SPECIAL PUBLICATION NO. 27


 The greatest potential peat resources in Florida lie predominantly in
south Florida (Figures 13, 14, and 15). The vast majority of this peat lies
in the Everglades and associated swampy areas. It is interesting to note
that while Davis (1946) (Figure 13) and the U.S. Department of the
Interior (State of Florida Governor's Energy Office, 1981) (Figure 15)
show similar areas of peat in south Florida, Griffin, et al. (1982) (Figure
14) show a significantly smaller area. This discrepancy may be due to
subsidence and high ash content which would render peat unsuitable for
fuel use. Griffin, et al. (1982) show peat deposits in Collier and Lee
counties that are not included on the other maps.
 Figures 13, 14, and 15 indicate the presence of large deposits in the
St. Johns River Valley (Indian River, Brevard and Orange counties), and
the Oklawaha River Valley (Marion and Lake counties). Other relatively
large deposits include: Lake Apopka (Orange and Lake counties), near
Lake Arbuckle (Highlands County), Orange Lake area (Marion and Ala-
chua counties) and the Florahome deposit (Putnam County). Smaller
deposits are also indicated on Davis' (1946) map (Figure 13) and Griffin,
et al. (1982) map (Figure 14).
 It is interesting to note that while Davis (1946) (Figure 13) shows
scattered samples taken from small peat areas in the panhandle, Griffin,
et al. (1982) (Figure 14) show a number of deposits, including a large
deposit in Leon County and smaller deposits in Bay, Jackson, and Santa
Rosa counties. The U.S. Department of the Interior map (State of Florida
Governor's Energy Office, 1981) (Figure 15) does not indicate any
deposits in the panhandle.
 Peats associated with mangrove and coastal swamps generally occur
in a narrow band paralleling Florida's coastline. The zone occupied by
these environments is widest in southwest Florida. These peats are not
generally shown on the maps of peat resources due to the scale of the
maps.
 Until a more detailed investigation of our peat resources is undertaken
the published resource estimates must suffice. It must, however, be kept
in mind that the figures are estimates of the available resources and vary
from one investigator to another.

 THE EVERGLADES AGRICULTURAL AREA

 by
 Paulette Bond

 History of the Everglades Agricultural Area

 The Everglades Agricultural Area is a part of an immense natural drain-
age system that begins in the northernmost reaches of the Kissimmee
River drainage basin near Orlando. The Kissimmee River flows to the
southeast into Lake Okeechobee. In its natural state, the level of Lake
Okeechobee fluctuated within a range of approximately 8 feet, that is,