| | Ocala National Forest Continues Closing User Created Routes, Old Firelines
Oct 5, 2009Ocala National Forest Continues Closing User Created Routes, Old Firelines
October 2, 2009 - Visitors coming to the Ocala National Forest will notice changes as Forest Service employees continue a large-scale restoration project that began in 2008 on user created routes and old firelines.
This summer restoration efforts focused on areas near Alexander Springs and the Penner Ponds region of the Ocklawaha River. Employees restored approximately 130 miles of user created roads and old firelines by planting trees, seeding, and covering visible entrances with live vegetation or large berms.
Benefits of the project include protecting watersheds, preventing erosion, and improving habitat for game and non-game species. Partners for the project included the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the National Wild Turkey Federation.
"In the past year we have made great efforts to sign roads and close user created routes and old firelines that are no longer needed," said District Ranger Rick Lint. "Unfortunately, following last year's recreation season many of these areas were re-opened by users."
Individuals found re-opening closed sites, damaging resources, or off designated roads can be fined up to $1,000 and issued a mandatory court appearance.
"We are serious about restoring these areas that have been destroyed or denuded," said Lint. "Everything left over is a scar on the landscape that needs to be rehabilitated and what we're doing is planting it back. This has been a fairly controversial project but we will be successful."
The Ocala National Forest offers plenty of access and has one of the most extensive road systems in the southern national forests. There are over 1,500 miles of roads open to the public; more than 50 percent of the Ocala National Forest is within 600 feet of a road, over 80 percent is within 0.25 miles of a road, and over 90 percent is within 0.5 miles of a road.
Visitors are encouraged to contact the local ranger district stations or visitor centers to obtain maps or by visiting www.fs.fed.us/r8/florida/ocala/recreation/ohv.overview under Motor Vehicle Use Maps-Ocala. For more information, contact the Seminole Ranger Station at 352-669-3153 or the Lake George Ranger Station at 352-625-2520. Ocala National Forest Continues Closing User Created Routes, Old Firelines - USFS press release 10/2/09 [details] Ocala National Forest |
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