Se7en Wetlands Gopher Tortoise Tour

Self-guided hike around Wetland 2

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Se7en Wetlands Gopher Tortoise Tour

Bartow, Florida 33830, United States

Created By: Se7en Wetlands

Tour Information

Se7en Wetlands is a constructed wetland treatment system owned and operated by the City of Lakeland. The wetlands provides the final treatment for all of the City's wastewater, and is comprised of over 1,600 acres of marshes, swamps, uplands, and lakes. In addition to wastewater treatment, Se7en Wetlands is home to an outstanding and diverse community of plants and animals.

This tour starts at the Gopher Tortoise Gate, which you access through Polk County's Loyce E. Harpe park. From there, you'll head south between Wetlands 2 and 3 and experience diverse Florida wildlife and habitats, as well as learn about the processes through which the City's wastewater is treated and how it flows through the wetlands.

For more information, please visit our website: www.lakelandgov.net/se7en-wetlands


Tour Map

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What You'll See on the Tour

The Gopher Tortoise Gate is one of two public entrances to Se7en Wetlands. As you walk the trails, pay attention to the trail markers. Red gopher tortoise markers point the shortest route back to the Gopher Tortoise Gate. Blue wood stork ma... Read more
Se7en Wetlands uses a series of structures called control structures, which maintain the flow of water from one wetland cell to the next. Control structures can be adjusted to raise and lower the water levels in each wetland. They can be us... Read more
Control Structure 4 allows water to move from Wetland 1 into Wetland 2. Notice the picnic pavilion close by. You can listen to the sounds of the flowing water and watch for wading birds at this covered pavilion. 
This boardwalk takes you over marsh habitat, where the soil is often saturated or flooded and plants such as grasses and sedges dominate. Listen carefully for the call of a pig frog, which sounds exactly like the grunt of its namesake. You ... Read more
Marshes are transitional wetland habitats that are often flooded, and they support a wide variety of plants and wildlife that are adapted to the constantly saturated soil conditions. Marshes are incredibly important to the environment becau... Read more
The boardwalk over Wetland 5 takes you out over an open-water lake, which was dug out and left over from phosphate mining operations in the early-mid 1900s. The lake is now home to alligators, turtles, fish, and a variety of wading birds.... Read more
If you look out over the lake, you're likely to see the bumpy ridges of a mostly-submerged alligator. Alligators play an important role in wetland ecosystems as a major predator keeping fish populations in balance, and through their creat... Read more
This small marshy pond is called Outreach Pond, which is a microcosm of the diversity of the wetlands. This is a great place to explore and observe the smaller organisms that are such a vital part of the wetland ecosystem. Listen for the c... Read more
This area is a great showcase of Florida uplands, where the habitat changes drastically from wet marsh to pinelands and oak hammocks. The upland habitat of Se7en Wetlands provides an important ecosystem to many native animals such as goph... Read more
You may have noticed that in many places, the ground slopes down on either side of the trail. These sloping hills are earthen berms, which form the walls that separate each wetland cell from the others.The berms serve as a barrier to keep w... Read more
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If you're quiet and observant, you may be lucky enough to spot one of Florida's most elusive animals, the bobcat. As solitary animals, bobcats spend their time hunting stealthily through their swamp and forest habitats in search of prey. B... Read more
Thank you so much for taking the self-guided hiking tour of Se7en Wetlands. Please visit again soon!

 

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