Grassy Waters Preserve

Grassy Waters Preserve https://linktr.ee/grassywaters
(561) 804-4985
ADA Acc
(264)

Grassy Waters Preserve is a 23 square mile wetlands ecosystem that serves as the freshwater supply for the City of West Palm Beach and the towns of South Palm Beach and Palm Beach Island. In addition to meeting local demands for freshwater, Grassy Waters Preserve provides hands-on educational experiences for learners of all ages.

08/25/2026

Looking at your calendar for the weekend? 🦌

Join us indoors for our Speaker Series or out on the boardwalk for Edible Everglades!

Visit wpb.org/grassywaters for full program descriptions. Please call 561.804.4985 to register.

Interested in learning more about the ecosystems here in West Palm? 🌊🌴Learn what our salty coastal habitats have in comm...
08/24/2026

Interested in learning more about the ecosystems here in West Palm? 🌊🌴

Learn what our salty coastal habitats have in common with our freshwater swamp and marsh, and how living shorelines use nature's own tools to keep our waters clean, support fish and birds, and help communities weather storms.

This indoor program is FREE, but space is limited and reservations are required. Please call 561.804.4985 to register today.

Please be advised, the Nature Center will be CLOSED on Tuesday, 8/25 and the afternoon of Wednesday, 8/26 for staff trai...
08/23/2026

Please be advised, the Nature Center will be CLOSED on Tuesday, 8/25 and the afternoon of Wednesday, 8/26 for staff training. We will resume normal hours of operation on 8/27.

Thank you for understanding! 🌱

If you’ve ever taken a walk on our Cypress Boardwalk, it’s likely you’ve seen dozens of small, stump-like protrusions co...
08/21/2026

If you’ve ever taken a walk on our Cypress Boardwalk, it’s likely you’ve seen dozens of small, stump-like protrusions coming out of the soil or peeking above the water line.

These are not stumps at all, but rather vertical roots from the surrounding cypress trees referred to as knees. Cypress knees vary in height and distribution, often influenced by water depth.

Since their first documented observation in the 1800s, the function of these growths has stumped (🥁) the scientific community. A variety of ideas have been proposed, such as:

- Root aeration
- Methane emission
- Reproduction
- Nutrient absorption
- Carbohydrate storage
- Structural support

While the root aeration and structural support hypotheses are most widely discussed, the scientific community has yet to reach an accepted consensus backed by evidence. It’s even been suggested that knees may have evolved in response to evolutionary pressures that no longer exist – suggesting we may never know their purpose!

Did you know? Bald cypress trees are some of the oldest living organisms in the Eastern United States – some reaching over 2,000 years old!

Join The Great Southeast Pollinator Census taking place August 21 and 22! 🦋Created by the University of Georgia in 2019,...
08/19/2026

Join The Great Southeast Pollinator Census taking place August 21 and 22! 🦋

Created by the University of Georgia in 2019, this citizen science effort is open to residents from Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Alabama, and Mississippi – no prior experience necessary!

To participate,
🐝Visit https.//gsepc.org/ and review how-to resources
🌼Download the printable Counting Sheet and Identification Guide
🐞Get outside and count!
🌸Upload data to portal on website

Please direct any Florida-specific questions to the Florida Census Coordinator: Jeremy Rhoden – University of Florida Extension – [email protected]

08/18/2026

Curious about some of the more elusive wildlife at Grassy Waters Preserve?🐊

Join us for a talk all about reptiles and amphibians this Sunday!

Please call 561.804.4985 to register.

Today is World Lizard Day! Lizards are a diverse group of reptiles with more than 5,000 species found worldwide. They ar...
08/14/2026

Today is World Lizard Day!

Lizards are a diverse group of reptiles with more than 5,000 species found worldwide. They are characterized by dry, scaly skin, moveable eyelids, and external ear openings.

Ecologically, these reptiles:
🦎Help to control pest populations
🦎Play an important role in the food web, serving as both predator and prey
🦎Serve as indicators of environmental quality

Several native lizard species can be found in Palm Beach County, including three species commonly seen at Grassy Waters: the Green Anole (Anolis carolinensis), Southeastern Five-lined Skink (Plestiodon inexpectatus), and the Eastern Glass Lizard (Ophisaurus ventralis).

South Florida is also home to a variety of nonnative lizard species, such as the Brown Anole (Anolis sagrei), Northern Curly-Tailed Lizard (Leiocephalus carinatus), and Brown Basilisk (Basiliscus vittatus).

Did you know? While not every nonnative lizard sighting needs to be reported, you can contribute to state (FWC) management efforts by reporting sightings of released pets or invasive reptile species like the Argentine Black and White Tegu (Salvator merianae) or Nile Monitor (Varanus niloticus) using the IveGot1 mobile app or submitting a form on IveGot1.org

08/11/2026

Ready to immerse yourself in the Everglades?

Join us on Saturday for a Swamp Tromp – a guided wet hike through the cypress swamp! 🥾

Please call 561.804.4985 to make a reservation.

Please be advised, the Nature Center will be CLOSED on Monday, 8/17 for a community workshop. We will resume normal hour...
08/10/2026

Please be advised, the Nature Center will be CLOSED on Monday, 8/17 for a community workshop. We will resume normal hours of operation on 8/18.

Thank you for understanding! 🌱

Meet the little blue heron (Egretta caerulea)!These birds are roughly 2 feet tall and can be found in both coastal and f...
08/07/2026

Meet the little blue heron (Egretta caerulea)!

These birds are roughly 2 feet tall and can be found in both coastal and freshwater environments throughout Florida. Identification of these wading birds can be tricky, as their appearance changes drastically from early life to adulthood.

Their feathers are entirely white for their first year of life (photo 2). As they mature, the white is accompanied by patches of blue, giving an almost calico appearance (photo 3). They become almost entirely dark blue once they reach adulthood (photo 1). The best way to distinguish little blue herons from other wading birds is by their black-tipped beak, yellow eyes, and greenish legs.

Did you know? Due to their darker, less showy feathers, little blue herons were significantly less impacted by the plume trade in the early 20th century. However, they are currently listed as threatened in Florida due to wetland habitat loss.

📸: Gay Marlin, Tom Billman, Melinda Moore

Address

8264 Northlake Boulevard
West Palm Beach, FL
33412

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 4:30pm
Tuesday 8am - 4:30pm
Wednesday 8am - 4:30pm
Thursday 8am - 4:30pm
Friday 8am - 4:30pm
Saturday 8am - 4:30pm
Sunday 8:30am - 5pm

Telephone

+15618044985

Website

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