News from the BCC Preserves
King Preserve
There is a LOT going on at King Preserve!
The King Family Preserve is a 25 acre tract, just north of 15th St. in Panama City. It has a drainage ditch running east and west near its’ northern boundary. The ditch is bordered by a berm or levee which separates the ditch from the wetlands to the south.
The Wetlands
When the Conservancy first acquired The King Family Preserve, it was a 25 acre wetlands. However, when Wood Ave. was paved, the preserve was effectively split in two. Wood Ave. acted (and still does) as a barrier between the two sides. The East Preserve (between Wood Ave. and Florida Ave.) remained a wetland. However, the west side (between Wood Ave. and Balboa Ave.) began to dry out. BCC Board Member Sam Mellow and ecologist Scott Davis inspected and mapped the West King Preserve and created a plan to restore its’ wetland status and function. BCC and the City of Panama City are considering how to allow East Preserve water to flow into the West Preserve, probably by installing culverts under Wood Ave.
When complete, the East Preserve will be less likely to overflow and the West Preserve will once again become a functioning wetland. It will also allow the entire Preserve to serve as a storm water buffer, capturing and filtering rainwater and runoff before it goes to the Bay.
The Ditch
After a chilly winter, the drainage ditch along the North side of King Preserve is now full of invasive Water Hyacinth. This chokes the ditch, slows water flow and makes upstream flooding more likely when the inevitable rain finally begins. BCC has partnered with Florida-Corps to help remove Water Hyacinth and keep the ditch hyacinth free. Florida Corps staff will devote four days to plant removal in April and May, putting the hyacinth on the levee. After a few days (to allow any critters like crayfish to go back to the ditch), volunteers will transport the hyacinth to Wood Ave for pickup.
The Berm
The ditch berm is the best place to see wildlife, either in the ditch or in the wetlands. It is a great place to walk and BCC wants to make it better. With a grant from Wild Green Futures and a potential grant from the St. Joe Foundation, BCC has a vision of creating a native plant walking path from Balboa Ave to the end of the Preserve near Florida Ave.
