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- February 06 Cooperative Funding Evaluations to Begin
February 2, 2010
The Southwest Florida Water Management District will be conducting “controlled, prescribed burns” during February and March on both the Deer Prairie Creek Preserve and neighboring Schewe Tract.
Deer Prairie Creek Preserve, which is jointly owned and managed by the District and Sarasota County, lies between Interstate 75 and US 41. The Schewe Tract, which lies north and south of I-75 just north of Deer Prairie Creek, is fully owned and managed by the District. Both of these parcels are located west of North Port.
The controlled burns on the Deer Prairie Creek and Schewe parcels, totaling 950 acres, will help protect the nearby populated areas of North Port and Warm Mineral Springs from wildfires. The areas will be burned in small, manageable units. The scheduled, managed burns are a part of routine maintenance of lands managed by the District.
According to District Land Manager Kevin W. Love, burns are conducted to mimic natural fire cycles under a controlled situation. The object is to avoid uncontrolled wildfires and enhance the area’s natural conditions by maintaining the ecological and wildlife habitat values. Prescribed burns are only conducted when weather conditions allow the objectives to be met while minimizing impacts to the public.
Every effort will be made to ensure that smoke will not affect homes or highways. However, vehicle operators should exercise caution in case smoke does lead to reduced visibility on the area’s roads or highways.
The District owns and manages approximately 436,000 acres of environmentally sensitive lands for water resource and natural systems protection.
For more information, please call the District at 352-796-7211 or 800-423-1476, ext. 4465.
