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Tract To Be Cleaned Up

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By SUSAN M. GREEN, The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 26, 2007

Updated: 09/24/2007 10:23 pm

RUSKIN - The Southwest Florida Water Management District wants volunteers to turn out Saturday for a beach cleanup at its Piney Point tract to commemorate National Public Lands Day.

The district's Land Resources Department is coordinating the cleanup, starting at 9 a.m., in conjunction with Keep Hillsborough County Beautiful, a nonprofit organization.

Volunteers will be working on part of a nearly 2,400-acre tract bought by the district and Hillsborough County in 2003 for $3.5 million. Also known as the 'Rock Pond' site, the former Tampa Electric Co. property is earmarked for preservation and a future habitat restoration under the district's Surface Water Improvement and Management program.
National Public Lands Day has been sponsored since 1994 by the National Environmental Education Foundation. Last year, nearly 100,000 people volunteered for projects on 1,100 government-owned sites across the country, according to the foundation's Web site.

About a third of the nation's 600 million acres is in public ownership, and a fourth of Florida's 34.7 million acres is conservation land managed by local, state or federal agencies.

Volunteers at Piney Point should dress for potentially muddy conditions, wear a hat and sunglasses and closed-toe shoes. Organizers will provide sunscreen, T-shirts, hats, gloves, garbage grabbers, insect repellant, water and lunch.

Preregistration is not required. Parking at the site is limited, and volunteers are encouraged to carpool. To get there, take Interstate 75 south to Exit 220, Parrish, and turn right on Moccasin Wallow Road. Continue about 1.5 miles and turn right on U.S. 41, then go approximately 2.5 miles and turn left on County Line Road. Continue past the railroad tracks and look for district staff.

For information, call Cynthia Hausman at (352) 279-3887.

IF YOU GO

WHAT: beach cleanup
WHERE: Piney Point, off of County Line Road

WHEN: 9 a.m. Saturday

WHAT TO WEAR: hat, sunglasses and closed-toe shoes

INFORMATION: Cynthia Hausman, (352) 279-3887; preregistration is not required

Reporter Susan M. Green can be reached at (813) 865-1566 or sgreen@tampatrib.com.

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