Hydrologic and land-cover features of the Loxahatchee River Basin, Florida

Historically the Loxahatchee River basin covered about 270 square miles in southeast Florida. Today the basin covers about 210 square miles and is defined by both topography, manmade features, and water-management policies. About 50% of the basin is wetlands. Urban and agricultural lands cover 17 and 18% of the basin, respectively. Soils are predominantly sandy and poorly drained. Water drains into the estuary, a shallow water body of about 2 square miles. (USGS)