects. Spatterdock are seen in the foreground.