TALLAHASSEE –Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam announced that the Florida Forest Service will reopen 20 of the 30 state forests closed for Hurricane Irma Thursday, Sept. 21, and Friday, Sept. 22.
Certain tracts, roads, recreation areas or campgrounds in these state forests may remain closed until damage from Hurricane Irma is cleared or repaired.
The following state forests open today, Sept. 21:
- Belmore State Forest
- Big Shoals State Forest
- Carl Duval Moore State Forest
- Cary State Forest
- Etoniah Creek State Forest
- Four Creeks State Forest
- Goethe State Forest
- Indian Lake State Forest
- Lake Wales Ridge State Forest
- Myakka State Forest
- Newnan’s Lake State Forest
- Okaloacoochee Slough State Forest
- Ralph E. Simmons State Forest
- Ross Prairie State Forest
- Seminole State Forest
- Welaka State Forest
- Withlacoochee State Forest
The following state forests open Friday, Sept. 22:
- Lake George State Forest
- Matanzas State Forest
- Tiger Bay State Forest
State forest visitors should contact their local Florida Forest Service office to ensure the area they plan to visit is open. Citizens are also encouraged to take precautions when visiting areas of state forests that may have storm water or debris from Hurricane Irma.
For Florida Forest Service team contact information regarding state forest campground, trail or road closures, visit FreshFromFlorida.com/State-Forests.
The Florida Forest Service, a division of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, manages more than 1 million acres of state forests and provides forest management assistance on more than 17 million acres of private and community forests. The Florida Forest Service is also responsible for protecting homes, forestland and natural resources from the devastating effects of wildfire on more than 26 million acres. Learn more at FloridaForestService.com.