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Brooker Creek Preserve Plan Attracts Criticism
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Published: June 13, 2008
Updated:
EAST LAKE - Pinellas County officials' plan to designate 900 acres of the Brooker Creek Preserve for a future water treatment facility has drawn fire from environmentalists and others.
At a Tuesday night's town hall meeting at the Brooker Creek Preserve Education Center, county land management and utilities officials presented a revised management plan for the 8,000-plus-acre county-owned preserve.
Among other things the revision would permit above-ground water treatment facilities to be constructed anywhere within the 900 acres of the preserve north of Keystone Road that is not wetlands.
County commissioners will have to approve any revision to the preserve's management plan. They will hold a workshop Thursday, Aug. 7, at the County Courthouse in Clearwater.
Tuesday night, county water officials told those in attendance that they will only need to use 200 of the 900 acres to meet the county's future water treatment needs, but they need the flexibility a large parcel brings. They do not know exactly what type of facilities would be needed or where on the property they would be located.
Activists told officials they do not believe them and question why such a large piece of the property has to be given a land use category that permits above-ground utilities to be constructed.
The county already has a nearby plant, used to blend drinking water from different sources to improve its quality. Well fields are adjacent to the site.
Environmental activists say Brooker Creek Preserve was designed to harbor Florida's natural flora and fauna. Therefore the property should remain untouched or at least more clearly defined, they say.
Seventeen different wildlife species and 12 plant species call the preserve home, according to county officials.
Officials also told of plans to improve hiking and horse trails, along with a spur at the preserve's southern boundary. The spur would connect to the city of Oldsmar's Cypress Forest Park.
There are also plans to add property to the preserve north of Keystone Road and near East Lake Road.
Mark Schantz can be reached at 727-815-1075 or mschantz@suncoastnews.com.
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