A 10-year plan for the Apalachee Wildlife Management Area (WMA) will be presented at a Wednesday, July 17, public hearing in Jackson County.
People are invited to attend the 7 p.m. public hearing at the Jackson County Commission Chambers, 2864 Madison St., in Marianna.
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) staff will present the draft land-management plan for FWC-managed portions of the Apalachee WMA, a nearly 8,000-acre tract of rolling upland forests, farms and marshes on the western shores of the Chattahoochee River and Lake Seminole in north Florida.
Apalachee WMA protects habitat for imperiled and native species such as fox squirrels, gopher tortoises, little blue herons, bald eagles and alligators, making it a popular place for wildlife viewing. It is a good area for deer, duck and quail hunting, with some of the largest deer in the state taken here. Additionally, the WMA is nationally known as a destination for people hoping to catch largemouth, hybrid striped and white bass in Lake Seminole. People can hike and ride horses here as well.
At the public hearing, the public will be encouraged to ask questions and comment on the draft plan. An overview of the plan is available at MyFWC.com/media/2582810/AWMA-Overview.pdf.
“The Apalachee WMA was purchased to ensure the preservation of fish and wildlife resources, other natural and cultural resources, and for fish and wildlife-based public outdoor recreation,” said Rebecca Shelton, FWC land conservation biologist. “This draft plan will specify how we intend to do that.”
All lands purchased with public funds must have a management plan that ensures the property will be managed in a manner that is consistent with the intended purposes of the purchase.
Hunting and fishing regulations are not included in this plan or meeting; those are addressed through a separate public process.
To obtain a copy of the draft land management prospectus for Apalachee WMA, please call Diana Kilgore at 850-487-7063 or David Alden at 850-487-9588, or email Diana.Kilgore@MyFWC.com.
For background and more information on management plans and their goals, visit MyFWC.com/Conservation and select “Terrestrial Programs” then “Management Plans.”