Axe Lake Swamp State Nature Preserve

Axe Lake Swamp State Nature Preserve
IUCN category V (protected landscape/seascape)
Location	Ballard County, Kentucky, United States
Nearest city	Barlow, Kentucky
Area	458 acres (185 ha)
Created	February 20, 1991
Official website

Axe Lake Swamp State Nature Preserve is a 458-acre (1.9 km²) nature reserve located near Barlow, Kentucky in Ballard County in an area known locally as "the Barlow bottoms", a wetland created by periodic flooding along the mouth of the Ohio River. Originally, Axe Lake consisted of 146 acres (0.6 km²) of the main lake and about 120 lots on the dryer portions of the property. These lots, the gate and an access road were maintained by a member/share-holder organization which agreed to the lake's dedication as a nature reserve on February 20, 1991. An additional 312 acres (1.3 km²) was dedicated on December 11, 2001.^[1]

The Office of Kentucky Nature Preserves has identified Axe Lake as the centerpiece of an expanded long-term project to protect 3,000 acres (12 km²) of bald cypress-tupelo swamp lands which is to be called the Axe Lake Swamp wetlands complex. This cypress-tupelo swamp is the best example of a large intact cypress-tupelo swamp in Kentucky. This protected area is known to support at least eight rare plant and animal species. The site has been recognized as a priority wetland in the North American Waterfowl Management Plan. Written permission is required for access to the preserve.^[1][2]

Wildlife

Wetlands species of interest:

• Bald Cypress (Taxodium distichum)
• Great blue heron (Ardea herodias)
• Great egret (Casmerodius albus)
• Wood duck (Aix sponsa)

References

1. "Axe Lake Swamp State Nature Preserve". Office on Kentucky Nature Preserves. Retrieved January 20, 2015.
2. "State Nature Preserves & State Natural Areas Directory" (PDF). Office of Kentucky Nature Preserves. March 2011. p. 6. Retrieved January 20, 2015.