The "Southwest Florida Water Management District(Southwest Florida Water Management District)":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us will be conducting "controlled, prescribed burns" during June, July, August and September on the District's "Chito Branch Reserve(Chito Branch Reserve)":/recreation/areas/chito_branch_reserve.html in Hillsborough County.
The Chito Branch Reserve is located near Lithia, approximately 10 miles south of Plant City. Approximately 400 acres of land 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(Prescribed Fire - a Tool of Nature)":/publications/files/prescribed_fire.pdf 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.
Recreationists should be aware that prescribed burns could be in progress during their visit. Recreationists should use only designated trails.
The District owns and manages "approximately 436,000 acres of environmentally sensitive lands(Public Lands of the Southwest Florida Water Management District)":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/publications/files/public_lands.pdf for water resource and natural systems protection.
For more information, please call the District at (352) 796-7211 or 1-800-423-1476, ext. 4465.
The Chito Branch Reserve is located near Lithia, approximately 10 miles south of Plant City. Approximately 400 acres of land 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(Prescribed Fire - a Tool of Nature)":/publications/files/prescribed_fire.pdf 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.
Recreationists should be aware that prescribed burns could be in progress during their visit. Recreationists should use only designated trails.
The District owns and manages "approximately 436,000 acres of environmentally sensitive lands(Public Lands of the Southwest Florida Water Management District)":http://www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/publications/files/public_lands.pdf for water resource and natural systems protection.
For more information, please call the District at (352) 796-7211 or 1-800-423-1476, ext. 4465.