Highly invasive cogan grass was recently discovered in two locations at Jack Creek, and we want to quickly understand the extent of the problem (FWC will be eliminating the invasive separately). We’ll be walking through the problem areas with GPS units and recording any additional locations of cogan grass. 

The problem area underwent a wildfire last year and has uneven terrain with downed trees and limbs. You’ll want to wear good footwear, long pants, and of course a shirt and hat for sun protection.

Cogan grass is easy to identify, and the GPS technology we’ll be using is very simple.

Meet at the Jack Creek Gate a half-mile to the east of Northern Blvd and Greenfield Street, near Lake Placid.

See the colored marker in this Google Map: https://goo.gl/maps/odcAzcj94XG2  

Directions to the Meeting Location:

From the intersection of US98 and US 27 south of Sebring:

Continue south on US27 for 2.6 miles, and then turn west (right) at the blinking traffic onto Lake Josephine Drive. Lake Josephine Drive will wind around, but continue for around 3 miles, and then turn left (south) onto Henscratch Road. Stay on Henscratch for 1.9 miles, and then left (east) onto Northern Blvd. Head east on Northern Blvd and you’ll see the meeting place in around 2.7 miles at the intersection of Northern and Greenfield.

Coming east on SR 66 from Zolfo:

Once in Highlands County, look for the intersection with CR 635 but keep going east on SR 66. About 2 miles past the intersection with CR635, turn right (south) onto Payne Road. Continue on Payne Road for two miles and then turn left (east) onto Lake Josephine Drive. Continue on Lake Josephine Drive for one mile and then turn right (south) on to Henscratch Road. Stay on Henscratch for 1.9 miles, and then left (east) onto Northern Blvd. Head east on Northern Blvd and you’ll see the meeting place in around 2.7 miles at the intersection of Northern and Greenfield.

GPS Units may try to route you onto Hines Way to get to Northern - do not try to go onto Hines Way!

Hines Way is now closed and is also not drivable by 2 WD or 4 WD vehicles.

The unique habitat found on FWC Jack Creek includes bay swamp, cutthroat grass seeps, sand pine scrub, hardwood hammock and pine flatwoods. These habitats are rich in natural beauty. The bay swamp habitat dominates the property with abundant red bay, sweet bay and red maple trees. The Jack Creek tract is significant because it protects a large stand of Lake Wales Ridge scrub. This rare community provides habitat for one of the densest concentrations of endangered communities in the world. Cutthroat grass seep communities are also endangered and are restricted almost exclusively to Polk and Highlands counties.

Two key features of the property are Josephine and Jack creeks. Josephine Creek runs along the northern boundary of the property and intersects with Jack Creek, which runs along the eastern boundary. Josephine and Jack creeks and their surrounding swamps serve as the outlet for surface runoff from the Lake Placid West Chain-of-Lakes watershed. Overflow discharge from this watershed travels into Jack Creek, then into Josephine, and ultimately into Lake Istokpoga.