2021 Map of California Slough

About this map

Big Cypress National Preserve dominates this southern Florida landscape, where the northern reaches of the Everglades meet a complex network of wetlands and drainage systems. The map depicts a transitional environment defined by "strands"—linear forested wetlands—including Goddens Strand, Canoe Lake Strand, and Cow Bell Strand. Human engineering is visible through the prominent Interceptor Canal and the L-28 levee and road system, which slice through the natural hydrology of the area. This 2021 survey illustrates the modern management of these critical wetlands, showing how infrastructure like the Alligator Alley (I-75) corridor crosses the remote terrain of Doctors Prairie and California Slough. The intricate relationship between these artificial waterways and natural features like Tarpon Lake and Wilson Cypress provides an essential record of contemporary Florida water conservation and land use boundaries near the Collier and Broward County line.