Today, the Hillsborough County Conservation & Environmental Lands Management Department is set to carry out multiple prescribed burns, including those at Blackwater Creek Nature Preserve and Cockroach Bay Nature Preserve. The procedure, which is a standard practice in ecological site management, is conducted to maintain the health of the ecosystem and reduce the likelihood of uncontrolled wildfires.
The scheduled burns are to be executed over the course of one day, according to the department's announcement. Local trails within these nature preserves – the YELLOW trail at Blackwater Creek and the BLUE trail at Cockroach Bay – will be temporarily closed to ensure public safety during the operation. Hikers and nature enthusiasts are to meticulously make plans for alternative routes or to delay their visits until the maintenance activities are concluded.
For those seeking further information about the burns or the resultant trail closures, the CELM Bell Creek Office can be reached at (813) 672-7876. Media inquiries have been directed to follow up with Todd Pratt, the Media Relations Strategist, at either his office number (813) 276-2409 or cell phone (813) 373-1023. Coordination with the Florida Forest Service Lakeland Dispatch at (863) 940-6701 has also been advised.
