Hernando Reporter

Hernando County issued the following announcement on Dec. 21.

Help plan the future of Hernando County’s Environmentally Sensitive Lands Preserves:

The Hernando County Environmentally Sensitive Lands Program (ESL) is seeking public input on the 10-year draft management plan for its five Preserves which include Chinsegut Hill, Cypress Lakes, Fickett Hammock, Lake Townsen and Peck Sink preserves. The public comment period opened on Friday, December 3, 2021 and will extend through January 14, 2022. The public is encouraged to provide comments and/or input on components of the draft plan including, compatible passive recreation opportunities, management goals and natural resource management. 

This draft plan was created utilizing current data, plans, reports and input from the Management Plan Working Group (MPWG). The MPWG is composed of representatives from relevant state agencies – the Florida Forest Service, MyFWC Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and Southwest Florida Water Management District – as well as non-governmental organizations including the Sierra Club (Adventure Coast chapter), Florida Native Plant Society, Hernando Audubon Society, Florida Trail Association and Nature Coast Back Country Horsemen (NCBCH). Other members of the MPWG include a representative from Hernando County Planning and the Parks and Recreation departments. 

The MPWG held a virtual meeting by Zoom on August 25, 2021 and in October-November 2021 all members were given the opportunity to review a draft of this Plan Update. Most of the members of the MPWG have been long involved in conservation, land management and biodiversity-related issues in Hernando County and therefore possess highly valuable knowledge regarding the ecology and management needs of the five preserves covered in this Plan Update. 

• For information on Hernando County’s ESL Preserves, visit https://www.hernandocounty.us/.../environmentally...

• To view the Hernando County Preserves Master Land Management Plan Update, visit https://www.hernandocounty.us/.../7420/637738757158300000

Public Comment can be submitted to the ESL Program via email at ESL@HernandoCounty.us or by United States Postal Service mail to 1653 Blaise Drive, Brooksville, FL 34601.

Original source can be found here.