The "Southwest Florida Water Management District(Southwest Florida Water Management District)":/ will be conducting "controlled, prescribed burns" during August and September on the District's "Flatwoods Park(Flatwoods Park)":/recreation/areas/lh-flatwoods.html in Hillsborough County.
Some entrances or trails at Flatwoods Park may be temporarily closed on weekdays during August and September to facilitate the safe execution of prescribed burns. The entrance at 13630 Morris Bridge Road may be closed temporarily when conditions become conducive to burn on the east side of the park. Visitors may access Flatwoods Park via the Bruce B. Downs Boulevard entrance.
Flatwoods Park, part of the District's Lower Hillsborough Wilderness Preserve, is located northeast of Temple Terrace. Approximately 200 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.
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 1-800-423-1476, ext. 4465.
Some entrances or trails at Flatwoods Park may be temporarily closed on weekdays during August and September to facilitate the safe execution of prescribed burns. The entrance at 13630 Morris Bridge Road may be closed temporarily when conditions become conducive to burn on the east side of the park. Visitors may access Flatwoods Park via the Bruce B. Downs Boulevard entrance.
Flatwoods Park, part of the District's Lower Hillsborough Wilderness Preserve, is located northeast of Temple Terrace. Approximately 200 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.
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 1-800-423-1476, ext. 4465.