The South Shore News & Tribune
Chito To Host Horses, Hikers, Bikers
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Published: July 2, 2008
LITHIA - LITHIA - The Southwest Florida Water Management District has released its 10-year management plan for Chito Branch Reserve, the 5,515-acre tract in southeast Hillsborough County that holds Tampa Bay Water's regional reservoir.
The reservoir takes up about 1,100 acres of the site, leaving large areas of woods, wetlands and meadows available for public enjoyment. The plan released last week lists hiking, bicycling, horseback riding, primitive camping, picnicking and bird-watching as appropriate uses of the site. No motorized vehicles will be allowed.
The district hopes to build a parking lot and cut trails by next spring, said district spokeswoman Robyn Felix. The main entrance will be off Browning Road, near the northwest corner of the preserve. A future entrance is planned off County Road 39 at the southeastern side of the tract, and there may be an entrance off Hobson Simmons Road as well.
In the meantime, people can walk on the site by day, she said, but there are no marked trails. Felix said the district would entertain proposals for volunteer help from equestrian or bicycle groups to develop trails, as they have on other preserve sites, such as Balm-Boyette to the south and Alafia River State Park to the east.
People interested in volunteering should call district land-use specialist Cindy Hausman at 1-800-423-1476, ext. 4482, or visit www.swfwmd.state.fl.us/ recreation/volunteer.html.
The district bought the site in 2001, primarily to provide a site for the 15 billion-gallon reservoir. Regional supplier Tampa Bay Water is considering building a second reservoir sometime after 2018 and has listed two possible locations on the 5,515-acre tract on a list of six potential sites, in southeastern Hillsborough.
District staff members in charge of the plan were not available for comment last week but have said that management strategies would be reviewed if a second reservoir is developed on the site.
The site provides significant aquifer recharge, according to the management plan. The preserve holds three other Alafia River tributaries besides its namesake. They are Doe Branch, Long Flat Creek and Carlton Branch.
Important Florida species found on the preserve include the gopher tortoise, Sherman's fox squirrel, southeastern American kestrel, Florida burrowing owl and Florida sandhill cranes. Numerous types of wading birds have been observed foraging on the site.
CHECKING OUT CHITO
WHAT: 5,515-acre water resource and wildlife preserve
ACQUISITION DATE: 2001
FORMER USES: Cow pastures, row crops, hunting
CURRENT USES: Home to 15 billion-gallon regional drinking water reservoir, more than 1,000 acres of wetlands restoration and various wooded and wet habitats
Source: Southwest Florida Water Management District
Reporter Susan M. Green can be reached at (813) 865-1566 or sgreen@tampatrib.com.
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