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Hernando Today

Landing Help From Volunteers

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By TONY MARRERO Hernando Today

The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 18, 2008

BROOKSVILLE - Drive through Hernando's neighborhoods on any given Saturday and you're sure to see homeowners tending to and enjoying their own little patches of paradise.

But there are thousands of acres of land in the county that present their own opportunities for pleasure - and responsibility.

Here is the chance to discover these places and put in a little sweat equity at the same time.

Hernando County will participate for the first time this year in National Public Lands Day. Each September, a host of agencies, clubs and other organizations band together and meet armies of willing volunteers at parks, wildlife preserves and other publicly owned tracts to make improvements.

The event is set for Sept. 27.

Hernando's first foray is a joint effort between the Florida Wildlife Commission, the Southwest Florida Wildlife Management District (known as Swiftmud), the county's Environmentally Sensitive Lands Committee and Hernando Audubon.

The goal is to do more than wring free work from willing participants, but to show off the county's treasured lands that many residents might not have ever visited, said Becky Brown, organizer for this year's event.

"We wanted to make sure it wasn't just you going out and giving your labor, but an educational tool about why these places are important," Brown said. "And everybody has unique role in their importance."

Volunteers can choose from four sites in the county, from the uplands of the Withlacoochee State Forest north of Brooksville to the marshes of the Weeki Wachee Preserve. After a few hours of work hours, volunteers will meet at noon at Bud McKethan Park in Brooksville for a free lunch courtesy of Audubon.

All the events start at 8 a.m. Organizers recommend that wear comfortable clothes and close-toed shoes they don't mind getting dirty. Bring sunscreen, insect repellant and a full water bottle.

Here's a primer on the locations and some other recommendations for supplies according to conditions at each place. For more information, contact Brown at 754-6722 or rebecca.brown@myfwc.com.

Chinsegut Nature Center

The Chinsegut Nature Center is nestled among the towering pine trees of the Withlacoochee State Forest on a tract of land east of U.S. 41 and south of Lake Lindsey Road.

The center offers a host educational programs and workshops, from birding to backpacking, and serves as an access point for miles of hiking trails that wind through woods, hammocks and prairies.

Now there's another feature to attract visitors of both the human and vibrantly-colored insect variety. Center staffers are putting the finishing touches on a butterfly garden. On Public Lands Day, experts from the University of Florida who helped design the garden will give a talk. Then volunteers will spread mulch around the garden that features mimosa plants, firebushes and beach sunflowers, among other greenery.

Enthusiasts can get a preview of the garden from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. this Saturday, Sept. 20 when the center will offer a butterfly workshop.

Directions: North from Brooksville on U.S. 41; west on Lake Lindsey Road (County Road 476); center is a quarter mile on the left.

What else to bring: gloves and long pants. Bathrooms on site.

Peck Sink

Peck Sink is among the county's most important geological features but one few residents ever see, said Jim King, the county's conservation land specialist.

But some residents are more familiar with the series of sinkholes east of Brooksville Regional Hospital and north of Wiscon Road now that the county has purchased land there. The county plans to build a filtering system to keep trash and pollutants into the sink, a direct portal to the aquifer. A 17-square-mile area west of Brooksville and as far south as Powell Road

"People have chomping at the bit to get a look at Peck Sink," King said.

Public lands day gives residents a chance to do that at the same time they pick up trash that's made its way into the area. Expect to find cans, bottles, paper and plastic.

"If it's light enough so water can carry it down the flow channel, it will get in there," King said.

Directions: Meet in the southeast corner parking lot of Brooksville Regional Hospital, near the intersection of Wiscon and Mobley roads. After a brief orientation, volunteers will take carpools to the site at 8:30 a.m. and hike to the sinkholes. Get there on time, King said. "Otherwise, it will be tough to find us."

What else to bring: A five gallon bucket to collect trash. They're sturdier and less likely to get caught on brush than bags. No bathrooms on site.

Weeki Wachee Preserve

Between the roaring traffic on U.S. 19 and canalfront communities of Hernando Beach, this preserve of about 11,000 acres is owned by Swiftmud.

It's made up of a variety of habitats, including several miles of Weekiwachee River frontage, portions of the Mud River, dense hardwood swamps, fresh and saltwater marshes, and pine-covered sandhills. Those who know about it enjoy the miles of biking and hiking trails.

There also is a bounty of native plants. Volunteers next weekend will be harvesting seeds on a portion of the preserve once used for mining.

The main goal is the downy-soft tufts at the top of wiregrass, said Gina Sowders, senior land use specialist for Swiftmud. The seeds will be taken to other public lands being restored to their former natural glory. Native seeds increase the chances those efforts will be successful, Sowders said.

"This is a way for people to enjoy being outside and find they can be helpful and have fun at the same time," she said.

There will be a brief how-to on seed harvesting. It's easy enough for children, so bring the family, she said.

Directions: U.S. 19 to Osowaw Boulvard. The entrance to the preserve is about a quarter mile from the West Hernando County Transfer Station. No bathrooms on site.

Chassahowitzka Wildlife Management Area

This tract of land along the Weekiwachee River south of C.R. 550 is beginning to recover from the abuse it took from too much public use, said Jenny Roberts, a biologist with the Florida Wildlife Commission

The area managed by the FWC was closed for most public use last year.

The area along the river began to suffer severe erosion. There were many incidents of vandalism, thefts from parked cars and partiers who broke the no-alcohol rules. Litter was abundant.

The situation is better now, but there's still a lot of trash to clean up, Roberts said. The goal of Public Lands Day is to work toward restoring the place to a near-pristine state and "to get it back so it's beautiful to see from the river again," she said.

"This is going to be a great way to get it done," she said.

Directions: Meet at parking area on C.R. 550 about a mile west of U.S. 19.

What else to bring: A five gallon bucket would be helpful here, too. No bathrooms on site.

Reporter Tony Marrero can be reached at 352-544-5286 or lmarrero@hernandtoday.com.

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