The Southwest Florida Water Management District will be conducting “controlled, prescribed burns” during June, July and August on the Deep Creek property in DeSoto County.
The site is east of Kings Highway, west of the Peace River and north of Deep Creek Estates. Approximately 500 acres of land will be burned in small, manageable units. The scheduled, controlled 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 possible impacts to the public.
Every effort will be made to ensure that smoke does 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 435,000 acres of environmentally sensitive lands for water resource and natural systems protection.
For more information, please call the District at 1-800-423-1476, ext. 4465.