Balm Boyette Scrub Preserve Land Management and Land Use Plan
Balm Boyette Scrub Preserve Land Management and Land Use Plan
Welcome to the Hillsborough County Conservation & Environmental Lands Management public engagement opportunity for the Balm Boyette Scrub Preserve Land Management and Land Use Plan. This virtual engagement is offered as an option for residents who cannot attend an in-person meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday, June 24, at Riverview Public Library, 9951 Balm Riverview Rd., Riverview, FL 33569. This opportunity will remain open from May 24 to June 24, 2025.
The management plan is comprised of several sections, each addressing strategies to keep the preserve thriving and healthy for decades to come. This is your opportunity to review the plan and provide comments.
Introduction
The management plan for Balm Boyette Scrub Preserve (BBS) is updated every 10 years. Each time the plan is updated, the public is invited to review and comment on the management of natural habitats and recreational resources on the preserve. The current draft was shared with an advisory group of environmental professionals who also provided comments.
Background
The 4,870-acre tract known as the Balm-Boyette Scrub Preserve is within the Alafia River watershed of south-central Hillsborough County, approximately 5 miles southeast of Riverview. It was purchased between 1992 and 2005 through Hillsborough County’s Jan K. Platt Environmental Lands Acquisition and Protection Program (ELAPP). It is under two ownerships: Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) owns 3,595 acres and Hillsborough County owns the easternmost 1,275 acres.
The 11 habitats within BBS are a representative example of the matrix of xeric, mesic, and hydric habitats once found throughout the central region of peninsular Florida. Among these 11 habitats are some of the largest intact and contiguous patches of scrub and scrubby flatwoods remaining in Hillsborough County. Most of these natural communities are relatively undisturbed and support a diverse array of native plant and animal species.
In addition to its conservation value, BBS also has been utilized for several non-destructive and low-impact purposes. Given its size and diversity of habitats, BBS also serves as an outdoor classroom to educate people about Florida’s unique species and habitats, ecology, and the challenge of managing nature preserves in a rapidly urbanizing environment. From the standpoint of recreation, BBS offers opportunities for hiking and viewing some of Florida’s wildlife and habitats. Trail bike riding also is available on the site, but this is limited to the eastern portion of the preserve previously subjected to surface mining.
View the Balm Boyette Scrub Land Management Plan Update Draft
Once you click the link, you will be directed to an external website called Mediaweb.Hillsboroughcounty.org. This is a safe site to navigate and review the proposed plan.