The Lake Wales Ridge EMA, located primarily in Polk and Highlands Counties, includes remnant ecosystems that are highly unique at the global level. The most famous natural community characterizing the ridge is Florida's ancient interior scrub. The deep sands and variable topography also couch numerous sandhill upland lakes, marsh lakes, and sinkhole lakes interspersed between areas of pine flatwoods. Remnants of biodiversity are distributed throughout the ridge, with significant scrub communities existing in numerous distinct fragments. Approximately 40 species of plant and vertebrates survive within these remants, of which 17 species are federally listed, and 13 additional species are proposed for federal listing. These species and fragmented natural areas are all that remain of an ancient flora and fauna once widepread in North America.

The Lake Wales Ridge is the primary divide between the Kissimmee River and Peace River basins. It also provides headwater drainage for the Withlacoochoee River to the north and Fisheating Creek to the south. Rapid seepage of precipitation into the ridge provides important recharge for the Floridan Aquifer. Agriculture, mining, and urban development are widespread throughout the region. (This is from the description found on the Central Florida RPC Web Page- see below)

Archbold Biological Station

The Lake Wales Ridge: Ancient sands, diverse biota

Florida Division of Forestry - Lake Wales Ridge State Forest

NPR - Radio Expeditions - The Lake Wales Ridge

Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission

Lake Wales Ridge
Lake Wales Ridge History

Audubon of Florida - Resolution on Lake Wales Ridge Ecosystem

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

Lake Wales Ridge National Wildlife Refuge
Comprehensive Conservation Plan
Lake Wales Ridge - National Wildlife Refuge Factsheet

Ridge Audubon Society Lake Wales, Florida

Florida Environment Radio - Florida's Desert Islands, The Lake Wales Ridge

Center for Plant Conservation - National Collection of Endangered Plants - Ziziphus celata is a Lake Wales Ridge endemic

Bok Tower Gardens

Visit Florida - Lake Wales Ridge State Forest

The Nature Conservancy - Tiger Creek Preserve on the Edge of Lake Wales Ridge

Florida DEP - Lake Wales Ridge

Florida Trail Association - Lake Wales Ridge / Arbuckle Tract Trail

Recreation.gov - Lake Wales Ridge National Wildlife Refuge