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Big Cypress National Preserve was created by Congress in 1974 to ensure the preservation, conservation, and protection of the natural, scenic, floral and faunal, and recreational values of the Big Cypress Watershed.
The importance of this watershed to Everglades National Park was a major consideration for its establishment. The name Big Cypress refers to the large size of this area. Vast expanses of cypress span this unique landscape. The preserve is a mosaic of vegetation communities and provides habitat to a diversity of species, including 10 federally listed threatened and endangered species such as the Florida panther and the West Indian manatee.
In 1988 Big Cypress National Preserve was expanded by about 146,000 acres, known as the Addition, with the passage of the Big Cypress National Preserve Addition Act (Public Law 100-301). The Addition consists of about 128,000 acres northeast of the original preserve boundary and approximately 18,000 acres along the western boundary.
This effort is to develop a general management plan for the Addition. This plan will establish the broad management direction for the next 15 to 20 years for this new portion of the preserve. The document will also include an off-road vehicle management plan, wilderness study, and environmental impact statement.
* indicates the current step in the planning process
Step 1. Initiate project
Step 2. Define planning context and foundation
Step 3. Conduct external scoping
Step 4. Prepare preliminary alternatives
Step 5. Prepare revised preliminary alternatives
Step 6. Prepare and publish draft document
Step 7. Receive public comments on draft document
Step 8. Prepare and publish final document *
Step 9. Implement the approved plan
The importance of this watershed to Everglades National Park was a major consideration for its establishment. The name Big Cypress refers to the large size of this area. Vast expanses of cypress span this unique landscape. The preserve is a mosaic of vegetation communities and provides habitat to a diversity of species, including 10 federally listed threatened and endangered species such as the Florida panther and the West Indian manatee.
In 1988 Big Cypress National Preserve was expanded by about 146,000 acres, known as the Addition, with the passage of the Big Cypress National Preserve Addition Act (Public Law 100-301). The Addition consists of about 128,000 acres northeast of the original preserve boundary and approximately 18,000 acres along the western boundary.
This effort is to develop a general management plan for the Addition. This plan will establish the broad management direction for the next 15 to 20 years for this new portion of the preserve. The document will also include an off-road vehicle management plan, wilderness study, and environmental impact statement.
* indicates the current step in the planning process
Step 1. Initiate project
Step 2. Define planning context and foundation
Step 3. Conduct external scoping
Step 4. Prepare preliminary alternatives
Step 5. Prepare revised preliminary alternatives
Step 6. Prepare and publish draft document
Step 7. Receive public comments on draft document
Step 8. Prepare and publish final document *
Step 9. Implement the approved plan