The "Southwest Florida Water Management District":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/ (District) will hold a Recreation Ad Hoc Committee meeting Wednesday, March 5, at 9:30 a.m. The meeting will take place at the Tampa Service Office, located at 7601 U.S. Highway 301. The objective of this meeting is to provide the Ad Hoc Committee, made up of four Governing Board members, and stakeholders an overview of the findings and preliminary staff recommendations resulting from the Recreation Evaluation.
During the meeting, staff will review the District-managed recreation program, the evaluation process and findings. The Recreation Ad Hoc Committee will provide guidance and review staff recommendations. Final recommendations will be forwarded to the full Governing Board for final review and approval.
Over the last 10 months, staff conducted an evaluation of lands with District-managed recreation to determine whether the current recreational opportunities are consistent with regional trends. District staff used the Florida Department of Environmental Protection's "Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan":http://www.dep.state.fl.us/parks/outdoor/scorp.htm (SCORP), an informal online survey, feedback from four public meetings, and other recreation evaluation methods as a basis to determine whether the District's recreation program is in line with current recreation trends within its 16-county region.
The District's recreation program covers approximately 225,000 acres of lands and consists of 472 miles of trails, nine primitive campgrounds, 10 backcountry campsites and 12 equestrian campgrounds. Recreation uses include hiking, biking, horseback riding, birding, hunting, picnicking, camping, fishing and nature study/wildlife viewing.
For more information, "visit www.WaterMatters.org/RecEvaluation":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/recreation/evaluation/.
During the meeting, staff will review the District-managed recreation program, the evaluation process and findings. The Recreation Ad Hoc Committee will provide guidance and review staff recommendations. Final recommendations will be forwarded to the full Governing Board for final review and approval.
Over the last 10 months, staff conducted an evaluation of lands with District-managed recreation to determine whether the current recreational opportunities are consistent with regional trends. District staff used the Florida Department of Environmental Protection's "Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan":http://www.dep.state.fl.us/parks/outdoor/scorp.htm (SCORP), an informal online survey, feedback from four public meetings, and other recreation evaluation methods as a basis to determine whether the District's recreation program is in line with current recreation trends within its 16-county region.
The District's recreation program covers approximately 225,000 acres of lands and consists of 472 miles of trails, nine primitive campgrounds, 10 backcountry campsites and 12 equestrian campgrounds. Recreation uses include hiking, biking, horseback riding, birding, hunting, picnicking, camping, fishing and nature study/wildlife viewing.
For more information, "visit www.WaterMatters.org/RecEvaluation":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/recreation/evaluation/.