The Southwest Florida Water Management District is about to begin a three-year restoration project at J.B. Starkey Wilderness Preserve. The project will restore 951 acres of uplands, including degraded scrub and sand hill communities.
Sand pine has taken over much of the area due to the lack of fire, which naturally maintains the quality of a habitat. In addition, decades of vegetative debris has built up, leaving the area at risk for uncontrollable wildfires.
This restoration project will remove the sand pine canopy and vegetative debris through logging and other mechanical means and reintroduce controlled burns to the area. Controlled 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.
These activities will allow sunlight to return to the forest floor, resulting in grasses and wildflowers returning to these areas. Grasses, wildflowers and acorns will provide a food base and improved habitat for the wildlife that would normally live in these uplands habitats.
Restoration efforts will also allow the shrubby oaks and larger turkey oaks in the sand hills to become the dominant canopy again. These oak species currently exist in the preserve, but are repressed by the sand pines.
This project will not only restore the health of the habitats, it will also enhance the fire protection of the surrounding residential communities, said Will Van Gelder, District senior land management specialist.
The project will be conducted in phases over three years. All of the phases will occur south of the paved recreation trail, leaving the overwhelming majority of the park available for recreation. The first two phases will take place west of the power lines and the last phase will be east of the power lines. Please see the map of the area below. The first phase, located near the Aristida neighborhood, consists of logging and is expected to begin between May 16 and May 23. The sale of the timber will offset the cost of the restoration project.
The remote hiking trail west of the power lines as well as the entire equestrian trail will be temporarily closed as the restoration proceeds. Hiking will be rerouted to the paved trail and will connect to remote trails east of the power lines. Equestrian users will be directed to the Serenova entrance on State Road 52 until the project is complete.
The District will collaborate with Pasco County Parks Department staff to ensure any inconvenience to park patrons is temporary and minimal. Park patrons will be able to learn more about the project and what areas are under restoration by viewing an information poster located at a kiosk near the parks entrance.
For information about the recreation opportunities at the J.B. Starkey Wilderness Preserve, please contact the park at (727) 834-3247.