BOYNTON BEACH, FL - (NewMediaWire) - February 24, 2015 - Flowing southward for hundreds of miles from its headwaters near Kissimmee to Florida Bay, the Sunshine State's unique "River of Grass" is one of the world's most precious natural resources.

On February 26, 2015, at 8:00 p.m., WXEL Television will air “THE UNSEEN EVERGLADES: Inside a Legendary Wilderness,” a one-hour special presentation that examines the many aspects of this complex family of ecosystems – its role in the state's history and the challenges it faces today. The program will also air on February 27th at 5:00 p.m. February 28th at noon and on April 22nd in celebration of National Earth Day.

"We want to give viewers a better understanding of the size, scale and importance of the Everglades for our entire planet," says author and adventurer Charles J. Kropke, who hosts the documentary. Program producer is Tropic Moon Media, a Coral Gables, Florida based book publishing and media production company and WXEL, PBS for the Palm Beaches, is co-producer and provided management and oversight for the production. Emmy nominated independent filmmaker Leesa Gordon is the documentary’s writer/producer and film industry veteran Andy Cope is the man behind the camera.

"When people think of the Everglades, some visualize airboats racing over shallow waters, while others imagine a mysterious sub-tropical realm with orchids, ferns and majestic cypress trees,” Kropke says.“Still others think of a vast maze of mangrove islands and twisting rivers. In fact, the greater Everglades has eight different ecosystems that interact with each other in surprising ways to create diverse natural habitats for alligators, manatees, deer, crocodiles, wading birds, black bears and the elusive Florida panther."

 Kropke has spent 30 years exploring and researching the Florida Everglades and interacting with the unique, independent-minded residents of this vast wetland. "The documentary introduces viewers to the people whose lives have been shaped by the 'Glades’ including Native Americans, sportsmen, farmers, conservationists and park rangers," Kropke says. "We begin with the northern stretches of the Everglades above Lake Okeechobee where the fresh water begins its slow flow to the south. Then we move throughout the remainder of this vast wilderness, ending up at the saltwater tip of mainland Florida, Cape Sable."

The documentary also focuses on the spirited fight to restore the Everglades to preserve and protect its unique habitats. This includes, among many other efforts, the re-channelization of the Kissimmee River, back-filling of ditches on Central Florida ranchlands, clean water storage, agricultural runoff management, lifting parts of the Tamiami Trail and canal plugs at Cape Sable. All of these issues will be addressed in this fast-moving documentary on the mighty ‘River of Grass’.”

For more about the documentary, contact Bay Proby at Proby & Associates Public Relations (305-613-4668. bp@probyp.com) or visit or www.tropicmoonmedia.com. Cable and satellite viewers, check listings.