January 30th, 2011

Wakodahatchee Wetlands, Delray Beach, Green Cay Wetlands, Boynton Beach, Nature Preserves, South Florida, Palm Beach County

This post is for the people visiting Delray Beach and Palm Beach County.  As I have mentioned more than enough times, Delray Beach is the perfect town for visitors.  If you are lucky enough to be a resident, then you already know this.  This Village by the Sea offers the perfect vacation spot because it has it all.

I love walking the town but for this post I needed a car.  I have written about the wetlands before.  But, it is good to mention them again, since this website is written in a blog style; you might forget or saw the pictures but never read the content of the post.  I do have a few friends that do that, believe me.

Someone mentioned to me that I needed to visit the Wakodahatchee Wetlands.  They said the birds are beautiful and throughout the year you can watch birds in their nests and new life showing its face.

There are 2 wetlands, not far from each other.  One is called Wakodahatchee in suburban Delray and the other is called Green Cay Nature Preserve in suburban Boynton Beach.

Wakodahatchee Wetlands

Wakodahatchee means “created waters” and this is exactly what this is.  Fifty acres have been transformed into a wetlands ecosystem.  And since its transformation turtles, frogs, alligators and many species of birds call this nature preserve home.

It is located at 13026 Jog Rd.  It is a little tricky but not that hard.  You need to go west on Atlantic Ave., crossing over 95.  Continue until Jog Rd and turn right.  Go through the intersection of Lake Ida and about 1/4 mile on the right you will see it.  The sign is not very big, though.

This is the southeast side of Palm Beach County Water Utility Department’s Southern Region Operation Center.  Tel. 561-493-6000.  Website?  http://www.pbcgov.com/waterutilities/wakodahatchee/location.htm.

It opens from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m.  It is the perfect place to relax, walk and enjoy nature.  It is free.  The 3/4 mile elevated boardwalk takes you through twists and turns, all the time enjoying the view.  It is quiet and there are areas to rest. You will see photographers, walkers and someone just sitting and relaxing, taking in the scenery.  I like it in the early evening; the birds are coming for the night.

“Every day, PBC Water Utilites Dept. Southern Region Water Reclamation Facility pours approximately 2 million gallons of highly treated water into Wakodahatchee’s wetlands.  By acting as a natural filter for the nutrients that remain, the wetlands work to further clean the water.”

Green Cay Nature Preserve

Same type of setting as Wakodahatchee; but bigger.  Ninety acres of nature preservation.  Green Cay is located at 12800 Hagen Ranch Rd.  It is suburban Boynton Beach between Boynton Beach Blv. and Atlantic Ave. 

This elevated wetland boardwalk is 1.5 miles long.  It winds through the wetlands and it really is the perfect place to take in a walk either early in the morning or late in the afternoon.  It is open every day from sunrise to sunset.  The actual Nature Center is open Tuesdays through Fridays from 1 until 4:30 p.m., Saturdays from 8:15 until 4:30 p.m. and on Sundays from 1 until 4:30 p.m. 

For more information please visit http://pbcgov.com/waterutilities/waterfacts/green_cay.htm.

If you have gone to the beach, walked the town, eaten, shopped, then get in your car and check this out.  It is never boring; it changes every second of the day.  It is worth it.

Have a great day….talk to you later…..

December 22nd, 2009

Wakodahatchee Wetlands…Delray Beach, Florida…Activities…Nature Preserve…

This was not my intended post tonight, but I was so cold that I started looking at some pictures I had taken some months ago in Delray Beach, Florida. 

Unless someone had pointed this out to me, who knows if I would have found it.  It is one of those places that, to tell you the truth, I have not seen advertised that much when I am in Florida. 

It is called Wakodahatchee Wetlands.  This is a man made nature preseve full of birds and wildlife.  So, just like we have in Delaware and Maryland beautiful State Parks, Palm Beach County has more than a few of these parks for everyone to enjoy.  Excellent job!!

When I first went to Wakodahatchee, it took me a little bit to find it since it is not well marked. 

The location is considered suburban Delray Beach and it is located on the east side of Jog Road between Woolbright Rd. and Atlantic Ave.  As I have mentioned before, Atlantic Ave. is the main street in Delray Beach.  If you go west on Atlantic and cross over 95 then you need to continue to Jog Road and turn right.  You will go through the Lake Ida intersection and Wakodahatchee will be not even 1/4 mile on your right.  It is the southeast side of Palm Beach County Water Ulitity Department’s Southern Region Operations Center at 13026 Jog Rd. in Delray Beach.  You see?  It’s a little tricky.  Pay attention after you go through that Lake Ida intersection.  The website is http://www.pbcgov.com/waterutilities/wakodahatchee/location.htm.

You should visit the website because it will give you all kinds of info. like what kinds of tours they offer, location’s map, explanation of what the nature preserve is all about and a virtual tour of the park.  There is a telephone number for tour info. and that is 561-493-6000.

Wakodahatchee opens early in the morning and stays open until dusk.  I found that it was so peaceful at the end of the day; you will experience the arrival of those magnificent birds at that time of the evening.  You can walk the 3/4 mile boardwalk, which winds through three of the wetland’s ponds. You might even be lucky to catch the site of a few large alligators, as well. And, during certain months of the year you will get to see new birds come to life.

Wakodahatchee comes from the Seminole Indian Language.  It means “created waters”.  These are 50 acres of unused utilities land that have been turned into a wetlands ecosystem.

Wetlands provide a variety of important envirornmental functions.  Just like the wetlands in Delaware and Maryland, the ones in Florida provide food and habitat for many important wildlife species.

If you are in Palm Beach County, near Delray Beach, take a detour from the beaches and you will really enjoy Wakodahatchee.

Note:  There is another wetlands preserve called The Green Cay.  It is located on 12800 Hagen Ranch Rd.  It is between Boyton Beach Blvd. and Atlantic Ave.  It is considered suburban Boyton Beach.  It has also an elevated boardwalk.  A little different than Wakodahatchee, but just as nice.  The next time I visit Florida I will get pictures and some more information for you to explore.

Information on Wakodahatchee was taken from http://www.pbcgov.com/waterutilities/wakodahatchee/what_is_wakodahatchee.htm

If you are in Florida now, check it out.  It is cold up north so enjoy the warm weather and outdoor activities.   See you….