National Forests in Florida

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The National Forests in Florida is waiving fees at most of its day-use recreation sites over the Martin Luther King Birthday weekend, Jan. 14-16.

Olustee Beach Cypress

The fee waivers – the third this year — are offered in cooperation with other federal agencies under the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act. Day-use fees will be waived at all standard amenity fee sites operated by the Forest Service. Concessionaire operated day-use sites may be included in the waiver if the permit holder wishes to participate.

“We encourage people who might not normally enjoy our beautiful public lands to get out of the house and enjoy a forest or grassland near you. Our lands offer a wide range of recreation and educational benefits such as improved physical and mental health, emotional well being, a concern for nature, and a conservation ethic,” said U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell.

The fee waiver days support the goals of President Obama’s America’s Great Outdoors initiative, as well as First Lady Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move Outside” program. For more information on the Forest Service’s recreation fee program and how these funds are used, please visit http://www.fs.fed.us/passespermits/about-rec-fees.shtml.

The National Forests in Florida recreation sites listed are the only locations waiving day-use fees for Martin Luther King Birthday weekend:

Ocala National  Forest
Fore Lake Day Use 
Farles Day Use
Lake Eaton Boat Ramp & Pier
Mill Dam Boat Ramp and
Swim area
Lake Dorr Boat Ramp

Forest Apalachicola National
Leon Sinks Geological Area

Osceola National Forest
Olustee Beach Day Use Area

Campsites and locations that are reserved through the website http://www.recreation.gov will not be included in the fee waiver. Contact your nearest national forest or grassland for local details.

The mission of the US Forest Service is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the nation’s forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations. Recreational activities on our lands contribute $14.5 billion annually to the U.S. economy. The agency manages 193 million acres of public land, provides assistance to state and private landowners, and maintains the largest forestry research organization in the world.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Residents and forest visitors may see smoke in the air near Camel Lake in Liberty County as firefighters diligently work to contain a wildfire on the Apalachicola National Forest. The wildfire started over the weekend and initially burned approximately 50 acres.

The blaze now known as the Yankee Fire, has firefighters currently burning off acres of excess fuels with the goal of containing the fire. Law enforcement investigators have determined the fire was human caused and an investigation is underway.

Area residents may experience low visibility along Highways 12 and 20, with winds coming from the south. Motorists are cautioned to drive slowly with lights on while traveling in smoky areas. Morning fog can mix with smoke and decrease visibility further. Drivers and residents are reminded of the possibility of unexpected shifting winds that could increase the risk of smoke on the road during the burn today on through the evening and into the morning hours.

According to Steve Parrish, U.S. Forest Service fire management officer for the Apalachicola National Forest, “With severe smoke conditions in the area, we just want to get out the word so people can use caution and be safe.”

Individuals who are sensitive to smoke may contact the Apalachicola Zone Fire Management Officer at (850) 926-3561.

Today’s burn is in burn unit 4 (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 has partnered with the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) to co-sponsor a More Kids in the Woods event hosted by the Beau Turner Youth Conservation Center (BTYCC) in Lamont, Fla., on Monday, Jan. 9-13, 2012.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) oversees the outdoor learning center which hosts many outdoor initiatives each year such as the U.S. Forest Service’s More Kids in the Woods program. Other State and Federal agencies participating in this event include the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Florida Forest Service.

According to National Forests in Florida Natural Resource Manager Carl Petrick, “The More Kids in the Woods event is a great opportunity to expose young people to a variety of career paths in Natural Resources Management.”

The five-day outdoor event will consist 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, there will be a prescribed burn demonstration.

“The students will have the unique experience of witnessing a prescribed burn in real-time at the BTYCC, while listening to a wildland firefighter speak about the beneficial effects of this practice,” said National Forests in Florida Wildlife Biologist Micah Thorning.

The funding for the More Kids in the Woods program was derived as a result of a U.S. Forest Service agreement with the NWTF. In addition, the More Kids in the Woods mission to connect youth with nature is a primary focus of BTYCC, which works closely with FWC and NWTF to promote this concept.

“These programs keep young people from becoming ‘couch potatoes’; they keep kids off the street and away from trouble; they provide supervision for children in their natural world,” said Beau Turner founder of the BTYCC.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Local residents and forest visitors may see some smoke in the air in the near future when the U.S. Forest Service starts its prescribed fire season for 2012. Approximately 100,000 acres in the Apalachicola National Forest are planned for prescribed fire to help prevent wildfires and promote a healthy forest.

Plants and animals native to the longleaf pine habitats in the Apalachicola National Forest depend on natural fire cycles, which are mimicked through the use of prescribed fires to balance habitat and food sources. Prescribed burning is also one of the most effective land management tools used in preventing the outbreak and spread of wildfires.

Pre-planned prescribed burns are carefully analyzed and conducted under specific weather conditions. Specific calendar dates for burn activities are fluid because only when conditions are right can prescribed burns achieve desired results.

According to Steve Parrish, U.S. Forest Service fire management officer for the Apalachicola National Forest, “The decision to do a prescribed fire is made very close to the actual burn time and dependent on having exactly the right weather conditions. Factors such as temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, how the smoke will disperse and rainfall patterns are also taken into consideration.”

Drivers and residents are reminded of the possibility of unexpected shifting winds that could increase the risk of smoke on the road during prescribed burns. Always proceed with caution and please remember to reduce speed and turn headlights on if visibility is affected by smoky conditions.

The National Forests in Florida is among those leading the nation in prescribed fire. Prescribed burning is conducted every three to five years in which approximately 100,000 – 175,000 acres of national forest lands are burned annually in the Ocala, Osceola and Apalachicola National Forests.

If you have questions regarding the prescribed fire burning season, contact the Apalachicola National Forest Wakulla Ranger District Office at (850) 926-3561.

Notes to the Media:

Because controlled burning is dependent on weather conditions, the decision to burn is made very close to the actual burn time. Great care is taken to minimize smoke and ash, but changing weather patterns can cause temporary inconveniences. See map for areas planned for burning this season. Prescribed burn information will be available to the public on the National Forests in Florida Twitter Feed at https://twitter.com/#!/NFinFlorida.

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

The 1,600 acre prescribed burn will take place in the area of County Road 12 and State Road 379 near Orange 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 2011 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 15 (see the Apalachicola’s 2011 planned burn map):

http://www.fs.fed.us/r8/florida/apalachicola/news/documents/ANF_FY11_burn.pdf