More than 50 community volunteers helped plant 1,000 bald cypress stress at Lake Apopka North Shore over the weekend, according to a news release by the St. Johns River Water Management District.

  • Over the weekend, 50 volunteers planed 1,000 trees
  • Bald cypress trees provide food, shelter to wildlife

“In addition to providing food for wildlife and nesting habitats, these trees will provide shade for visitors for many years to come,” said St. Johns River Water Management District Executive Director Dr. Ann Shortelle. “We are grateful for an opportunity to partner with the community on a project that celebrates our shared recognition of the value of this unique land.”

Cherry Lake Tree Farm in Groveland worked with the nonprofit group Keep Lake Beautiful to donate the trees and help raise awareness about the importance of the area’s natural systems.


This bird is inspecting the new bald cypress tree that was planted over the weekend by more than 50 volunteers. (St. Johns River Water Management District Maitland Service Center)

“Bald Cypress are keystone species for our ecosystem and play an important role in maintaining the health and balance of these ecosystems,” said Timothee Sallin, president of Cherry Lake Tree Farm. “By planting 1,000 trees at Lake Apopka, we were able to make a lasting contribution to our environment both today and for generations to come.”

Participants worked with district staff to plant the cypress trees in four areas at the Lake Apopka North Shore.

Once home to several farms in the 1940s, the more than 20,000 acres along Lake Apopka’s northern shore were acquired by the district in a push to restore water quality and fish and wildlife habitat within the lake.


The more than 50 volunteers who helped plant 1,000 bald cypress trees over the weekend at Lake Apopka North Shore. (St. Johns River Water Management District Maitland Service Center)