Overview: The first thing to know about this place is the scenery is as mundane as the name. It's basically 6,652 acres of mostly water surrounded by a series of levees. All that water is divided into a series of cells, or impoundments, some open water, some marsh, all with the purpose of removing excess nutrients that stormwater picked up from the nearby farm lands before it begins its journey south through Loxhatchee National Wildlife Refuge, into Everglades National Park and eventually into Florida Bay.
STA 1E, as it's known, is one of five areas that South Florida Water Management District owns and operates, and the closest to urban areas. It is open to hiking, biking and fishing from the levees. No boats are allowed however. It sits west of Lion Country Safari Road on the south side of U.S. 98, a.k.a. Southern Boulevard. The entrance is well-marked but you've got to keep your eyes peeled. T
Stormwater Treatment Area 1 West is nearby and sports a short boardwalk. We'd recommend visiting both 1 East and 1 West since they are so close.
History: The Florida Legislature passed the Everglades Forever Act in 1994, providing the impetus for the construction of Stormwater Treatment Areas, including 1 East. Two years later, Congress passed the Water Resources Development Act, which provided funding for construction of the STAs. In 1999, the South Florida Water Management District awarded the first construction contracts for STA 1E. The project included construction of more than 6,600 acres of water retention ponds, 25 miles of levees within the STA, four miles of improvements to the nearby C-51 canal, more than 40 water control gates and pumping stations.
What You'll See: As you might guess, you don't come out here for the scenic beauty, mainly because there isn't much of it. It's just a gigantic a network of water impoundments bordered by other gigantic water impoundments. But there is wildlife here, birds especially. And you can hike or bike the perimeter of the STA all the way out to the Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge. Still not a lot of scenery, but again, birds and some interesting flora.
During our visits, we've spotted whistling ducks, moorhens, great blue herons, green herons, least bitterns, great egrets, killdeer, black-necked stilts, red-winged blackbirds and more. We also saw a few alligators. Note: the map below shows the intersection of Southern Boulevard and Lion Country Safari Road. STA 1E is the green area to the south; the entrance is to the west of the intersection.
Amenities: There is ample parking, a kiosk and rudimentary toilet facilities. And again the perimeter is open to hiking and biking.
Nearby: The northern-most entry to Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge is accessible from the perimeter trail, a 15-20 walk. There's also a more formal entrance with a parking lot perhaps a five minute drive from STA 1E. Stormwater Treatment Area 1 West is also close to the Loxahatchee entrance. It is a stop on the Great Florida Birding Trail. The Wellington Environmental Preserve is maybe ten minutes away on Flying Cow Road, which intersects Southern Boulevard just east of Stormwater Treatment Area 1 East.
Of Note: Stormwater Treatment Area 1 East has somewhat odd hours — sunrise to sunset, but only Friday through Monday. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday you're out of luck. Admission is free. If you fish, state rules and regulations apply.
Cover Photo: A great blue heron forages along the water. Second Photo: If you look out from the entrance to Stormwater Treatment Area 1 East, you might get the impression that it's nothing but open water. Hike backk to where the STA meets Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge and you'll see this marsh. Each type of cell, open water and marsh, has different types of plants to sop of nutrients, phosphorus in particular, from the storm run-off that enters the STA.
STA 1E, as it's known, is one of five areas that South Florida Water Management District owns and operates, and the closest to urban areas. It is open to hiking, biking and fishing from the levees. No boats are allowed however. It sits west of Lion Country Safari Road on the south side of U.S. 98, a.k.a. Southern Boulevard. The entrance is well-marked but you've got to keep your eyes peeled. T
Stormwater Treatment Area 1 West is nearby and sports a short boardwalk. We'd recommend visiting both 1 East and 1 West since they are so close.
History: The Florida Legislature passed the Everglades Forever Act in 1994, providing the impetus for the construction of Stormwater Treatment Areas, including 1 East. Two years later, Congress passed the Water Resources Development Act, which provided funding for construction of the STAs. In 1999, the South Florida Water Management District awarded the first construction contracts for STA 1E. The project included construction of more than 6,600 acres of water retention ponds, 25 miles of levees within the STA, four miles of improvements to the nearby C-51 canal, more than 40 water control gates and pumping stations.
What You'll See: As you might guess, you don't come out here for the scenic beauty, mainly because there isn't much of it. It's just a gigantic a network of water impoundments bordered by other gigantic water impoundments. But there is wildlife here, birds especially. And you can hike or bike the perimeter of the STA all the way out to the Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge. Still not a lot of scenery, but again, birds and some interesting flora.
During our visits, we've spotted whistling ducks, moorhens, great blue herons, green herons, least bitterns, great egrets, killdeer, black-necked stilts, red-winged blackbirds and more. We also saw a few alligators. Note: the map below shows the intersection of Southern Boulevard and Lion Country Safari Road. STA 1E is the green area to the south; the entrance is to the west of the intersection.
Amenities: There is ample parking, a kiosk and rudimentary toilet facilities. And again the perimeter is open to hiking and biking.
Nearby: The northern-most entry to Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge is accessible from the perimeter trail, a 15-20 walk. There's also a more formal entrance with a parking lot perhaps a five minute drive from STA 1E. Stormwater Treatment Area 1 West is also close to the Loxahatchee entrance. It is a stop on the Great Florida Birding Trail. The Wellington Environmental Preserve is maybe ten minutes away on Flying Cow Road, which intersects Southern Boulevard just east of Stormwater Treatment Area 1 East.
Of Note: Stormwater Treatment Area 1 East has somewhat odd hours — sunrise to sunset, but only Friday through Monday. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday you're out of luck. Admission is free. If you fish, state rules and regulations apply.
Cover Photo: A great blue heron forages along the water. Second Photo: If you look out from the entrance to Stormwater Treatment Area 1 East, you might get the impression that it's nothing but open water. Hike backk to where the STA meets Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge and you'll see this marsh. Each type of cell, open water and marsh, has different types of plants to sop of nutrients, phosphorus in particular, from the storm run-off that enters the STA.
