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^ FL 7. Kissimmee River Prairies. Acreage: Extensive. 



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Location: Polk, Osceola, Okeechobee, Highlands counties; Fort Kissimmee and 

 Fort Kissimmee NW quadrangles; 20 miles E of Avon Park, reached via U.S. 27 

 and State 64. 



Description: Vast river-wetland prairie complex, exhibiting great biogeographic 

 interest, is not confined to the marshes, but includes old beach dunes with scrub 

 oak and sand pine and longleaf pine with turkey oak. 



Encroachments: Air Force activity, pasturing, river channelization by U.S. 

 Army Corps of Engineers. Originally 90 miles of meandering river; now 39 miles 

 of canals. One mile of flood plain converted to improved pasture. 



Ownership: U.S. Government (Air Force); private. 



Data source: Margaret L. Gilbert, Biology Department, Florida Southern Col- 

 lege, Lakeland, Fla. 33800. 



Other knowledgeable persons: Mr. David Austin, Florida Game and Fresh 

 Water Fish Commission, Avon Park, Fla. 33825. 



