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Flat Island Preserve is a 2,304 acre preserve located south of Leesburg, Florida. The preserve is owned and managed by the Lake County Water Authority (LCWA). The preserve was purchased between 1990 and 2002, for $2,583,253.95, from 15 different owners, (10 acres were donated). The preserve safeguards a relatively undisturbed natural area consisting of marshes, hardwood swamps and upland hardwood hammocks. The preserve encompasses two upland islands; Flat Island and Magnolia Island, a hardwood swamp and a portion of Lake Denham. These islands are biological havens within a vast wetland known as Okahumpka Swamp.

History:
Humans have left evidence of habitation on Flat Island for thousands of years. The island was homesteaded and farmed, and its timber was harvested and transported by a narrow gauge railway implementing steam engines. The residents of each era hunted the abundant wildlife as a source of food. Most signs of human activity are no longer visible; the timber has regenerated, the homesteads are gone, and the native vegetation has reclaimed the farmland. A house built in 1936, located near the trailhead that serves as a site security residence. The Lake County Water Authority now works to preserve the island in its natural state, while understanding and appreciating human history.

Trails and hiking:
The trailhead area includes an informational kiosk with maps, brochures and a sign in sheet. A parking lot and restrooms are provided. The Members of the Florida Trail Association have donated over 1,000 volunteer hours to construct and maintain 4 1/2 miles of trails that now provide public access throughout the property. The four-mile Daubenmire Trail, with an access trail, a three-mile loop, and two cross trails, is located on Flat Island. The trail is named in honor of renowned botanists Rexford and Jean Daubenmire (separate brief article?), who performed the initial botanical surveys and developed plant lists for Flat Island Preserve. The main loop trail will lead you through several different plant communities. A 440-foot-long boardwalk extends from the southern loop of the main trail. The boardwalk traverses the forested wetland and reaches a dock on the canal leading to Lake Denham and Magnolia Island. The Corley Island Trail is a 1.2-mile loop that runs between the main parking area and the Corley Island Mobile Home Park. The centerpiece of this trail is a depressional marsh

Camping:
There are three designated camping areas on the preserve. They include a group camping area next to the parking area (accessible to the restrooms), a primitive camping area off the main trail loop on the west end of Flat Island and a very primitive camping area located on Magnolia Island which is accessible only by canoe/kayak. There is a spigot for water at the trailhead and a hand pump at the primitive campsite. There is no water available on Magnolia Island.

Canoe and kayak:
A 440-foot-long boardwalk extends southward from the southern loop of the main trail. The boardwalk traverses the forested wetland and reaches a dock on the canal leading to Lake Denham and Magnolia Island. There are four canoes, with paddles and PFDs that are available for reservation by the public. The canoes are free to use, but the participant must call the LCWA office in advance (M-F, 8:30-5:00) to reserve the canoes and submit a refundable $50 security deposit in order to get the combination to the locks. Kayaks can be carried from the parking lot to the boardwalk or can be put in at the Singletary Park boat ramp on highway 27 providing water access to the park.

Ecology:
This area acts as a natural hydrologic divide between the surface waters that flow eastward through Helena Run, and those that flow westward through Chitty Chatty Creek. The water in Helena Run eventually finds its way to the Ocklawaha River, the St. Johns River and flows out to the Atlantic Ocean. Chitty Chatty Creek flows into the Withlacoochee River and ultimately reaches the Gulf of Mexico. In addition to supplying surface water to a great number of lakes and rivers from one coast of Florida to the other, Okahumpka Marsh feeds the Floridan Aquifer. Although the park and islands are generally flat, slight changes in elevation and subtle differences in soil type and hydrology result in distinct habitat types that are visible to the careful observer. The Lake County Water Authority has restored an 11-acre wildflower meadow near the trailhead. The area was once planted with Pangola Grass, a non-native pasture grass. The LCWA has systematically removed the grass and seeded and planted native vegetation.

Administrative:
The preserve is open seven days a week from sunrise to sunset. Parking, restrooms, and handicap facilities are located between the trailhead and vehicle entrance to the park. 