The Southwest Florida Water Management District will be conducting “controlled, prescribed burns” during October on the District’s Weekiwachee Preserve and the Annuteliga Hammock.
The Annuteliga Hammock tract is located in Hernando County, near Royal Highlands and U.S. Hwy. 19. Approximately 260 acres of land will be burned in small, manageable units.
The Weekiwachee Preserve is located in Hernando and Pasco counties, approximately one mile west of Spring Hill. Approximately 400 acres of land will be burned in small, manageable units. However, residents who live in the Lake in the Woods subdivision should be aware that approximately 80 acres adjacent to and west of the subdivision will be included in the controlled burns. Residents of the Nantucket Cove community should be aware that approximately 30 acres west of Suzanne Drive will also be included in the controlled burns.
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 implemented 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 are optimum and impacts to the public are minimized.
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.
To meet various water management needs, the District has acquired approximately 350,000 acres of environmentally sensitive and water resource related lands through the State’s Save Our Rivers, Florida Forever and Preservation 2000 programs.
For more information, please call the District at 352-796-7211 or 1-800-423-1476, ext. 4465.