1974 Map of West Of Big Lake

About this map

The Hillsboro Canal cuts a sharp diagonal through this landscape, serving as a critical boundary in the managed hydrology of the northern Everglades during the mid-1970s. This orthophotomap reveals the stark transition between the rectangular agricultural plots to the northwest and the expansive wetlands of the Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge and Everglades Wildlife Management Area. The region is defined by a massive infrastructure of water control, including Levee 39 and Levee 6, which isolate specific conservation zones where water is impounded periodically. Evidence of human activity in the marsh is minimal, restricted to a few utility markers like Pumping Sta No 2 and an Airboat Trail winding through the vegetation. The map illustrates the complex division of the Florida interior into designated management units, including the W Browns Farm Wildlife Management Area, highlighting the mid-century effort to balance agricultural drainage with wildlife preservation.