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Weekiwachee Preserve Size 9,000 acres Location Hernando County coast, west of Weeki Wachee About the Property The Weekiwachee Preserve is part of a regional system of conservation lands that extends up to Crystal River Buffer Preserve, preserving the southernmost coastal hardwood hammock in western Florida. The preserve provides a rich mosaic of habitats including several miles of Weeki Wachee River frontage, portions of the Mud River, dense hardwood swamps, fresh and saltwater marshes, and pine-covered sandhills. The preserve is best known for its Florida black bear population. The bears are shy, elusive and pose no threat to people, spending most of their time deep within the swamp. Since the 1940s, the southwest corner of the preserve was mined for limerock. Mining ended with the public purchase of the property in 1995. The 45- to 60-foot deep rock quarries have since filled with clear water from the Floridan aquifer, creating scenic, spring-like lakes. A variety of grasses and shrubs struggle to grow through the limestone around the quarries, giving the appearance of open grassland. Restoration projects have begun to revegetate the scraped mine surfaces and to develop shoreline habitat. Public ownership protects the wetlands’natural functions of conveying spring water to the Gulf, cleansing surface water and providing flood protection, as well as buffering nearby residential communities from tropical storms. Research/Limited Area While exploring Weekiwachee Preserve, you may encounter an area marked with “Research Area, Please Do Not Enter”signs. This area is closed to public access. The District is conducting a variety of restoration experiments to learn how to improve wildlife habitat in the mined areas. Please help the restoration effort by avoiding the research area. Access and Parking • Enter on foot or bicycle from Shoal Line or Osowaw Boulevard access points. On second Saturday of each month, visitors may drive into preserve through the Osowaw Boulevard entrance and park at end of paved road. • ADA access and facilities available. Hours of Operation Daily from sunrise to sunset. Restrooms and Water Portable toilet available at end of paved road; no water available. Recreational Opportunities Bicycling and Inline Skating • 5.5 miles of bicycling on interpretive trail and paved road. • 1.3-mile paved road adjoining the Osowaw Boulevard entrance, but is not recommended due to poor road conditions. • Always wear helmet. Florida law requires bicyclists under 16 to wear helmets. • Always yield trail to wildlife and visitors on foot. Bird Watching • Site 69 on west section of Great Florida Birding Trail. • Contact Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) for more information. Boating and Paddling • Lakes open to hand-launched boats, canoes and kayaks. • Electric trolling motors allowed. • Gas-powered outboards not allowed. • Use caution launching boats — banks can be unstable. Do not back vehicles or trailers onto bank. Fishing • Numerous lakes inhabited by both fresh and saltwater species. Caution: banks can be unstable. • Contact FWC for license requirements. Hiking • 5.5-mile interpretive trail and paved road. • 4.3 miles of marked, scenic woods roads. • Compass and topographical map recommended for cross-country travelers. • Interpretive guide books available at three locations on trail. Nearby Recreation Lands • Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge • Chassahowitzka River and Coastal Swamp • Chassahowitzka Wildlife Management Area • Crystal River Buffer Preserve For More Information Land Resources Department, Southwest Florida Water Management District, 1-800-423-1476 (FL only) or (352) 796-7211, ext. 4470 Recreation Guide to Southwest Florida Water Management District Lands 116
Rd. Chassahowitzka Wildlife Management Area GULF OF MEXICO 597 Cortez Blvd. Bayport Park Jenkins Creek Park Rogers Park Hernando Beach Park North Rd. Weekiwachee River 550 Chassahowitzka Wildlife Management Area Chassahowitzka Wildlife Management Area Weeki Wachee Spring 50 Bear Claw Weeki Wachee 19 Hernando Beach Shoal Line Blvd. Burnt Loop Rd. View SouthLake Rd. Rd. DAT Sand Rd. Pit Commercial Way 597 Dead End Creek Spring Hill 595 Osowaw Blvd. Spring Hill Dr. 574 N 0 1 2 scale in miles Weekiwachee Preserve Legend highway, major road access point & parking minor road parking HERNANDO CO. paved park road small boat launch unimproved road or trail picnic shelter property boundary (SWFWMD) county park General Location other public lands DAT disabled access toilet county line research area river, stream lake, pond forested wetland/swamp Recreation Guide to Southwest Florida Water Management District Lands 117
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March 2007 Update
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Introduction Every year more than 2
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Recreational Opportunities Availabl
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Equestrian Use Viewing the pine fla
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Hunting Over 131,000 acres of Distr
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Guidelines for Use of District Land
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Do your part to preserve our great
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Keysville Rd. To SR 60 676 39 Alafi
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P To Brandon Creek Poley 60 Willow
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To Homosassa Springs Knuckey Rd. Ch
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To Citrus Park To Pinellas Co. Lake
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582 Keystone Rd. Old Keystone Rd. B
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77 To Palm Harbor Canal Park 584 T
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Murdock 41 Myakka 776 777 Myakka St
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Crystal River State Buffer Preserve
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Lakeland 570 540 Banana Creek Banan
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Park Trail Lane Alligator Creek Cl
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abandoned railroad 583 Cypress Cree
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To Arcadia Kings Hwy. 769 SW Peace
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Coker Duette Park To Bradenton Rive
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To Wimauma Gilley Creek Oak Knoll R
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To Brandon 60 To Bartow Turkey Cree
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Gum Slough 470 To US 41 Inverness
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575 98 301 Lacoochee R HERNANDO CO.
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Levee k PASCO CO. SUMTER CO. Withla
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Carter Island Rd. To SR 50, Mascott
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575 98 Lacoochee Withlacoochee Stat
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River MARION CO. SUMTER CO. Gum Slo
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Rolling Ranches To US 41 Dunnellon
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Lake To Sebring Josephine 17 Lake J
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Huckleberry Rd. To US Hwy. 17 Daven
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Exit 329 Jones Creek Trail To Inver
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674 Ruskin 41 1st St.. SW 75 Little
Page 67 and 68: Recreation Guide to Southwest Flori
Page 69 and 70: Bullfrog Creek Branch To U.S. 301 W
Page 71 and 72: 75 Exit 270 Bruce B. Downs Blvd. 58
Page 73 and 74: To U.S. 301 Hillsborough River G Hi
Page 75 and 76: 581 Bruce B. Downs Blvd. Exit 270 F
Page 77 and 78: River Hillsborough River inlet Flin
Page 79 and 80: Hillsborough River Morris Bridge Rd
Page 81 and 82: Main Trail Hillsborough River Baysh
Page 83 and 84: Trout Creek Morris Bridge Park Trou
Page 85 and 86: North Plat Trail North Plat Trail M
Page 87 and 88: Bruce B. Downs Blvd. 581 Flatwoods
Page 89 and 90: T. Mabry Carlton, Jr. Memorial Rese
Page 91 and 92: Boggy Creek Coker Creek Ogleby Cree
Page 93 and 94: 72 Myakka River State Park SARASOTA
Page 95 and 96: River Rd. 41 41 Big Slough SARASOTA
Page 97 and 98: To SR 44 470 315 Withlacoochee Aban
Page 99 and 100: CITRUS CO. Tsala Apopka Outfall Can
Page 101 and 102: 769 Charlotte Loop Caloosa Trail De
Page 103 and 104: To Bradenton To Tampa 275 Pinellas
Page 105 and 106: 52 DAT G P 587 De Cubellis Rd. Rive
Page 107 and 108: To SR 52 587 River To New Port Rich
Page 109 and 110: To Bayonet Point 52 DAT G 579 Moon
Page 111 and 112: Fowler Ave. 582 275 Temple Terrace
Page 113 and 114: Tampa Bay Bishop Harbor Bishop Harb
Page 115 and 116: CITRUS CO. MARION CO. 39 Withlacooc
Page 117: To Dade City 35A Green Swamp - West
Page 121 and 122: To River Rd. Auton Rd. Withlacooche
Page 123 and 124: To SR 44 Carlson 300 Look for Sign
Page 125 and 126: Equestrian Trailer Parking and Hors
Page 127: Map Reference Project 1 Alafia Rive
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