News Releases

PICNIC and LITHIA, Fla. (Feb. 3, 2023) - Tampa Bay Water will be conducting “controlled, prescribed burns” during the winter and spring months (January 2023 through June 2023) on the C.W. Bill Young Regional Reservoir property, also known as the Chito Branch Reserve.

The first two controlled burns are scheduled for the week of Feb. 6, 2023, if weather conditions allow. The parcels slated for controlled burns are on the mitigation and conservation areas northeast of the reservoir and are depicted in the map below. The “Florida” burn unit is approximately a third of a mile northeast of the reservoir and totals approximately 70 acres. The “Sawgrass” unit is approximately 180 acres in extent and is located approximately a mile northeast of the reservoir.

Updates regarding specific control burns will be posted on Tampa Bay Water's social media pages.

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 winter and spring 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.

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 Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties and the cities of New Port Richey, St. Petersburg and Tampa. To learn more, visit tampabaywater.org.