The Suwannee River Water Management District (District) land managers will conduct a prescribed burn on the Mallory Swamp Wildlife Management Area property beginning on Dec. 10 extending through January 2013. The prescribed burning will be located south of Tom Gunter Road in Lafayette County.

The District has hired a contractor to carry out the burn on up to 4,000 acres during the winter months using a helicopter to ignite the burn.This activity may temporarily produce smoke or other hazardous conditions. For the safety of recreational users, some roads may be closed and public access may be limited on certain sections of the property including the Mallory Swamp Wildlife Management Area.

Prescribed burns facilitate the overall ecological restoration by enhancing native wetland and upland vegetation and improving habitat for native wildlife. Also, prescribed burns reduce fuel levels to help lower the intensity of any possible wildfires and prepare the area for tree planting activities.

The public can monitor the Important Notices page on the Suwannee River Water Management District website at mysuwanneeriver.com for more definite burning dates as they become available.

For additional information on the prescribed burn please contact Scott Gregor, Natural Resource Specialist, at 386-362-8130.