G5_A Restoration Story Lower Level_02

The Circle B Bar Reserve is on the northwest shore of Lake Hancock in Polk County, Florida. It is home to a wide variety of plants and animals. You can see distinct ecosystems in this reserve. The reserve has a huge array of birds. These birds are the white ibis, roseate spoonbills, sandhill cranes, and bald eagles.

It is also home to other wildlife. These wildlife are alligators, bobcats, snakes, gray squirrels, river otters, and wild hogs.

Going to Circle B is like going back in time. The area is now being restored to the way it once was—natural. Cattle ranching was once a popular business in Florida. A canal was dug through the center of the property. The purpose of the canal was to drain the wetland. The standing water was gone. The land could then be used for the grazing of cattle. What was not known then was the dramatic change the canal would cause on Lake Hancock and the Peace River.

Wetlands have so much purpose. They are home to plants and animals. They are also a water filtration plant. In the still water of the wetland, solid particles settle down before they reach the lake. Another function of a wetland is when plants take up excess nutrients from the water. The plants store these nutrients. Nutrients are stored in the system until the plant dies, is eaten by animals, or harvested by humans.

The water in Lake Hancock is green. The green color comes from the rich algae content that is being fed by the organic materials that are being deposited or put into the lake.