Thanks in part to newly secured support from the Collier Community Foundation (CCF), Ducks Unlimited (DU) and partners will soon begin work on critical wetland restoration at Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park (FSPSP).

A $30,000 CCF grant to DU will leverage over $2.1 million in public funds to restore historic freshwater flow at FSPSP, significantly enhancing wildlife habitats and improving water quality across our creeks, bays, and estuaries. This impactful initiative is a collaborative effort with the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD), the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, and Florida State Parks.

“We are thrilled that our grant will unlock additional substantial funds for the vital work of restoring our wetlands,” said Eileen Connolly-Keesler, Collier Community Foundation President and CEO. “Local philanthropy is critical to enabling proactive organizations such as Ducks Unlimited to deploy solutions for Southwest Florida’s environmental challenges.”

Home to the largest strand swamp on Earth, FSPSP is the largest state park in Florida spanning 85,000 acres and is home to plant and animal species found nowhere else in the continental United States. The park’s salt marshes, mangroves, forested swamps, and freshwater marshes provide habitat for many imperiled species, such as the West Indian manatee, wood stork, bald eagle, Everglades mink, and Florida panther. 

“Our conservation efforts at Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park are imperative to people and wildlife,” said Jeff Beal, DU Regional Biologist - Florida. “We are proud to be working collaboratively to restore invaluable wetland habitat, enhance biodiversity, improve water quality, promote outdoor recreation, and strengthen community resilience for Collier County. Support from the Collier Community Foundation enables Ducks Unlimited to facilitate the Dan House Prairie project at FSPSP surveying, design, and construction preparation activities, as well as leverage substantial funding from public sources such as the North American Wetlands Conservation Act.”

 The Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park has faced significant ecological degradation since the 1930s due to manmade ditches and berms constructed for agriculture. These alterations have reduced the park's wetlands, over-drained the area, and impaired water quality and flow. Ducks Unlimited's project is critically needed to reverse these impacts, aiming to restore 998 acres of wetlands by removing spoil berms and implementing new water control structures. This effort will reestablish natural hydrologic conditions and revitalize historic wildlife habitats, ensuring long-term ecological balance and resilience.

Project work will also increase the availability of quality wetland habitat at FSPSP, supporting the life cycle needs of the rare species found at the State Park. Additionally, project work will bolster Florida’s $58 billion outdoor recreation economy and improve the quality of life for residents of Collier County by promoting outdoor recreation activities offered at FSPSP, such as a guided swamp walk, a scenic drive, and hiking and biking trails.