Fwc Closes Wma's Effective Midnite Friday [Archive]

Steve W

09-24-2004, 09:23 PM

taken from http://myfwc.com/whatsnew/04/reopenings-st.html

ANNOUNCEMENTS CONCERNING CLOSINGS AND RE-OPENINGS OF PUBLIC-USE AREAS

UPDATED: 5 p.m. September 24, 2004

Regional Public Information Contacts:

Northwest: Stan Kirkland (850) 265-3676; cell phone-(850) 624-7000
North Central: Karen Parker (386) 758-0525; cell phone-(386) 867-0516
Northeast: Joy Hill (352) 732-1225; cell phone-(352) 258-3426
Southwest: Gary Morse (863) 648-3203; cell phone-(863) 227-3830
South: Willie Puz (561) 625-5122; cell phone-(772) 215-9459
Due to the potential threat of Hurricane Jeanne, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has implemented a 24-hour, toll-free, Hurricane Information Hotline at 1-800-851-8385. By calling this number, callers can find out the latest updates on areas that will be closed for the upcoming archery and early duck hunting seasons which begin this weekend. Closure information is also available on the FWC's Web site at MyFWC.com.

So far the FWC has closed several wildlife management areas (WMAs), wildlife and environmental areas (WEAs), waterfowl management areas, fish management areas (FMAs), public use areas (PUAs), public small game hunting areas (PSGHAs) and mitigation parks in various locations around the state.

Initially, the closures will take place over the next two days and will impact primarily hunters who were planning to participate in the opening of the archery hunting season this weekend, as well as hunters planning to participate in the early duck hunting season on some public lands. Depending upon the track and severity of the hurricane, the areas will be reopened as soon as possible, or remain closed until they are safe for public access.

The following areas are located in Brevard, Osceola, Indian River, Polk, Okeechobee, Highlands and Palm Beach counties, and will be closed at 12:01 a.m., Saturday, Sept. 25 until further notice:

Buck Lake WMA (Volusia and Brevard)
Salt Lake WMA (Brevard)
Bull Creek WMA (Osceola)
Three Lakes WMA (Osceola)
Upper St. Johns River WMA (Brevard and Indian River)
Broadmoor Marsh WMA (Brevard)
T.M. Goodwin Waterfowl Management Area (Brevard)
Tenoroc FMA (Polk)
Green Swamp WMA (Polk)
Kicco WMA (Polk and Osceola)
Kissimmee River PUA (Polk, Highlands, Okeechobee, Osceola)
Lake Marion Creek WMA (Polk and Osceola)
Hickory Hammock WMA (Highlands)
Dupuis WMA (Palm Beach)
The following areas are located in Putnam, St. Johns, Volusia, Marion, Lake, Flagler, Clay, Alachua, Nassau and Duval counties, and will be closed at 12:01 a.m., Sun., Sept. 26 until further notice:

Caravelle Ranch WMA (Putnam)
Dunns Creek WMA (Putnam)
Twelve Mile Swamp WMA (St. Johns)
Guana River WMA (St. Johns)
Lake George WMA (Volusia)
Ocala WMA* (Marion, Lake, Putnam) * Except for county and state maintained roads and local residents to access their homes and businesses
Gores Landing WMA (Marion)
Relay WMA (Flagler)
Ft. McCoy WMA (Marion)
Ocklawaha Prairie PSGHA (Marion)
Emeralda Marsh PSGHA (Lake)
Bayard WMA (Clay)
Orange Creek PSGHA (Marion and Alachua)
Camp Blanding WMA (Clay)
Ralph E. Simmons WMA (Nassau)
Nassau WMA (Nassau)
Brannon Field Mitigation Park (Duval)
The following areas that were closed as a result of Hurricane Frances, will remain closed until further notice:

Jena Unit of Big Bend WMA (Dixie)
Cypress Creek (Hamilton)
*Everglades and Francis S. Taylor WMAs (Miami-Dade and Broward)
*Holey Land WMA (Palm Beach)
Rotenberger WMA (Palm Beach)
*NOTE: Statewide alligator trappers permitted to harvest alligators on Everglades & Francis S. Taylor and Holey Land WMAs are exempt from this closure if engaging in their permitted activities.