FWC to conduct prescribed burn on Lake Okeechobee

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), in coordination with the South Florida Water Management District, plan to conduct a prescribed burn in the Chancey Bay marsh on the northeast side of Lake Okeechobee the week of April 13, weather permitting. All burn activities will be reviewed and authorized by the Florida Forest Service. The burn area will include up to 2,295 acres and includes cattail and willow.

To help protect public health and safety, the FWC plans to conduct the prescribed burn under wind and weather conditions that minimize smoke impacts to nearby towns and roads. Access to navigational trails through the marsh and canals might be limited temporarily during the burn for safety reasons. If the prescribed burn needs to be rescheduled due to weather conditions, the burn will be conducted in the near future.

Application of prescribed burning is part of an integrated management approach on Lake Okeechobee. Lake Okeechobee is Florida’s largest lake and is managed in partnership with the FWC, SFWMD and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Prescribed burning is a controlled way to apply natural processes, ensure ecosystem health and reduce the threat of wildfire. Ecologically responsible prescribed burns help improve habitat for fish, wildlife, waterfowl, wading birds, the endangered Everglade snail kite and other wildlife populations.

For more information, email AquaticHabitat@MyFWC.com. Learn about prescribed fire by going to MyFWC.com/WildlifeHabitats, clicking on “Habitat” and then “Prescribed Fire.” On that page, you can find information about how prescribed burns benefit people and wildlife.