Barley Barber Swamp
The Barley Barber Swamp is a tract of land located within the Martin County power generation facility operated by Florida Power & Light, positioned slightly more than one mile east of Lake Okeechobee and to the west of Indiantown, Florida. Originally, this site was part of an extensive old-growth Bald Cypress forest and water system within the Greater Everglades basin. The swamp derives its name from Barley Barber, a local individual from the early 1900s about whom limited historical information exists.[1]Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name
Location and history
Historically, Barley Barber Swamp served as a vital connection among regional wetland areas such as Allapatah Marsh and Lake Okeechobee, playing a crucial role in sustaining the downstream Everglades environment.
The region functioned as a significant trading center for indigenous communities around Lake Okeechobee. Within the swamp lies a sand mound featuring ramp-like extensions, believed to have been a focal point for pottery exchange. Archaeological discoveries include artifacts and human remains dating back between 300 and 900 years.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name
During the late 1800s, major infrastructure developments—including Henry Flagler’s Florida East Coast Railway, regional drainage projects, roadway construction, and the building of the Herbert Hoover Dike encircling Lake Okeechobee—dramatically transformed the hydrological patterns of Barley Barber. Nowadays, water from the swamp flows through the L-65 canal into the St. Lucie canal before eventually reaching Lake Okeechobee; despite these changes, the waterway remains navigable and interconnected.
Flora and fauna
Barley Barber Swamp is home to one of the oldest bald cypress trees (Taxodium distichum) in the Southeastern United States, estimated to be over a millennium old, with remarkable height and girth measurements. The swamp’s vegetation also includes Florida strangler figs (Ficus aurea), swamp maples (Acer rubrum), and pond apples (Annona glabra). Its ecosystem supports a broad range of wildlife such as nesting bald eagles, American alligators, North American river otters, bobcats, white-tailed deer, along with distinctive plants like giant leather ferns (Acrostichum danaeifolium), shoestring ferns (Vittaria lineata), and whisk ferns (Psilotum). Additionally, migratory and wading bird species including egrets, ibises, limpkin, and the threatened wood stork inhabit this area.[2][3]
Tourism
In 1972, Florida Power & Light purchased land surrounding Barley Barber Swamp to develop the Martin County power station. The Environmental Impact Statement released in 1973 emphasized that this swamp—habitat to endangered species—would be conserved and enhanced.[4] Following the plant’s commissioning, FPL built a boardwalk to facilitate guided tours of the swamp. Tourism connected to Barley Barber was actively promoted by local enterprises in Indiantown, including the historic Seminole Inn, contributing positively to the local rural economy.
After the events of September 11, 2001, FPL restricted public entry to Barley Barber Swamp due to heightened security measures.
Controversy
In January 2009, a group of 30 environmental advocates staged a five-day vigil at Barley Barber Swamp to protest what they described as ecological harm caused by FPL's Martin County facility, which has a capacity of 3,705 megawatt. These activists maintained that the swamp and its surrounding waterways are designated as public Waters of the State and United States, rather than private property owned by FPL. They contended that the plant’s water withdrawal was depleting aquifer levels, leading to soil subsidence that negatively affected tree root systems and overall forest vitality. On January 10, seventeen demonstrators were detained for trespassing. Subsequently, FPL pledged to restore access to the swamp by 2010.
Hydro-ecologist Dr. Sydney Bacchus conducted studies that corroborate concerns regarding the plant’s cooling pond and water consumption, which reportedly caused "surficial aquifer draw down," resulting in a decline in water tables and damage to the ecosystem, including ancient cypress trees.
On July 23, 2009, activist Stevie Lowe was found not guilty of trespassing after she chained herself to a swamp maple tree but was convicted on charges of non-violent resistance to arrest. The State Attorney’s office was unable to establish FPL’s legal ownership of Barley Barber Swamp, thereby reinforcing the activists’ position that the area constitutes public Waters of the United States rather than private land.
References
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedLuckhardt - ↑ Carter, Ann (1998-10-01). "Swamped by Nature". South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
- ↑ Ogden, J.C.; McCrimmon, D.A.; Bancroft, G.T.; Patty, B.W. (1987). "Breeding populations of the Wood Stork in the southeastern United States". The Condor. 89 (4): 752–759.
- ↑ Florida Power & Light,"Environmental Impact Statement Martin Plant," February 1973