Properties acquired by the Environmentally
Sensitive Lands (ESL) Program are designated as preserves. The preserves
are owned and managed to protect their environmental features and
to promote passive public recreation and education. Although some
are more developed for public use than others the preserves are
generally open to the public during daylight hours.
Hernando County currently has three preserves, each with their own
unique environmental features, management objectives, and public
recreation opportunities. In addition to purchasing and managing
preserves, ESL Program funds were used to pay for the expansion
of Bayport Park facilities in conjunction with the Southwest Florida
Water Management District and District land. Click on a tab to view
information on a preserve, including its address and location, its
environmental features, and currently available and planned recreational
opportunities. Additional facilities for public use are planned
at all three preserves and at Bayport Park.
CYPRESS LAKES PRESERVE
OPEN
DAYLIGHT HOURS
This 331acre preserve is located at the intersection of State Road
50 and Ridge Manor Boulevard near Ridge Manor in the eastern part
of Hernando County. The address of the trail head is:
32375 Cortez Blvd., Ridge Manor, FL 34602.
The Preserve contains eight natural plant communities, including
5 designated by the Florida Natural Areas Inventory (FNAI) as imperiled.
These communities include lakes, freshwater marsh, cypress swamp,
bottomland hardwoods, live oak hammocks, scrub, and sandhills.
This diversity in plant communities supports many animals, including
some that are threatened or endangered.
The Florida National Scenic Trail is marked where it winds through
the preserve and provides opportunities for hiking, observing the
variety of vegetative communities, and nature watching. Bird watching
is most productive in the fall and winter months when migrants are
present. This part of the Trail offers scenic views of hardwood
hammocks, oak-saw palmetto scrub, cypress-ringed lakes, an old river
channel, and water marks on trees showing flood levels above hikers’
heads. Additional hiking trails and trail head facilities are planned
in the near future. Long term plans include a canoe/kayak launch
on the Withlacoochee River and an observation platform with boardwalk
on a cypress lake.
FICKETT HAMMOCK PRESERVE
OPEN
DAYLIGHT HOURS
Fickett Hammock is about 148 acres located northwest of Brooksville
on Centralia Road. The address is:
15482 Centralia Road, Brooksville, FL 34614.
This preserve is covered with forest and includes hardwood hammock,
seasonally flowing streams, and saw palmetto thickets. Interesting
tree species include hickory, dogwood, longleaf pine, hophornbeam,
ironwood, American holly, and swamp chestnut oak.
A new hiking trail departs from the parking lot and forms a loop
about a mile in length as it winds through shady woods and along
a seasonal stream. The trail passes through oak hammocks, hickory
groves, sparkleberry thickets, and flatwoods before returning hikers
to the parking lot. A second trail loop is planned for development
in 2010 to provide opportunities for longer hiking experiences.
PECK SINK PRESERVE
OPEN DAYLIGHT HOURS
Peck Sink Preserve comprises 112 acres located on the north side
of Wiscon Road west of Mobley Road. An address has not been assigned
yet.
A deeply cut drainage channel leading to a group of impressive sinkholes
dominates the preserve. The sinkhole group includes at least two
swallet holes where stormwater drainage water runs directly into
the Floridan Aquifer, which is the source of almost all of Hernando
County’s drinking water used by the public. The water draining into
the swallet holes includes storm water draining from much of the
western side of the City of Brooksville. The major objectives for
managing this preserve center on improving the quality of water
entering the aquifer, managing the amount of water entering the
sinkholes, restoring natural vegetative communities, and providing
public recreation and educational opportunities.
Peck Sink Preserve is not yet developed for public recreation although
it is open during daylight hours. Design and permitting of the facilities
needed to manage water quality and quantity are underway. Along
with the water management improvements, passive recreation is planned
to include a hiking trail with an overlook of the sinkholes, future
bridge supports for crossing the drainage channel, an open play
field, and a parking area. This initial development phase for public
use should be completed by the end of 2011.
Peck Stormwater Improvement Project
BAYPORT PARK
OPEN 24/7
Bayport Park sits on the Gulf of Mexico at the west end of State
Road 50. The address is: 4140 Cortez Blvd, Spring Hill, FL 34607
Bayport Park has been newly renovated and expanded. ESL funds were
used to pay for installation of new structures and facilities in
an environmentally responsible manner. Park renovation was a cooperative
effort by the ESL Program, Hernando County Parks and Recreation,
and the Southwest Florida Water Management District, which owns
most of the property. A grant from Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation
Commission helped fund the new boat ramps through the Florida Boating
Improvement Program.
Formerly just 1.5 acres in size, the park now boasts 7 acres with
improved boat ramps, a new boardwalk offering panoramic views, and
additional parking for cars and boat trailers. New park amenities
include picnic tables, pavilions, barbecue grills, restrooms, and
two boat ramps. Popular activities include fishing, crabbing, bird
and wildlife watching, picnicking, and photography. The park offers
scenic views of the Gulf of Mexico, salt marshes, and cabbage palm
islands as the scenery changes with sunlight and tides. Improvements
underway include a canoe/kayak launch area and possibly a hiking
trail.