1970 Map of Loxahatchee SE

About this map

Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge dominates this orthophotomap, showing the complex hydrology of the northern Everglades during the early 1970s and 1980s. The landscape is primarily defined by Conservation Area No 1, where the intricate patterns of vegetation and water are punctuated by the stark linearity of human water management. The northeastern corner of the map reveals the sharp contrast between the preserved wetlands and the encroaching agricultural or residential grid of Palm Beach County. Key infrastructure for managing the flow of water across this landscape includes the L-40 Canal, supported by mechanical Pump and Pumps installations. This document provides a rare visual record of the transition between the wild interior of the refuge and the heavily engineered drainage systems that define modern South Florida land use.