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Highlands Today

Prescribed Burns Scheduled For Jack Creek

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By JOE SEELIG

Highlands Today

Published: November 15, 2008

LAKE PLACID - Things may get a little smoky in the area of Jack Creek later this month and into December as the Southwest Florida Water Management District conducts a series of controlled burns.

The Jack Creek property is located in the Leisure Lakes area about a mile west of U.S. 27, three miles south of State Road 66 and six miles northwest of Lake Placid, according to a water management district news release.

"There is the potential to burn more than 150 acres of land in small, manageable units," the press release stated. "The scheduled, managed burns are a part of routine maintenance of lands managed by the district."

District land manager Kevin W. Love said the 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," he said. "Prescribed burns are only conducted when weather conditions allow the objectives to be met while minimizing impacts to the public."

The district reported it will make every effort to ensure that smoke will not affect homes or highways.

"However, vehicle operators should exercise caution in case smoke does lead to reduced visibility on the area's roads or highways," the news release stated.

The district reportedly owns and manages about 350,000 acres of environmentally sensitive lands for water resource and natural systems protection, the district stated.

Joe Seelig can be reached at (863) 386-5834 or jseelig@highlandstoday.com .

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