ATV Florida Forum

News Releases : September
 
News Release
HIGH WATER LEVEL PROMPTS CLOSURE OF WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREA

September 20, 2006
CONTACT: Dani Moschella, (561) 625-5132

Due to an inordinately high water level associated with recent rainfall, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has closed the Everglades and Francis S. Taylor Wildlife Management Area to the public. The high water level has jeopardized wildlife, particularly deer, in the area, which includes parts of Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade counties

FWC Executive Director Ken Haddad signed an executive order Sept. 18, which takes effect at midnight Sept. 25 and will remain in effect until rescinded by subsequent order.

These special regulations prohibit:

taking game other than fish and alligators

use of vehicles, airboats, ATVs and other public access, except by special access permit and in Conservation Area 2 from the L-35B levee north to the east-west airboat trail

This order does not apply to:

persons permitted to participate in the statewide alligator egg collections or alligator hunts

persons operating boats (other than airboats) within the established canal systems or within 1 mile of those canals in adjacent marshes of the Everglades and Francis S. Taylor WMA.

Persons participating in the statewide alligator egg collections or alligator hunts must maintain a minimum distance of 100 yards from any tree island and the L-5 South and L-4 South levees when operating a vessel or airboat to minimize disturbance to upland wildlife jeopardized by high water conditions.

The South Florida Water Management District will cease maintenance of the grass on the L-4, L-5 and L-6 levees to avoid jeopardizing wildlife.

To report a violation of this order, any wildlife violations, or a boating emergency, call the toll-free Wildlife Alert Hotline at (888) 404-3922.
 
 
 

Does it specifically state no ATVs or vehicles are allowed on L5? I've emailed FWC with the question asking if we still have access to Holeylands.

Not sure as to the specifics regarding L5 .
 I remember the high water we had in 1995 when L5 was closed to the public at the farms entrance .Only water management and law enforcement was allowed past that point goin west.
Dont know the length of time that was it closed.

Lets us know what you hear.

wait so holylands close? i was gonna ride the leeve tomrow can some please help me out befoe i drive there

yes this means no atvs no airboats no buggys  becuse the water gets  to high for the deer and other wild life  and somthing about causing stress on the wild life  and that would harm them

Read the post ,
The closure takes effect sept 25th at midnight , you can ride this weekend.
Have fun .

ok sry bout that  :-[

Even if that's not in effect, because of hunting you're not allowed in besides for riding the levy, or maybe I'm wrong..

untill oct 2nd i belive uc an go out off the levey but i just wanna place to ride and ridding the levy pretty fun going out there

Oops.

Yes, despite the closure of Everglades/Taylor WMA(south side of levee), you can still ride ATVs on the Holeyland side(north side of levee). You can legally ride between the hunting seasons(which are each separated by about 10 days) and after. The dates for the hunting seasons are listed here;
http://myfwc.com/hunting/wma/2006-07/South/HOLEY_LAND.pdf

It's pretty flooded now, but, by the end of the last hunting season(General Gun) November 19th it should be dry enough.

awsome hopefully by thenw e can get a big group ride out there

Well thats the better side anyway!