Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary is located mainly in northwest Collier county. 100,000 visitors attend annually and enjoy the two and a quarter-mile boardwalk that winds through forest and marsh habitats, but big changes are coming that will improve the sanctuary.
Big Cypress Basin has partnered with Audubon's Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary and is providing $100,000 toward a multi-million dollar project. The grant is expected to kick in next month and will help restore the sanctuary's wetland habitats. The five-year project will restore an additional 200 acres by reducing invasive, woody plants and return the marsh to the grassy vegetation it once was. In doing so wildlife will enjoy a much better habitat.
This restoration project does even more. It will also protect homes around the sanctuary in Lee and Collier counties against catastrophic wildfires and flooding. Big Cypress Basin protects wetland resources from over draining in the dry season as a balance to wet season efforts to quickly remove standing water from roadways and property. The wetlands also restore water in the dry season so the restoration of these wetlands will reduce the risk of wildfires.
