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Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

Here’s a fish story for the ages

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Here’s a big fish story that has its origins in the year 1923.

The recounting of it begins with a visit to a house in San Antonio in 1974, to repair a ringer on a wall telephone.

Ken Zifer was assigned by Florida Telephone Company, at that time, to maintain the San Antonio 588 exchange.

Will Plazewski, local historian and water clerk for the City of San Antonio, helped to obtain this photograph, which shows, from left: Matt Klassen, an unidentified man in the center, and Frederick Joseph ‘Fritz’ Friebel holding his record largemouth bass in 1923. (Courtesy of Jack Vogel)

“When I left his house to put my hand tools back in the truck, Mr. Walter Friebel followed me outside,” recalls Zifer, who now lives in Cleveland, Tennessee.

“Being an avid fisherman all my life and associated with Great Bass Fisherman, I asked him if he was doing any fishing in this neck of the woods,” said Zifer, who was 27 at the time that he made the telephone repair.

Friebel lived across the street from the San Antonio City Park and the St. Anthony Catholic School, so Zifer knew the house was not far from Clear Lake, in neighboring St. Leo.

Friebel told Zifer that he had not been fishing for quite a long time.

Then he told Zifer: “I (once) was paddling the boat when my brother caught the World Record Bass.”

Zifer asked: “Would you mind telling me about it?”

And that begins a look at a relatively unknown chapter in Pasco County history.

Born in Germany in 1893, Friebel’s brother, Frederick Joseph “Fritz” Friebel, had used only one fishing rod and reel, and he did not let Walter fish that day.

Fritz Friebel was a traveling salesman.

Francis Finn was 75 when he told the St. Petersburg Times in a 2005 story that his uncle Fritz was a generous man who would bring roller skates, baseball gloves, bats and balls for the kids to play with during the Great Depression.

Fritz Friebel reportedly caught his bass from Moody Lake north of San Antonio. He wanted to keep other fishermen ‘off the track’ from where he really was fishing at Big Fish Lake (pictured here) on the Barthle Brothers Ranch northwest of San Antonio. (Courtesy of Southwest Florida Water Management District)

Fritz Friebel was an avid angler, too, who lugged his tackle along with him, as he made his rounds across Florida, selling hardware.

Sources say he went fishing with a couple of friends at Big Fish Lake in 1923.

Online records with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) indicate his famous fish catch happened on a Saturday, May 19, 1923.

That wasn’t the way the fisherman recalled it, in a story published on Oct. 12, 1952, in The Tampa Tribune.

In that account, he said: “It was a Sunday morning when I should have been in church, and I had to call a grocer to open his store to get the fish weighed.”

Fritz Friebel had landed a 20-pound, 2-ounce largemouth black bass that measured 31 inches long with a 27-inch girth.

According to Ken Duke’s story for ESPN Sports on Aug. 7, 2009, Fritz Friebel used a Creek Chub No. 700 Straight Pike Minnow “to catch the giant fish.”

Five years later he was featured in a rod and reel catalog under the heading: “The Black Bass Record has been Broken, Not Cracked or Bent, but Crushed, Torn Apart and Split Wide Open.”

The catalog added this: “Gentlemen anglers all! Please leap to your feet and throw your hats into the air. Rah, Rah! To Mr. Friebel and his black bass!”

Onlookers in 1923 accused Fritz Friebel of cheating by adding pounds with lead sinkers in his fish.

The family of Fritz Friebel had this new marker built and shipped to Florida, where new generations can read about the fishing legend in the San Antonio City Park. (Courtesy of Doug Sanders)

But, the fisherman debunked that assertion.

“Friebel pulled out his pocketknife,” Duke writes, “slit the fish’s belly open and suggested that they reach inside to find out.”

Fritz Friebel was a no-nonsense angler.

As his daughter explained to ESPN Sports, “Daddy didn’t own a boat. He wore the worst-looking clothes because he often waded into water up to his armpits while fishing.”

After he made the catch, the big bass was put in a block of ice at the Knights hardware store for people to come by to see it.

According to the FWC’s website, Fritz Friebel’s catch in Pasco County “…was weighed on a postal scale and witnessed, but a (state) biologist did not document it at the time to establish an official record.”

In other words, it is the largest unofficial big bass landed in Florida.

ESPN Sports says it registers as the 11th largest largemouth black bass ever caught in the world.

For years, a wooden sign commemorating Fritz Friebel’s accomplishment has stood in San Antonio’s downtown park.

Most conservation-minded anglers release large fish because of their future spawning potential.

Not Fritz Friebel: He treated his family to a big fish dinner.

Whoppers
WORLD RECORD
George W. Perry, 1932, Lake Montgomery, Georgia, 22 pounds, 4 ounces

FLORIDA RECORD: Uncertified
Frederick Joseph “Fritz” Friebel, 1923, Big Fish Lake, Pasco County, 20 pounds, 2 ounces

FLORIDA RECORD: Certified
Billy O’ Berry, 1986, unnamed lake, Polk County, 17 pounds, 2 ounces

Source: Florida Trend Magazine

Doug Sanders has a penchant for unearthing interesting stories about local history. His sleuthing skills have been developed through his experiences in newspaper and government work. If you have an idea for a future history column, contact Doug at .

Published March 24, 2021

West Nile Virus case confirmed in Hillsborough County

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The Florida Department of Health in Hillsborough County (DOH-Hillsborough) has confirmed a human case of the West Nile Virus, according to a health department news release.

The health department also reported an increase in mosquito-borne disease activity, and has announced a heightened concern that additional residents may become ill.

The Hillsborough County department of Mosquito Control and Hillsborough’s health department are continuing surveillance and prevention efforts.

A human case of West Nile Virus has been confirmed in Hillsborough County. Health officials urge residents to take precautions to protect themselves from mosquito bites. (File)

The health department is reminding residents and visitors to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes and to take basic precautions to help limit exposure.

Remember the key words, drain and cover, when taking action to protect yourself.

Be sure to drain standing water to prevent mosquitoes from multiplying.

Items that should be drained include: Garbage cans, house gutters, buckets, pool covers, coolers, toys, flowerpots or any other containers where sprinkler or rainwater has collected.

Other steps that should be taken:

  • Discard old tires, drums, bottles, cans, pots and pans, broken appliances and other items that aren’t being used.
  • Empty and clean birdbaths and pet’s water bowls at least once or twice a week.
  • Protect boats and vehicles from rain with tarps that don’t accumulate water.
  • Keep pools in good condition, and be sure they are appropriately chlorinated.
  • Empty plastic swimming pools when not in use.

Also, protect yourself by covering your skin with clothing, or a repellent.

When in an area where mosquitoes are present, be sure to wear shoes, socks, and long pants and long sleeves.

Also, be sure to apply mosquito repellent to bare skin and clothing.

Use mosquito netting to protect children younger than 2 months old.

Always be sure to read the label directions on the repellent to be sure you are applying a proper amount, to people in the appropriate age group, to the right places.

Keep mosquitoes out of your house by repairing broken screens on doors or windows.

For more information on what repellent is right for you, consider using the Environmental Protection Agency’s search tool to help you choose skin-applied repellent products.

The Florida Department of Health is continuing to conduct statewide surveillance for mosquito-borne illnesses, including West Nile virus infections, Eastern equine encephalitis, St. Louis encephalitis, malaria, chikungunya and dengue.

Residents of Florida are encouraged to report dead birds, via the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s site.

West Nile Virus, symptoms and treatments

  • Eight out of 10 people infected with West Nile virus do not develop symptoms.
  • About one in five of those who are infected develop a fever with some other symptoms, such as headache, body aches, joint pains, vomiting, diarrhea or rash.
    • Most people with West Nile virus disease recover completely, but some can experience fatigue and weakness that can last for weeks or months.
  • About one in 150 people who are infected develop a severe illness affecting the central nervous system such as encephalitis, which is inflammation of the brain, or meningitis, which is inflammation of the membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord.

In cases of severe illness, symptoms include high fever, headache, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, vision loss, numbness and paralysis.

Severe illness can occur in people of any age, but those over age 60 are at a greater risk.

Also, people with certain medical conditions, such as cancer, diabetes, hypertension, kidney disease, and people who have received organ transplants, also are at greater risk.

Recovery from severe illness might take several weeks or months. Some effects to the central nervous system might be permanent.

About one out of 10 people who develop severe illness affecting the central nervous system die.

See your health care provider if you develop symptoms described above. Your health care provider can order tests to look for West Nile virus infection.

There is no vaccine or specific antiviral treatments for West Nile virus infection.

Over-the-counter pain relievers can be used to reduce fever and relieve some symptoms.

In severe cases, patients often need to be hospitalized to receive supportive treatment, such as intravenous fluids, pain medication, and nursing care.

If you think you or a family member might have West Nile virus disease, talk with your health care provider.

To learn more about treatment, visit our Healthcare Providers page.

Source: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Published November 18, 2020

Seeking a fun summer adventure? Try scalloping

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Grab a snorkel, a swim mask and some fins —  because recreational scallop season is right around the corner in Pasco County.

The annual 10-day bay scallop season this year in Pasco runs July 17 through July 26. It begins annually on the third Friday in July.

The county’s scallop zone encompasses all state waters south of the Hernando-Pasco county line and north of the Anclote Key Lighthouse in northern Pinellas County, and includes all waters of the Anclote River.

The 10-day annual recreational bay scallop season returns to Pasco County waters from July 17 through July 26. (Courtesy of Florida’s Sports Coast)

The outdoor adventure activity of hunting for scallops is often referred to as an underwater Easter egg hunt.

Requiring only basic swimming skills, the idea is to float along the top of the water until you spot scallop shells in Florida seagrass beds lying several feet underwater, then you grab them by hand or with a landing or dip net.

For the county’s tourism agency — known as Florida’s Sports Coast — scalloping means big business.

Last year’s 10-day season generated more than a half-million dollars in economic impact, said Florida’s Sports Coast tourism director Adam Thomas.

It is the top leisure activity for the tourism agency, representing about 5% to 6% of all visitation during the fourth quarter in 2019, Thomas said.

Shown here is a map of Pasco County’s scallop zone. It encompasses all state waters south of the Hernando-Pasco county line and north of the Anclote Key Lighthouse in northern Pinellas County, and includes all waters of the Anclote River. (Courtesy of Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission)

Since Pasco is the southernmost county in Florida to offer a scallop season, Thomas said the bulk of non-residents partaking in the activity come from the state’s central and southeast regions.

As COVID-19 wiped out many tourism opportunities for Pasco the last several months, Thomas is poised to have scallop season soon underway. “Economically speaking, it’s a need right now,” he said.

Thomas has discovered scalloping in Pasco to be a more pleasant endeavor compared to trying the activity in more northern Florida counties.

A former tourism director for Citrus County, which also has a scallop season, Thomas explained the activity up north is “a little bit more exhausting” because it often requires divers to fight tides in 6 feet or 7 feet of water to collect a decent haul. “It takes a little bit longer to get to your count or your fill of the boat.”

In Pasco, however, he’s found success simply floating in water and catching big enough scallops reaching down 2 feet or 3 feet beneath the surface.

Explained Thomas, “It is so much easier here. You really don’t need fins, depending on the tide. You just float around, you can stand up. The water came up to my thighs, and sometimes my knees. Here, you just float around, let the tide do all your paddling for you.”

Florida’s Sports Coast communications manager Kolby Kucyk Gayson tried scalloping for the first time ever last year, in Pasco waters, of course.

Fair to say, it quickly lured her in.

“It is so much fun. I officially consider myself a Floridian, after having participated in that activity,” Gayson, a North Carolina native, said.

“It’s really a one-of-a-kind thing and it is so easy. It’s just addicting, especially if you’re competitive, like myself, you really could just stay there for hours, and look and scout and dive and grab, so it’s really the best.”

Hunting for scallops is often referred to as an underwater Easter egg hunt. (Courtesy of Florida’s Sports Coast)

Thomas, too, harped on the competitive side of scalloping with friends and family. The tourism director mentioned he often challenges his wife to see who can go underwater the longest and collect the most scallops at once.

On that note, Thomas acknowledged the activity creates lasting memories and family bonds — being out on a boat, fishing for scallops, then cooking hauls for a meal together.

“It’s definitely a generational experience to have,” Thomas said. “My kids, they’re 6 and 8 years old right now, and they love it, they look forward to going scalloping every single year.”

For those who don’t have a personal vessel or boat or a saltwater fishing license, Florida’s Sports Coast officials recommend booking a half-day or full-day private guided charter with a local fishing captain.

“They will always put you right on top of the honey hole,” Gayson said. “They know the scallops, they know where they are and that’s half the fun of going out with a captain, is they really just automatically put you right into the experience.

Pasco County’s tourism arm, Florida’s Sports Coast, says scalloping has become the county’s top leisure activity. (Courtesy of Florida’s Sports Coast)

“You don’t have to bring anything other than sunscreen and just a good attitude, because you’re guaranteed to have a fun time,” Gayson said.

Added Thomas: “We’ve got some of the best captains and guides that really cater to the consumer experience of scalloping, and not only scalloping, but also fishing and being on the water. Not everyone has a boat, but everyone has a means to a boat, and it starts with the Pasco County guides.”

The county’s bay scallop season is a newly rebooted venture.

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) granted Pasco an annual scallop season last year, following a successful trial period in 2018.

Before that, it was nearly 25 years since residents and visitors could traverse Pasco waters for scallops.

That’s because the county’s bay scallop season was revoked in 1994 by the FWC, due to over-harvesting and depleted populations that couldn’t sustain an active recreational season.

As for having a scallop season longer than 10 days in the future, Thomas said it will probably take another couple years until the FWC grants the county that opportunity. The ideal scenario would be to someday offer upwards of a 30-day scallop season, he said.

“The (scallop) population has come back, but the sustainability of the population, that’s what the FWC is still trying to determine,” Thomas said.

In anticipation of continued growth in popularity with scalloping, Pasco County Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources has announced concentrated efforts to expand and improve county boat ramps to provide more trailer parking and overall better launch experiences for both local and out-of-town scallopers.

For more information, visit FLSportsCoast.com/things-to-do/scalloping or MyFWC.com/fishingsaltwater/recreational/bay-scallops.

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) Scalloping Safety and Fishing Regulations:

  • Scallops must be landed within areas that are open to harvest
  • Active scalloping area: All Pasco County waters and Pinellas County waters north of the Anclote Key Lighthouse, including all waters of the Anclote River
  • Scallops may be collected by hand or with a landing or dip net
  • Daily bag limit: 2 gallons whole bay scallops in shell or one pint of shucked per person; maximum of 10 gallons of scallops in shell or ½-gallon of bay scallop meat per vessel
  • Scallops may not be possessed on waters outside of areas that are open to harvest
  • Properly display a divers-down flag while in the water

Published July 1, 2020

Campgrounds reopen to reduced capacity

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As part of a phased approach, the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) has reopened all campgrounds throughout its 16-county region, as of June 3. The reopening of SFWMD campgrounds is consistent with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s reopening of camping at many Florida State Parks.

To help protect staff and visitors from the spread of COVID-19, the following guidelines will be in place at all SFWMD campgrounds:

  • Campgrounds will be limited to 50% capacity.
  • Groups of more than 10 campers will not be allowed.
  • There will be a required minimum of 25 feet between campsites.
  • Campers should continue to follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s guidance on social distancing and the use of face coverings.

District staff will coordinate with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and other local officials to ensure campers are enjoying the lands safely and responsibly.

For questions and information, call (800) 423-1476, or visit WaterMatters.org/Recreation.

Published June 17, 2020

Wildlife is on the move in the Sunshine State

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The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission wants to remind residents and visitors that spring has sprung in the Sunshine State.

The snowy plover (shown here), American oystercatcher, black skimmer and least tern lay their eggs and hatch their young on Florida beaches. Because of their declining numbers in Florida and habitat loss, these beach-nesting birds qualify for listing as state-threatened species. (Courtesy of Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission)

This is an important time of year for wildlife.

Manatees will leave their winter warm-water refuges. Black bears will teach their young to forage for food. Many species will begin to migrate, mate, feed and nest.

This wildlife activity means people are more likely to encounter wildlife, and should take precautions to avoid disrupting these natural behaviors and prevent conflicts with wildlife.

The FWC offers these tips on how to enjoy and help conserve wildlife during the spring.

  • Manatees: Chances of close encounters between manatees and boaters increase in the spring, as manatees leave their winter-use areas and travel the intracoastal waterways. Boaters should increase their awareness and be on the lookout to avoid collisions with these mammals.
  • Nesting birds: Keep your distance from birds on the beach and birds gathering on tree islands. Disturbances can cause birds to abandon nests, which exposes eggs and chicks to predators. People should look out for eggs well-camouflaged in shallow scrapes of sand.
  • Alligators: When the weather warms up, alligators become more active and are visible as they begin seeking food.
  • Gopher tortoises: These tortoises forage for food and search for mates during the spring. Leave tortoises alone if you see them or their half-moon shaped burrow entrances.
  • Bears: Females are teaching their cubs what to eat and the skills necessary to survive. Secure or remove garbage, pet food and birdseed in your yard.
  • Sea turtles: These large marine reptiles begin nesting in the spring. Keep beaches dark and free of obstacles through October. Avoid using artificial light, such as flashlights or cellphones, on the beach at night.
  • Bats: Maternity season starts April 15. It is illegal to exclude bats during this time. Inspect and seal small cracks or holes that might allow bats inside your home.
  • Snakes: If you see a snake in your yard, or while hiking, stand back and observe it. Snakes don’t purposely position themselves to frighten people.
  • Injured and orphaned wildlife: If you find a baby animal, leave it alone. Its parent may be nearby searching for food or observing its young. But, report wildlife that you think may be injured or orphaned.

To learn more tips about wildlife in the spring, visit MyFWC.com/news/spring-news.

Published March 11, 2020

Lawsuit challenges Ridge Road extension

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The Sierra Club Florida Conservation has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for issuing a permit to Pasco County, to allow the construction of an extension of Ridge Road.

The legal action aims to halt the project, which is a 9-mile corridor that would add an additional transportation link in the county.

Those opposing the extension of Ridge Road across the wetlands of the Serenova Preserve rallied at the roadway intersection of DeCubellis Road and Moon Lake Road, on Feb. 9. (Courtesy of Elise Mysels, Pasco Activists group)

The extension would give another option to motorists who now travel east-west across the county, using State Road 54 and State Road 52.

The new link will reduce traffic on those other corridors, and it provides another evacuation route in the event of an emergency, according to Pasco County officials.

Plans call for the corridor to be lengthened from New Port Richey to the Suncoast Parkway, then further east to U.S. 41.

Ridge Road also would extend through the Serenova Tract of the Starkey Wilderness Preserve.

Currently, land is being cleared to establish what will be the new roadway, heading toward the wetlands.

Environmentalists, such as the Sierra Club, argue that going through that tract  will be detrimental to the wetlands and the wildlife that live in the preserve.

However, county officials assure that cautionary measures will be taken to minimize impacts.

The new roadway would be incorporated with 16 bridges that overpass wetlands.

Guardrails also would be installed to keep wildlife from entering onto the roadway.

This would lessen impacts to the Serenova Tract by 83%, said Sam Beneck, Pasco County project manager.

“We did understand that this was a project that was very significant to [the] Sierra Club,” he noted.

In regards to the lawsuit, filed on Feb. 6, the county anticipated that the “challenge was likely, and so did the Army Corps,” Beneck said.

Tim Martin is a member of the Sierra Club, and issued the press release announcing the legal action against the federal agency.

This aerial shot shows the clearing of land to lengthen Ridge Road to the east, eventually stopping at U.S. 41. The Sierra Club filed a lawsuit to attempt to stop excavation of land for the project. (Courtesy of Sam Beneck, Pasco County project manager)

“We feel that the Army Corps has made some serious mistakes and violations of federal regulations in granting this permit. I think we have a very strong case proving that,” Martin said.

The 59-page lawsuit contends that the Army Corps breached the National Environmental Policy Act – neglecting “to adequately evaluate the direct, indirect, and cumulative harm to threatened and endangered species, their habitats, and wetlands located within RRE (Ridge Road extension) permit area of impact.”

Martin said this speaks directly to the removal of gopher tortoises from the Serenova Tract, and its resulting implications.

The county has been working in conjunction with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, to find another suitable habitat for the tortoises so they are not harmed during the extension project.

However, the Sierra Club has pushed back, stating that removal of the tortoises will only cause greater harm.

“When you remove the gopher tortoise burrows, you’re not just picking up tortoises and moving them to another park in South Florida,” Martin said. “You’re actually destroying this highly evolved, very critical habitat that 350-plus species depend on for survival.”

The extension project also has received the backing of U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis who has been a staunch advocate for the roadway. He implored the Army Corps to issue a permit. And, in 2017, Bilirakis sent a letter to President Donald Trump, asking him to make the extension’s completion a priority.

Earlier this year, Bilirakis joined Pasco County officials during the project’s ribbon cutting ceremony.

There he explained the corridor’s importance to residents when faced with a natural disaster.

But, Martin contends that Ridge Road would not be a viable alternative for an evacuation route.

During Hurricane Irma, U.S. 19, which runs north and south from Pasco County into neighboring counties, did not have overcapacity and would have been a more suitable route, Martin said.

The documentation also claims that the Army Corps violated another law that requires that a least-damaging alternative be taken to sustain water-related ecosystems.

There were other locations for the corridor that would have caused less damage, Martin said.

Elise Mysels belongs to the Pasco Activists group, which has worked alongside the Sierra Club in resisting the extension.

She said that she is not against the county building a third corridor, but it shouldn’t be Ridge Road because of the wetlands it will cross.

“What they are basically proposing is to go in and fill 40 acres to allow for this highway to go in,” Mysels said.

She attended the gopher tortoise vigil held at the current dead-end of Ridge Road, where it intersects with DeCubellis Road and Moon Lake Road, in New Port Richey.

Environmentalists rallied at the intersection on Feb. 9, holding protest signs and encouraging passersby to get involved in the cause.

Legal action followed a two-decade wait for the permit to be issued.

Published February 19, 2020

Landowners who preserve wildlife to be recognized

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The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s (FWC) Landowner Assistance Program has created a program to recognize landowners who are actively managing and improving their property to benefit wildlife.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has a Gopher Tortoise Management Plan aimed ‘to restore and maintain secure, viable populations of gopher tortoises’ across the state, according to myFWC.com. (Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission)

The Wildlife Habitat Recognition Program was developed to show appreciation for the important contributions to wildlife conservation made by private landowners.

Private landowners play a critical role in wildlife conservation by protecting and restoring rare habitats like the longleaf pine-wiregrass ecosystem, and managing farms, ranches and forests that provide habitat to many species.

While public land protects some species of wildlife, these lands form a fragmented landscape of habitat.

Private lands provide critical corridors between publicly managed conservation lands.

To be recognized by the program, landowners must submit a request for an FWC biologist to evaluate their property to determine qualification.

To qualify, properties must have ample food, cover and water opportunities for wildlife.

If the property meets these criteria, the landowner will receive a sign to display on the property, as well as a certificate of recognition.

Properties working toward meeting the requirements will be offered a written management plan to guide the landowners in meeting the habitat management standards for the program.

Requests for a property evaluation can be made online at MyFWC.com/LAPapplication.

To learn more about managing wildlife on your property, visit MyFWC.com/LAP and click on the Managing Your Land section.

Published January 15, 2020

Ridge Road extension gets green light

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The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has granted Pasco County’s permit request to allow the extension of Ridge Road.

The approval marked a major milestone in a process that’s been two decades in the making.

As it stands now, motorists use State Road 52 or State Road 54, if they want to head east or west in Pasco County. The extension of Ridge Road will give them a third option.

“It’s a really, really substantial capacity benefit to the area,” said Sam Beneck, the extension’s project manager.

This rendering gives an idea of what the newly built trail along the Ridge Road Extension will look like. (Courtesy of Pasco County)

The county also sees this corridor as a another pathway for people to travel in the event of an emergency.

Pasco County Commission Chairman Mike Moore estimates that the extended Ridge Road will carry as much as 25% of hurricane evacuation traffic, if a disaster threatens the area.

The Ridge Road Extension project is broken into two phases.

The first phase will build a new stretch of Ridge Road, which will extend from Moon Lake Road east to the Suncoast Parkway.

The second phase will continue the extension eastward, linking the Suncoast Parkway to U.S. 41.

Funding has been set in place for phase one, which is slightly over 4 miles long. That phase carries an estimated $90 million price tag.

Initially, the segment from Moon Lake Road to the Suncoast Parkway, will be built as a two-lane road. Plans call for widening it to four lanes by 2022.

The second phase, which spans over 3 miles, is not yet funded. But officials expect to begin building that phase in late 2022.

Ridge Road will be extending beyond its intersection with Moon Lake Road heading east to the Suncoast Parkway, then further to U.S. 41. The extension will be an alternative to reduce congestion on State Road 52 and State Road 54, which also offer east-west access. (File)

While the county pursues its long-awaited east-west corridor, opponents remain committed in their quest to save the Serenova Tract of the Starkey Wilderness Preserve.

Tim Martin, Sierra Club Florida Conservation Chair, said “The Serenova Starkey Preserve is one of the best remaining natural areas that we have left in rapidly, developing central Pasco (County) and it doesn’t have to be destroyed.”

Environmentalists are concerned not only about potential harm to wetlands, but also to the habitat of animals, Martin said.

Project manager Beneck noted that the Pasco County Commission approved a change order on Aug. 6 to provide additional services to the project, including the analysis of gopher tortoises in the construction.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission sets guidelines for an approved relocation site for the tortoises, Beneck added.

But Martin said that step doesn’t go far enough because there also are other animals living within the tract.

Beneck said the design of the project calls for a partial elevation of Ridge Road — with the addition of 16 bridges, curbs, guardrails and fencing.

These additions aim to diminish harm to wildlife, Beneck noted.

The measures will reduce impacts to the wetlands by nearly 83% in the Serenova Tract of Starkey Wilderness Preserve, Beneck estimated.

But Martin countered: “When you build all that fencing and guardrails and such, it now adds to the cumulative impacts.”

The Sierra Club Florida Conservation has not yet announced what its response will be now that the permit is in place.

Construction for phase one is scheduled to begin in early January, said Beneck, adding that overall construction may be completed in the 2025 – 2026 timeframe.

Commission Chairman Moore said he believes a “very large majority of the (Pasco County) citizenry” wants and needs the road.

Published January 01, 2020

Ridge Road Extension granted modifications, added funds

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The Pasco County Commission has approved a revision to the Ridge Road Extension project – to provide additional funding and services connected to the project.

The board approved a change order on Aug. 6 to pay for post-design assistance from the project engineer, and to analyze possible impacts to gopher tortoises.

The county also is allocating an additional $1.4 million toward the first phase of construction, which extends Ridge Road from Moon Lake Road in New Port Richey east to Suncoast Parkway. Phase one also includes modifications to the Parkway Interchange.

Plans are still underway to extend Ridge Road beyond its intersection with Moon Lake Road to U.S. 41. The new corridor will create a new east-west connection for motorists. (Brian Fernandes)

The second phase of the project extends Ridge Road from the Suncoast Parkway to U.S. 41 in Land O’ Lakes. That has not yet been funded for design or construction.

The revision approved in the change order requires that during the post-design phase, the engineer oversees any issues that arise with the construction plans or its documentation, while keeping the county informed of these matters.

The engineer also will be responsible for the project’s computer-aided design and drafting files. This software is vital to the construction phase and may be subject to changes, per county request.

The engineer also must address any changed conditions to construction in a “timely manner” and review changes proposed by the contractor, according to the county.

The change order also includes the surveying, permitting and possible relocation of gopher tortoises.

“The tortoises that are identified to be within the construction area, including those within the (Starkey Wilderness) Preserve, will be relocated based on guidance from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission,” said Sam Beneck, Pasco County project manager. “The tortoises must be relocated to an approved relocation site.”

These animals are protected by law and this process is usually included in the construction contract.

But, in an effort to accelerate the timetable for completing the extension, the process will be handled by the project’s design and permitting team.

However, the tortoises cannot be relocated until a permit has been obtained from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Construction cannot commence, either, without clearance from the Army Corps.

“The funding has not been the holdup for the project,” Beneck explained. “It’s really been the permitting issues.”

Pasco County and the Army Corps have been trying to reach an agreement for years.

Various options have been considered and the one that has been selected calls for partially elevating the Ridge Road Extension, as well as adding 16 bridges, curbs, guardrails and fencing to protect wildlife.

Beneck estimated that these measures will reduce impacts by nearly 83 percent to the wetlands in the Serenova Tract of Starkey Wilderness Preserve.

Environmentalists have battled the road extension, citing the negative impacts it will have on the Serenova Tract.

The current design shows a two-lane road opening from Moon Lake Road to the Suncoast Parkway before the 2021 hurricane season.

The road would be expanded to four lanes the following year, and possibly to six lanes in the future, Beneck said.

When the Army Corps issues its permit for the project, it will be for both phases of the extension, Beneck said.

Published September 11, 2019

Boaters can safely enjoy time on the water

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National Safe Boating Week is May 18 to May 24, and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is encouraging boaters to focus on simple, effective steps that make boating safer.

Though Florida’s boating season never really ends, Memorial Day weekend marks the traditional start nationwide.

With nearly 1 million registered boaters in the state, people safely enjoy boating every day. However, each year, FWC officers respond to tragic and preventable accidents.

Maj. Rob Rowe, leader of the FWC’s Boating and Waterways Section, said in a release, “It (National Safe Boating Week) presents an opportunity to emphasize the importance of remaining safe while boating.”

These safety precautions are recommended by the FWC:

  • Wear a life jacket
  • Use an engine cutoff switch lanyard
  • Designate a sober boat operator
  • Pay attention and keep a proper lookout
  • Have an emergency locator beacon
  • File a boat plan
  • Take a boating safety class

“Inattention of the boat operator continues to be the leading cause of boating accidents,” Rowe said. “It is critical for operators to be aware of what is going on around them.”

The 2018 Boating Accident Statistical Report indicates there were 628 boating accidents last year, down from 766 in 2017.

To report people who are boating dangerously, call (888) 404-3922.

More information can be found online at MyFWC.com/Boating.

Published May 22, 2019