Controlled Burns Scheduled for C.W. Bill Young Regional Reservoir

PICNIC and LITHIA, HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY – Tampa Bay Water will be conducting “controlled, prescribed burns” during the winter and spring months (February through May) on the C.W. Bill Young Regional Reservoir property.   The parcels slated for controlled burns are on the West Pruitt mitigation area west of the reservoir, east of Hobson-Simmons Road and south of Boyette Road and on the North Carlton-Smith mitigation area northeast of the reservoir, southeast of Browning Road and west of County Road 39.

Controlled burns are part of Tampa Bay Water’s land management program.  The controlled burns at the regional reservoir are prescribed to remove nuisance plant species, encourage the growth of native species and decrease wildfire severity by reducing the amount of flammable vegetation on-site.

Prescribed burns are only conducted when weather conditions allow, so burns will be conducted intermittently over the next several months by certified, experienced personnel.  Efforts will be made to ensure that smoke will not affect nearby roads.  However, vehicle operators should exercise caution in case smoke does lead to reduced visibility on the area’s roadways.

Tampa Bay Water is Florida’s largest wholesale water provider.  The agency provides wholesale drinking water to its member governments of Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties and the cities of New Port Richey, St. Petersburg and Tampa