Water district to conduct prescribed fires in Citrus County, July-Sept., 2022
The Southwest Florida Water Management District conducts prescribed fires on approximately 30,000 acres each year due to the fact that prescribed fires in controlled settings can reduce the risk of wildfires burning out of control, as many Floridians witnessed during the state’s wildfire emergency in 2017.
That’s why the water district will be conducting prescribed burns July through September, 2022, on Potts Preserve and Chassahowitzka River and Coastal Swamps area within Citrus County, Florida.
Potts Preserve
Approximately 200 acres will be burned in small, manageable units within Potts Preserve, which is located approximately 2 miles east of the city of Hernando, Florida and 3.5 miles north-northeast of Inverness, Florida. The area is east and southeast of State Road 200 (Hernando), north of Turner Camp Road (Inverness), and bordered on the east by the Withlacoochee River.
Chassahowitzka River and Coastal Swamps
Approximately 50 acres will be burned on the Chassahowitzka River and Coastal Swamps areas, located south of the city of Homosassa, Florida, approximately 1.5 miles west of U.S. Highway 19.
Major Benefits of Prescribed Fire
• Reducing overgrown plants, which decreases the risk of catastrophic wildfires.
• Promoting the growth of new, diverse plants.
• Maintaining the character and condition of wildlife habitat.
• Maintaining access for public recreation.
View Aerial Footage of Prescribed Fire
See aerial footage from a prescribed fire in the Green Swamp Wilderness Preserve where water district land management staff members burned 320 acres: https://vimeo.com/425526377.