A number of prescribed burns are planned by the Southwest Florida Water Management District, as a preventative step to reduce the risk of wildfires.
Between now and March, the district will be conducting these prescribed burns:
- Cypress Creek Preserve, east of Ehren Cutoff and south of State Road 52: Approximately 115 acres will be burned in small, manageable units.
- Conner Preserve, west of Ehren Cutoff and south of State Road 52: Approximately 500 acres will be burned in small, manageable units.
- Starkey Wilderness Preserve, east of New Port Richey, west of the Suncoast Parkway, north of State Road 54 and south of State Road 52: Approximately 800 acres will be burned in small, manageable units.
- Upper Hillsborough Preserve, south of the County Road 54 and east of Chancey Road in Zephyrhills: Approximately 320 acres will be burned in small, manageable units.
- Weekiwachee Preserve, north of Hudson, west of U.S. Highway 19 and includes the Aripeka Sandhills tract: Approximately 25 acres will be burned in small, manageable units. Some trails may be temporarily closed during prescribed burn events.
Major benefits of prescribed burns include the reduction of overgrown plants, which decreases the risk of catastrophic wildfires; the promotion of the growth of new, diverse plants; the maintenance of the character and condition of wildlife habitat; and, the maintenance of access for public recreation.
The water management district conducts prescribed fires on approximately 30,000 acres each year.
Published February 17, 2021
