The Southwest Florida Water Management District and Hillsborough County will celebrate the completion of the Fred & Idah Schultz Preserve with a dedication ceremony Wednesday, Nov 10th at 3 p.m.
The preserve, which is located in southeastern Hillsborough County, is part of a 204-acre ecosystem restoration project known as the “Kitchen.” This area includes Port Redwing, Dug Creek and the Davis Tract. Restoration of the 60-acre Davis Tract was completed in 2002. Restoration will begin soon on the Dug Creek project.
The Schultz Preserve consists 120 acres of estuarine and freshwater wetlands, artificial reefs, transitional communities and uplands in the northern portion of Port Redwing.
The Schultz Preserve is named in honor of Fred and Idah Schultz, Tampa Bay’s first Audubon wardens. The preserve is maintained by Hillsborough County.
Restoration of the Kitchen is a cooperative effort among the District’s Alafia River Basin Board, state Surface Water Improvement and Management (SWIM) program and the Hillsborough County Parks Recreation and Conservation Department.
The District and Hillsborough County’s Environmental Lands Acquisition and Protection Program purchased the land in 1995.
Funding for the whole restoration project costs approximately $1.9 million. Funding for the project is divided among stat – funds, the Alafia River Basin Board the following other sources: $500,000 from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, $300,000 from the Gardinier Trust Fund, a granting program administered by Hillsborough County and the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), $225,834 fro – grico mitigation funds. Artificial reef materials were donated by the Hillsborough County Road and Street Department and from the Tampa Electric Company. Volunteer marsh plantings were coordinated through Tamp – and Scheda Ecological Associates.