Circle B Bar Ranch
   Polk County, Florida

Overview
Improvement of water quality in Lake Hancock and ultimately the Peace River was the motivation for purchase of the Circle B Bar, a 1,300-acre former cattle ranch, along the lake's shoreline. An ambitious ecological restoration plan, including conceptual planning, landscape design, and installation, was undertaken by Water & Air's landscape architects and ecologists on a portion of the site during the summer of 2003.

Details

• Created an approved Conceptual Plan in less than a month.
• Landscape Design features included elimination of bahia grass cover through aerial and land application of herbicides; planting of large highway fronting beds of native species to buffer site; enhance existing degraded herbaceous wetlands and restore or enhance oak-pine sandhill, pine flatwoods, forested wetlands, and oak hammock.
• Landscape Installation-Installed 400,000 plants including more than 50 species of trees, shrubs, groundcover, and grasses. Installed pine mulch to minimize irrigation.

Results
Approximately 135 acres (more than planned) of uplands and wetlands on Circle B Bar were restored to improve the health of the watershed. In addition to water quality improvement, other long-term benefits of the restoration include wildlife enhancement, increased opportunities for recreational use of the site, and greater public awareness through environmental education activities.