News Releases

NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Brandon Moore
bmoore@tampabaywater.org
727-791-2304 | 727-470-0702

LITHIA, Fla. (Jan. 15, 2019) —Tampa Bay Water will be conducting “controlled, prescribed burns” during the winter and spring months (January through June 2019) on the C.W. Bill Young Regional Reservoir property. The first burn is scheduled for Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2019.

The parcels slated for controlled burns are on the mitigation and conservation areas surrounding the reservoir, east of Hobson-Simmons Road, southeast of Browning Road and west of County Road 39.

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

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

About Tampa Bay Water

Tampa Bay Water is the largest wholesale water supplier in Florida, providing high-quality drinking water to its members, who in turn, supply water to more than 2.5 million residents of the Tampa Bay area. Tampa Bay Water member governments include the cities of New Port Richey, St. Petersburg and Tampa, and the counties of Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas. To learn more, visit  tampabaywater.org.