Tatum Sawgrass Scrub Preserve

Connected to the Tatum Sawgrass Marsh, protecting this land was vital to supporting the region's biodiversity and water resources.

The Story

The former owners, MAG Properties, Inc., wanted to ensure this land was conserved forever and sold us the property at a discounted price. Connected to the Tatum Sawgrass Marsh, the largest and least protected floodplain marsh on the Myakka River, protecting this land was vital to supporting the region's biodiversity and water resources. In the early 1970’s, the Tatum Sawgrass was dramatically altered with a series of ditches, dikes and pumps intended to drain, divert, and exclude water from the marsh. The system created agriculturally productive grazing and cropland on the rich soils, but also raised concerns about unintended consequences. Since that time, landowners have witnessed a significant decline in wildlife. A 2,500-acre riverfront marsh more than three times the size of Upper Lake Myakka, conserving land surrounding and within the Tatum Sawgrass Marsh is an ongoing conservation priority for Big Waters Land Trust. In addition to protecting this land, we are working with community partners to restore the area for the benefit of all. The Tatum Sawgrass can be seen from the Myakka Road Bridge or Crowley Museum and Nature Center.

Why it Matters

Tatum Sawgrass Scrub Preserve consists of scrub, oak hammock, and flood-plain marsh, which support imperiled species such as the gopher tortoise, Florida scrub jay, eastern indigo snake, as well as wading birds like the American wood stork. We have seen great success in our restoration efforts to date and continue to work to restore the scrub habitat to attract more scrub jays. All along the Myakka River, major changes are happening and the wildlife are already responding. Biologists with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection documented Florida manatees in the Upper Myakka Lake and Tatum Sawgrass Marsh following dam modifications which now allow passage. Similarly, crested cara cara, least terns, and everglades snail kites are colonizing sand bars and marsh areas that have been obscured by dense exotic grasses for decades. Sweeping improvements are expected throughout the upper basin over the next five years.

Just the Facts

38

acres

Date Acquired

April 2019

The property is north of the Myakka River State Park and is connected to the Tatum Sawgrass marsh
Habitats include scrub, oak hammock, and flood-plain marsh