The Southwest Florida Water Management District will be conducting “controlled, prescribed burns” during June, July and August on the District’s Jack Creek property in Highlands County.
The property, which is in the Leisure Lakes area, is approximately one mile west of U.S. Hwy. 27, three miles south of S.R. 66 and six miles northwest of Lake Placid. The scheduled, managed burns are a part of routine maintenance of lands managed by the District. Approximately 300 acres of land will be burned in small, manageable units.
According to District Land Manager Kevin W. Love, burns are implemented to mimic natural fire cycles under a controlled situation. The objective 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.
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 352-796-7211 or 1-800-423-1476, ext. 4465.