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 Lower Hillsborough Wilderness Preserve in Hillsborough County, including "Flatwoods Park(Lower Hillsborough Wilderness Preserve Flatwoods Park)":/recreation/areas/lh-flatwoods.html and the "Oak Ridge Equestrian Area(Lower Hillsborough Wilderness Preserve Oak Ridge Equestrian Area)":/recreation/areas/lh-oakridge.html.
The "Lower Hillsborough Wilderness Preserve(Lower Hillsborough Wilderness Preserve)":/recreation/areas/lowerhillsborough.html is located just south of Morris Bridge Road and just east of I-75, approximately three miles northeast of Temple Terrace. Approximately 1,000 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 may be in progress during their visit and be prepared to yield to fire management vehicles and equipment. Recreationists should stay on designated trails only. Certain entrances and trails may be temporarily closed during burns.
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 "Lower Hillsborough Wilderness Preserve(Lower Hillsborough Wilderness Preserve)":/recreation/areas/lowerhillsborough.html is located just south of Morris Bridge Road and just east of I-75, approximately three miles northeast of Temple Terrace. Approximately 1,000 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 may be in progress during their visit and be prepared to yield to fire management vehicles and equipment. Recreationists should stay on designated trails only. Certain entrances and trails may be temporarily closed during burns.
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.