Camp Bayou's Hardwood Reduction Project

 

If you’re a frequent visitor at Camp Bayou Nature Preserve in Ruskin, you may notice a big change on your next trip. 

What was once an overgrown, vine-filled tangle of impenetrable vegetation along 24th street is now an open pine canopy full of dappled sunlight!

Part of the hardwood reduction project area

This didn’t happen by accident- Hillsborough County's Conservation and Environmental Lands Management Department recently completed a hardwood reduction project at Camp Bayou. Using heavy equipment, a contract crew removed most of the oaks and underbrush from a 10-acre area, leaving pine trees and only a few oaks behind to grow. This change may seem drastic, but it’s for the greater good of the wildlife and native plants that call Camp Bayou home.

Historically, this project area was composed of pine flatwoods, scrubby flatwoods, and scrub, which are habitat types that benefit from frequent fires. These habitat types are extremely important to some of Florida’s threatened and endangered plants and animals. Before this preserve was purchased by Hillsborough County, fires were suppressed for decades, a practice known as fire exclusion. This lack of wildfire and prescribed fire allowed oak trees, vines, and brush to over-grow and crowd out the plants that were originally found here. This project is the first step in restoring this area to a functioning ecosystem. Further work will include invasive species removal, frequent prescribed fire, and removal of more oaks and sand pines. These efforts should encourage the growth of long-leaf pines, which historically dominated this area. 

Trail separating project area (left) from un-treated area (right)

By removing and mulching much of the heavy brush, this project has made it much easier for us to conduct a prescribed fire in the project area. The mulched vegetation will be drier than live plants and will produce less smoke, and because there are no longer tall stands of dead fuel in the area, the fire will be much easier to contain. Many desirable plant species that used to be common in this area have expansive root systems can survive for years underground; fire and increased sunlight will encourage these plants to re-sprout, flower, and produce more seed, quickly re-vegetating the area. Threatened plant species like garberia, many-flowered grass pink, and possibly Curtiss’ milkweed, as well as some gorgeous native wildflowers like Florida paintbrush, blazing star, and sky-blue lupine, should thrive in this sunny area. By continuing to maintain this preserve with frequent prescribed fire, we’ll keep the habitat healthy and make sure that it doesn’t become overgrown again.

Sky-blue lupine growing at Camp Bayou Nature Preserve

Native animals will also benefit from this hardwood reduction project! One of our favorite threatened wildlife species, the gopher tortoise, will flourish in this newly open section of Camp Bayou. Many gopher tortoises can be found in the area, and flatwoods and scrub are ideal habitat for these burrowing reptiles. Because the open canopy will provide more sunlight for grasses and herbaceous plants, gopher tortoises should be able to find more food, and they’ll be able to move around more easily with less underbrush in their way. Gopher tortoises love to bask in the sun, and they’ll have many more sunny spots available! The increase in light will also provide better temperatures for gopher tortoise eggs to incubate.

Hardwood reduction projects like this one may look dramatic, but remember- they’re always done to improve habitat for Florida’s unique and irreplaceable wildlife and plant species. Hillsborough County's Conservation and Environmental Lands Management Department is committed to restoring our natural areas, reversing human impacts, and keeping our nature preserves healthy for generations to come.

An aerial view showing part of the project area (at the bottom of the image)