Lake Marion Creek — Horseshoe Scrub Tract

The 8,083-acre Lake Marion Creek Management Area is located on the Polk-Osceola county line east of Haines City off CR 580. Polk County, South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) and the District acquired the lands within the area, which protect important headwater areas of Lake Marion and Reedy creeks. Water from these creeks is an important source of fresh water for the Kissimmee River, the Everglades and Florida Bay. The District has acquired approximately 300 acres within the Lake Marion area that are within its jurisdictional boundaries.

The SFWMD manages the area. Pine flatwoods, cypress swamps, hardwood swamps, oak hammock, scrubs and freshwater marshes are the dominant natural communities. Approximately 50 percent of the area is wetlands, most of which are in the 100-year floodplain of the Lake Marion, Snell and London creeks.