Route #4 — Water Conservation Area 3B

This route runs through Water Conservation Area 3B, one of the major water management zones in South Florida, located west of the Miami metropolitan area. The territory is part of the complex water control system designed during the twentieth century to regulate flooding, urban water supply, and the protection of the Everglades.

The landscape is dominated by vast sawgrass prairies, straight drainage canals, and elevated levees that make it possible to cross areas that, in their natural state, would remain flooded for much of the year. Human intervention is constant and clearly visible, from hydraulic control structures to maintenance roads used by water management agencies.

Despite its technical and infrastructural character, the area maintains a strong presence of wildlife, particularly wading birds and reptiles. The route offers a direct view of the delicate balance between environmental conservation and human needs, one of the central historical conflicts of South Florida.

The complete route and its historical context are included in Discovering Florida – Volume 1.