National Forests in Florida

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The U.S. Forest Service is prescribed burning in the Apalachicola National Forest today.

The 1,001 acre prescribed burn will take place south of Orange at the intersection of Forest Roads 109 and 174 in Liberty County. The burn will improve wildlife habitat, eliminate vegetation build up and reduce the threat of wildfires.

People are reminded that the smoke they may see today and tomorrow in this vicinity is not coming from a wildfire. Motorists are cautioned to drive slowly with lights on while traveling in smoky areas. Drivers should be particularly cautious in areas where prescribed fires have taken place when it is foggy. Morning fog can mix with smoke and decrease visibility further.

This is one of many prescribed burns the Apalachicola National Forest is doing during the 2012 prescribed burning season.

Individuals who are sensitive to smoke may contact the Apalachicola Zone Fire Management Officer at (850) 926-3561, ext. 6523, to be placed on a notification list for future burns.

Today’s burn is in burn unit 28 (see the Apalachicola’s 2012 planned burn map):

http://www.nationalforestsinflorida.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/FY12_burn_plan_public.pdf

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The U.S. Forest Service is prescribed burning in the Apalachicola National Forest today.

The 2,000 acre prescribed burn will take place in the area of Forest Roads 346 and 329 in south of Bradwell Bay Wilderness in Wakulla County. The burn will improve wildlife habitat, eliminate vegetation build up and reduce the threat of wildfires.

People are reminded that the smoke they may see today and tomorrow in this vicinity is not coming from a wildfire. Motorists are cautioned to drive slowly with lights on while traveling in smoky areas. Drivers should be particularly cautious in areas where prescribed fires have taken place when it is foggy. Morning fog can mix with smoke and decrease visibility further.

This is one of many prescribed burns the Apalachicola National Forest is doing during the 2012 prescribed burning season.

Individuals who are sensitive to smoke may contact the Apalachicola Zone Fire Management Officer at (850) 926-3561, ext. 6523, to be placed on a notification list for future burns.

Today’s burn is in burn unit 339 and possibly 338 (see the Apalachicola’s 2012 planned burn map): http://www.nationalforestsinflorida.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/FY12_burn_plan_public.pdf

Natural Resource Manager Carl Petrick of the National Forests in Florida looks on as a high school student sets his sights on the archery range. Nearly 500 students from area schools attended the More Kids in the Woods event held January 9-13, 2012.

This week nearly 500 kids from three area schools braved the great outdoors during a week-long U.S. Forest Service event known as More Kids in the Woods hosted at the Beau Turner Youth Conservation Center (BTYCC) in Lamont, Fla.

The U.S. Forest Service partnered with the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) to co-sponsor the More Kids in the Woods event attended by students from Fort Braden Middle School, Jefferson High School and River Springs High School.

“This was really natural for us because it dovetails into our outreach mission,” said Brian M. Zielinski of the NWTF. “It’s a great opportunity to expand our hunting heritage theme and a great way to reach youth in the Tallahassee area.”

The five-day outdoor event consisted of archery and BB gun ranges, a wild turkey education station, a forestry station, and a wildlife interpretive information station with 100 students attending each day. In addition, the Florida Forest Service demonstrated a prescribed burn at the end of each day.

“I have learned so much about the woods,” said Maria Joyner a student at Fort Braden Middle School. “I thought I knew a lot before, but I learned about wildfire and longleaf pine. It’s amazing!”

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) oversees the outdoor learning center at BTYCC which hosts many outdoor initiatives each year.  Other State and Federal agencies participating in this event included the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Florida Forest Service.

“There’s been an emphasis by the Forest Service to develop this grant called ‘More Kids in the Woods,’ as a way to encourage children to learn more about the natural world and to experience outdoor activities along with exposing them to a variety of career paths in natural resources,” said Natural Resources Manager Carl Petrick of the National Forests in Florida.

More Kids in the Woods evolved as a result of a decline in outdoor activities among children. Today kids are more technology savvy and nature plays less of a role in their lives. With this in mind, partnerships were developed between the U.S. Forest Service, American Recreation Coalition and the National Forest Foundation to proactively support and promote a common belief that children need to be connected to nature.

“This week was great! It was a wonderful example of the impact multiple agencies working together can have in providing youth the opportunity to learn and experience nature in a fun, safe and interactive environment,” said Education Coordinator Kelly Langston of the Beau Turner Youth Conservation Center.

Date: January 17, 2012

Dear Interested Public:

The Osceola National Forest (Osceola) is developing a report which will recommend a minimum road system on the forest needed to provide a safe and efficient travel system and that provides for the protection, management, and use of National Forest System lands. At this time, we are requesting comments from the public which will be considered in the evaluation process.

Background

In 2007, the Osceola completed the process to designate roads, trails, and areas for the Motor Vehicle Use Travel Analysis as required by Sub-Part B of the 2005 Travel Management Rule. This effort resulted in a set of Motor Vehicle Use Maps (MVUMs) which identify which roads and trails are open to the public for motorized use. Roads not identified on the MVUM maps are closed to motorized use.

The Osceola is now beginning work on the Travel Analysis (TAP) to identify the minimum road system needed for safe and efficient travel and for the protection, management, and use of National Forest System (NFS) lands, as required by Sub-Part A of the 2005 Travel Management Rule. This analysis should not result in immediate changes to specific roads currently open to motorized use on the forest. Information from the TAP will be used by interdisciplinary teams during site specific project analyses, such as timber sales, to help determine which roads should remain open.

Need

The Osceola currently receives insufficient funding to maintain the existing 990 miles of system roads that are open to the public, and additional cuts are expected again this year. As a result, many of the roads on the forest are not maintained to the required specifications which results in environmental damage, as well as limiting access when unmaintained roads become impassible.

Process

One of the primary requirements of the TAP is to evaluate the road maintenance costs needed to maintain a safe and efficient road system. In addition, the Forest Service will consider the effects of roads on the following factors: watersheds and erosion, threatened and endangered species, sensitive areas, public access, access for land management activities by Forest Service employees, and access for timber production.

Once a minimum road system is identified, the Forest Service will provide the public with an additional opportunity to comment. Also, the public wil be able to provide comments as future projects evaluate individual roads identified in this report.

How to Comment

Please submit your written comments by February 15, 2012. Please make your comments as specific as possible, and include the name of the proposal (TAP – Osceola), as well as your name, address or e-mail, and phone number. Comments received in response to this solicitation, including names and addresses of those who comment, will be considered part of the public record for this project and may be available for public inspection. Mail your comments to District Ranger, Osceola National Forest, 24874 US Highway 90, Sanderson, FL 320872, or fax to (386) 752 – 7437. Comments may also be mailed to: osceola@fs.fed.us, with the subject line of TAP – Osceola.

IVAN GREEN
District Ranger
Osceola National Forest

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The U.S. Forest Service is prescribed burning in the Apalachicola National Forest today.

The 1,319 acre prescribed burn will take place in the area of Highway 379 and Forest Road 180 in Liberty County. The burn will improve wildlife habitat, eliminate vegetation build up and reduce the threat of wildfires.

People are reminded that the smoke they may see today and tomorrow in this vicinity is not coming from a wildfire. Motorists are cautioned to drive slowly with lights on while traveling in smoky areas. Drivers should be particularly cautious in areas where prescribed fires have taken place when it is foggy. Morning fog can mix with smoke and decrease visibility further.

This is one of many prescribed burns the Apalachicola National Forest is doing during the 2012 prescribed burning season.

Individuals who are sensitive to smoke may contact the Apalachicola Zone Fire Management Officer at (850) 926-3561, ext. 6523, to be placed on a notification list for future burns.

Today’s burn is in burn unit 70 (see the Apalachicola’s 2012 planned burn map):

http://www.nationalforestsinflorida.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/FY12_burn_plan_public.pdf