Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve

The Six Mile Cypress Slough (pronounced “slew”) is over 3,400 acres of wetland in Fort Myers, Florida, that measures approximately 11 miles long and 1/3 mile wide. This linear ecosystem is home to a diverse population of plants and animals, including a few considered to be endangered. The Slough also serves as a corridor for wildlife by providing a safe route of travel. The Slough is a natural drainage-way, collecting runoff water from a 33-square-mile watershed area during periods of heavy or prolonged rainfall. During the wet season (June through October), a depth of 2 to 3 feet of water makes the Slough comparable to a wide, shallow stream. This fresh water flows southwest through the Slough and empties into the Estero Bay Aquatic Preserve. The Six Mile Cypress Slough became a preserve in 1970 because of its positive influences on the community and environment. The Preserve provides education and low impact recreation to its visitors, deters flooding and recharges shallow wells, protects the health of the Gulf of Mexico, and is a wildlife habitat for numerous plant and animal species.