Remerciez-le!

Remerciez @Admin pour avoir partagé cet document gratuitement, de la manière la plus simple, en partageant sur les réseaux sociaux.

Recreation Guide to Southwest Florida Water Management District Lands 2009 Edit

Recreation Guide to Southwest Florida Water Management District Lands 2009 Edition Recreation Guide to Southwest Florida Water Management District Lands Table of Contents Introduction ....................................................................................................................... 1 Why Does the District Buy Lands? ............................................................................... 2 Recreational Opportunities Available .......................................................................... 3 Guidelines for Use of District Lands ............................................................................11 Property Descriptions Recreation At A Glance .................................................................................................150 Alafi a River Corridor 20 Alafi a River Reserve 22 Annutteliga Hammock 24 Brooker Creek Headwaters Nature Preserve 26 Brooker Creek Preserve 28 Charlotte Harbor Preserve State Park 30 Chassahowitzka River and Coastal Swamps 32 Chito Branch Reserve 34 Circle B Bar Reserve 36 Cliff Stephens Park 38 Conner Preserve 40 Cypress Creek Preserve 42 Deep Creek Preserve 44 Edward Medard Park and Reservoir 46 Edward W. Chance Reserve Coker Prairie Tract 48 Gilley Creek Tract 50 Flying Eagle Flying Eagle Preserve 52 McGregor Smith Boy Scout Reservation 54 Withlapopka Community Park 56 Green Swamp Wilderness Preserve 58 Colt Creek State Park 60 East Tract 62 Hampton Tract 64 Little Withlacoochee Tract 66 West Tract 68 Half Moon-Gum Slough 70 Hálpata Tastanaki Preserve 72 Jack Creek 74 Lake Marion Creek Horseshoe Scrub Tract 76 Lake Panasoff kee 78 Lake Tarpon Outfall Canal 80 Little Manatee River Lower Tract 82 Little Manatee River Southfork Tract 84 Little Manatee River Upper Tract 86 Lower Hillsborough Wilderness Preserve 88 Dead River Park 90 Flatwoods Park 92 Jeff erson Equestrian Area 94 John B. Sargeant Park 96 Morris Bridge Park 98 Oak Ridge Equestrian Area 100 Off -Road Loop Trail 102 Trout Creek Park 104 Myakka River — Deer Prairie Creek Preserve 106 Myakka River — Flatford Swamp Preserve 108 Myakka River State Park — Myakka Prairie Tract 110 Myakka State Forest 112 Panasoff kee Outlet 114 Potts Preserve 116 Prairie/Shell Creek 118 RV Griffi n Reserve 120 Sawgrass Lake Park 122 Starkey Wilderness Preserve 124 J. B. Starkey Wilderness Park 126 Serenova Tract 128 Tampa Bypass Canal 130 Terra Ceia Preserve Frog Creek 132 Terra Ceia Preserve State Park 134 Two Mile Prairie 136 Upper Hillsborough Preserve 138 Alston Tract 140 Upper Hillsborough Tract 142 Weekiwachee Preserve 144 Withlacoochee River Park 146 Wysong Park 148 Recreation Guide to Southwest Florida Water Management District Lands 1 Introduction West-central Florida is a wonderful place to get outside. From the sandy beaches on the Gulf of Mexico to the wild beauty of the Green Swamp, there’s something for everybody. Every year about 2.5 million people visit public conservation lands obtained by the Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) and its partners to protect Florida’s water resources. Th e District off ers recreational activities that allow you to get fi t and appreciate the environment while protecting the natural resources that make them such great places to visit. Th e lands are open to the public for family activities such as hiking, bicycling, hunting, horseback riding, fi shing, camping, nature study, paddling and picnicking. Many District lands also have facilities that are accessible for the mobility-impaired. Each of the areas owned by the District off ers something unique. Learning as much as possible about a property before you visit will prepare you for what you are likely to experience. Th e property descriptions in this guide provide basic information about each property, such as location, access and parking, hours of operation, restroom and water availability, recreational opportunities, accessibility under the American’s with Disabilities Act (ADA) and contact information. Th is guide is organized in three sections. Th e fi rst section provides information about the District’s land management program; overviews of recreational activities available, including recommended properties for each activity; and a list of guidelines to follow while on District lands. Th e second section consists of property descriptions for each property, as well as a map of the location and activity icons. At the end of the guide is the Recreation At A Glance and map of all properties for quick reference. We hope this guide will assist everyone seeking to get outside on District lands. For more information about the District’s land resources program, please contact us. Online: WaterMatters.org/recreation Email: Recreation@WaterMatters.org Telephone: (352) 796-7211 or 1-800-423-1476 (FL only) , ext. 4470 U.S. Mail: Land Resources Department Southwest Florida Water Management District 2379 Broad Street Brooksville, FL 34604-6899 Recreation Guide to Southwest Florida Water Management District Lands 2 Why Does the District Buy Lands? Th e District was created in 1961 by the Florida Legislature to protect the water resources of the region. Th e District includes roughly 10,000 square miles in all or part of 16 counties in west-central Florida that are home to approximately 5 million people. Th e boundaries of the District extend north into Levy County, south into Charlotte County and inland into Polk and Highlands counties. Th e region’s lands and waters are forever linked by Florida’s natural water cycles. Th erefore, one of the main ways the District carries out its mission of balancing water needs and protecting the environment is by obtaining conservation lands around lakes, rivers, wetlands and estuaries. Th ese lands serve as a natural buff er that fi lters out pollution from runoff before it reaches the nearest body of water. Th e District also buys lands to preserve and restore native Florida ecosystems that provide water resources benefi ts and water storage during hurricanes and other major storm events. Th e District’s acquisition program has primarily been funded through state programs such as Save Our Rivers, Preservation 2000 and Florida Forever. Land Management Th e District manages its conservation lands to maintain and protect vital water functions and natural systems, which include Florida’s unique plant and wildlife communities. Two primary management tools include mimicking the natural fi re cycle that historically shaped Florida’s landscape and restoring areas that have been altered by previous activities. At any time, the public may encounter District staff using methods such as prescribed burns, mechanical mowing of vegetation, and seeding and planting of vegetation. Th ese management techniques help to maintain healthy and abundant populations of game species, such as deer and turkey, and are important for most of Florida’s threatened and endangered species. Public Use and Recreation While District lands vary in size and terrain, they all have at least one thing in common — they provide a variety of important benefi ts to the water and water-related resources within west- central Florida. Nearly all of these lands are available for public use and recreation. Nature-friendly activities off er an easy and fun experience while making sure the land is protected. In keeping with the purpose for which these lands were acquired, your experience will be close to nature. Th at means mostly unpaved roads, portable restrooms and nature’s beauty all around you. District Partners Did you know that many state and local parks and state forest areas are owned by the District? Th e District, in partnership with state and local governments, has developed parks with facilities such as picnic pavilions, nature trails, environmental education centers, Recreation Guide to Southwest Florida Water Management District Lands 3 restrooms and camping areas. Th e District usually provides the land and funding to build most of the facilities, while the partner provides the on-site staff to manage the parks on a daily basis. Recreational Opportunities Available Bicycling From the novice to the expert trails, many diff erent types can be found on District lands. Bike trails are primarily double-track, multiuse trails located on old dirt roads that wind through pine fl atwoods and around beautiful wetlands. For the more adventurous rider, off -road, single-track trails are available on cooperatively managed lands where user groups construct and maintain the trails. Some tracts have paved multiuse trails that allow both on-road and off -road bicyclists to enjoy riding in natural settings. Th e 6.7-mile Starkey Trail winds through the 18,000-acre Starkey Wilderness Preserve and connects to the 42-mile Suncoast Trail. Th ese trails off er some of the best long-distance bicycling opportunities in west-central Florida. Best Opportunities • Cypress Creek Preserve — Paved and double-track trail • Lower Hillsborough Wilderness Preserve — Flatwoods Park — Paved trail • Lower Hillsborough Wilderness Preserve — Morris Bridge Park — Single-track, off -road trail • Myakka State Forest — Multiuse, off -road trail • Starkey Wilderness Preserve — J. B. Starkey Wilderness Park — Paved trails Recreation Guide to Southwest Florida Water Management District Lands 4 Birding Whether you are a casual viewer or an avid birder working on your life birding list, bird-watching opportunities abound on all District lands. Sites with the best bird-watching opportunities are part of the Great Florida Birding Trail and are listed in the Recreation At A Glance. Maps of the west coast portion of the trail can be obtained from Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission web site at FloridaBirdingTrail.com/. Best Opportunities • Brooker Creek Preserve • Chassahowitzka River and Coastal Swamps • Flying Eagle Preserve • Green Swamp Wilderness Preserve — West Tract • Lake Panasoffk ee • Lower Hillsborough Wilderness Preserve — Dead River, Flatwoods, uploads/Management/ park-guide.pdf