Collier County plans 6 prescribed burns through September

Collier County is planning to conduct six prescribed burns between the months of July and September as part of the Conservation Collier Program.

According to the county, weather permitting, it will carry out the six burns to improve habitat for wildlife and reduce fuel levels within the fire-dependent forested portions of preserves.

The county said it will only burn if authorization is received from the Florida Forest Service and if safe weather conditions are forecast. Burning would begin at 9 a.m. on the day of the burn.

Residents in the immediate area will be notified by mail. The county said that while a smoke management plan is in place, wind shifts may cause smoky conditions to occur in the area of the burn.

The burn locations are listed below, with maps labeling the area of the burn:

Caracara Prairie Preserve: 2320 CR-850 (Corkscrew Road), Immokalee, FL, approximately 14 miles east of I-75 off Corkscrew Road

[image id='731391b4-b66c-42d6-a4c1-c0dcb61c2837' mediaId='1ea19556-c4a1-4b9a-acb4-03d0651afb2f' align='center' size='medium' share='true' caption='Location of the Caracara Prairie Preserve burn' expand='' crop='original'][/image]

Pepper Ranch Preserve: 6315 Pepper Road, Immokalee, FL

[image id='781eb43f-35c2-4bcc-b553-dddb1009523b' mediaId='0290eb06-7055-4171-9186-cda89176595b' align='center' size='medium' share='true' caption='Location of the Pepper Ranch Reserve burn' expand='' crop='original'][/image]

Nancy Payton Preserve: 1540 Blue Sage Drive, Naples, FL

[image id='e73acf7b-62f3-4c1c-935c-693af2712d48' mediaId='d7b59938-3047-4d00-b553-b293a28437b9' align='center' size='medium' share='true' caption='Location of the Nancy Payton Preserve burn' expand='' crop='original'][/image]

Shell Island Preserve: South of US-41 at intersection of CR-951 & Shell Island Road, Naples, FL

[image id='38e3ecbb-0c47-48f2-b117-cbc2c7af4758' mediaId='fb967cc9-f0b3-4c47-8dc0-2abf8493687c' align='center' size='medium' share='true' caption='Location of the Shell Island Preserve burn' expand='' crop='original'][/image]

McIlvane Marsh Preserve: 12855 Curcie Road, Naples, FL

[image id='7e6b81f7-0db6-4aaa-9167-73f4aa347aa4' mediaId='ff4cd0ce-6ff7-4787-bc62-17235b73bcee' align='center' size='medium' share='true' caption='Location of the McIlvane Marsh Preserve burn' expand='' crop='original'][/image]

Red Root Preserve: 1330 Limpkin Road, Naples, FL

[image id='6c3bc6de-e868-457f-931e-84407bff4ddc' mediaId='1e4658e1-b337-4f4e-8527-921cebc96735' align='center' size='medium' share='true' caption='Location of the Red Root Preserve burn' expand='' crop='original'][/image]

For more information, call (239) 252-2495 or email Conservationcollier@collier.gov.