Skip to main content

Everglades National Park Announces Seasonal Extension of Idle-Speed Area

Source: www.nps.gov

HOMESTEAD, Florida: Everglades National Park Superintendent Dan Kimball announced that the opening of the seasonal extension of the Jimmy's Lake idle-speed area will begin on July 15, 2013. The area is located within the Snake Bight Pole and Troll Zone, a 9,400-acre non-combustion engine use zone in northern Florida Bay, just east of Flamingo. In reaching his decision, Superintendent Kimball considered the public input of many that know Florida Bay extremely well, and additional site assessments conducted by park staff. The extension area will be open from July 15 through October 31, taking into account historic high summer water levels in the area.

According to Superintendent Kimball, “I'm a big believer in adaptive management and this project allows the park to try a new management approach and see how well it works.” Superintendent Kimball points to this modification to the Snake Bight Pole and Troll Zone as, “a great example of how knowledgeable park users and park managers can work together for the protection and enjoyment of Everglades National Park. I think a good outcome has been realized. We have been able to identify a way to provide additional access, while also ensuring that the natural and wilderness resources in the area remain protected. We look forward to getting feedback this summer on what visitors think about this change.”

The specific change is a seasonal extension of the idle-speed area in the Jimmy's Lake portion of the Snake Bight zone. The existing Jimmy's Lake area begins at Tin Can Channel and goes north for nearly 1 mile. With this seasonal change, the idle-speed extension area will continue north for an additional quarter mile, while maintaining the same 1000 foot width. The area will be delineated by signs at the end of the current northern boundary of Jimmy's Lake and three buoys at the end of the idle-speed extension area. The park received financial support for this project from the Herman Lucerne Memorial Foundation.

The Snake Bight Pole and Troll Zone, initially opened in January, 2011, was established to provide enhanced protection of Snake Bight's sensitive aquatic vegetation and wilderness resources, improve the quality of flats fishing, enhance paddling and wildlife viewing opportunities, and expand education on proper shallow water boating techniques. Funding for the implementation and scientific assessment of the project (which is ongoing) was provided by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Flamingo Friendly Fishing Tournament, the South Florida National Parks Trust, as well as the Herman Lucerne Memorial Foundation.

For more project information visit: http://www.nps.gov/ever/parkmgmt/poleandtroll.htm




GET THE NEWSLETTER Join the List and Never Miss a Thing.

Recommended Articles

Recent Videos

Adding a motor to your kayak offers incredible fishing utility, particularly when you need to traverse big bodies of wat...
Videos

Outboard Power and Kayaks

Adding a motor to your kayak offers incredible fishing utility, particularly when you need to traverse big bodies of wat...
Videos

Kaku Guru Trolling Motor Install

Adding a motor to your kayak offers incredible fishing utility, particularly when you need to traverse big bodies of wat...
Videos

Kaku Guru Fin Drive

Adding a motor to your kayak offers incredible fishing utility, particularly when you need to traverse big bodies of wat...
Videos

Check Out the New Old Town PDL/ePDL PRO

Adding a motor to your kayak offers incredible fishing utility, particularly when you need to traverse big bodies of wat...
Videos

Next Level With the Suspenz Catch-All Cart

Adding a motor to your kayak offers incredible fishing utility, particularly when you need to traverse big bodies of wat...
Gear

BoatWorks: Dusky Distinctives

Adding a motor to your kayak offers incredible fishing utility, particularly when you need to traverse big bodies of wat...
Gear

Reef Roundup

Adding a motor to your kayak offers incredible fishing utility, particularly when you need to traverse big bodies of wat...
Gear

Edge Quest

Adding a motor to your kayak offers incredible fishing utility, particularly when you need to traverse big bodies of wat...
Gear

Bait Stop

Adding a motor to your kayak offers incredible fishing utility, particularly when you need to traverse big bodies of wat...
Gear

Seakeeper Ride Demo

Adding a motor to your kayak offers incredible fishing utility, particularly when you need to traverse big bodies of wat...
Videos

Crescent Kayak's Fly-Weight Rigs & Ultra-Affordable Primo!

Adding a motor to your kayak offers incredible fishing utility, particularly when you need to traverse big bodies of wat...
Videos

Newport NK180PRO: Empower YOUR Fishing Utility!

Florida Sportsman Magazine Covers Print and Tablet Versions

GET THE MAGAZINE Subscribe & Save

Digital Now Included!

SUBSCRIBE NOW

Give a Gift   |   Subscriber Services

Preview This Month's Issue

Buy Digital Single Issues

Magazine App Logo

Don't miss an issue.
Buy single digital issue for your phone or tablet.

Get the Florida Sportsman App apple store google play store

Other Magazines

See All Other Magazines

Special Interest Magazines

See All Special Interest Magazines

GET THE NEWSLETTER Join the List and Never Miss a Thing.

Get the top Florida Sportsman stories delivered right to your inbox.

Phone Icon

Get Digital Access.

All Florida Sportsman subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets.

To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine.

Get Digital Access

Not a Subscriber?
Subscribe Now

Enjoying What You're Reading?

Get a Full Year
of Guns & Ammo
& Digital Access.

Offer only for new subscribers.

Subscribe Now

Never Miss a Thing.

Get the Newsletter

Get the top Florida Sportsman stories delivered right to your inbox.

By signing up, I acknowledge that my email address is valid, and have read and accept the Terms of Use