Help plan the future of Okaloacoochee Slough Wildlife Management Area
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) will present the draft materials for the Okaloacoochee Slough Wildlife Management Area 10-year Management Plan at a public hearing in Hendry County on Wednesday, May 3.
The public hearing will be held at 7 p.m. at the Hendry County Commission Chambers, 25 E. Hickpochee Avenue in LaBelle. The public is encouraged to attend and will have the opportunity to comment and ask questions regarding the Management Plan for the FWC-managed WMA.
The Okaloacoochee Slough WMA encompasses approximately 58,880 acres in Hendry County, 26,510 of which are managed by the FWC, and is one of the few places in Florida where the state’s pre-colonial landscape can be observed. The marshes, pine flatwoods and wet prairies found on the Okaloacoochee Slough WMA provide important habitat for wildlife including Florida panthers, little blue herons and roseate spoonbills. The Okaloacoochee Slough WMA also offers many opportunities for public recreation including hunting, fishing, wildlife viewing, bird watching, hiking, biking, primitive camping and horseback riding.
“The Okaloacoochee Slough WMA was purchased to ensure the preservation of fish, wildlife, and other natural and cultural resources for future generations, and to provide fish and wildlife-based outdoor recreation opportunities to the public,” said Nicholas Coppock, FWC Land Conservation Planner. “This draft Management Plan will specify how we intend to accomplish that goal.”
To obtain a copy of the draft elements of the Management Plan for the Okaloacoochee Slough WMA, call Nicholas Coppock at 850-487-9588 or email Nicholas.Coppock@MyFWC.com. For more information regarding management plans and other upcoming public hearings, go to MyFWC.com/Conservation, click on “Terrestrial Conservation,” then on “management” under “Management Plans” and then on “Terrestrial Habitat Management Plans.” Hunting and fishing regulations are addressed through a separate public process. Visit MyFWC.com/about and click on “Rules & Regulations” to learn more about hunting and fishing regulations.
Pursuant to Chapters 253 and 259, Florida Statutes, all lands purchased with public funds must have a management plan that ensures the property will be managed in a manner that is consistent with the intended purposes of the purchase.
Pursuant to the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act, any person requiring special accommodations to participate in this meeting should notify the agency at least 10 calendar days before the meeting by calling 850-488-6411 or contact the agency using the Florida Relay Service at 800-955-8771 (TDD) or 800-955-8770 (Voice), if you are hearing or speech impaired. If you believe that you have been discriminated against in any program, activity or facility, or if you need more information, contact the FWC at:
FWC, Office of Human Resources
620 S Meridian Street,
Tallahassee, FL 32399, 850-488-6411
Or write to:
Office of Diversity, Inclusion & Civil Rights
Department of the Interior
1849 C Street, NW
Washington, D.C. 20240