Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officials are seeking comments on the 10-year management plan for Platt Branch Wildlife and Environmental Area at a public hearing in Highlands County on July 29.
The hearing will be held at 6 p.m. at the Town of Lake Placid Community Room 1069 US Highway 27 N.
Platt Branch is a 1,982-acre site located south of Lake Placid within a rural landscape of ranchlands, citrus groves, conservation lands, and the southern Lake Wales Ridge. The property borders the northern edge of the Fisheating Creek Wildlife Management Area
The area protects key depressional wetlands that drain into Platt Branch and Fisheating Creek, the only free-flowing tributary to Lake Okeechobee, and serves as an important link in South Florida’s regional wildlife corridor.
Additionally, Platt Branch WEA contains diverse natural communities that include scrub, hammocks, flatwoods, marshes and swamps. This habitat diversity supports a wide range of resident and migratory bird species, offering excellent opportunities for birding and wildlife watching.
Species observed here have included Red-cockaded Woodpeckers, Florida black bear, Florida panther, Red-headed Woodpeckers and Lopsided Indian Grass.
Pursuant to Chapters 253 and 259, Florida Statutes, all lands purchased with public funds must have a Land Management Plan that ensures the property will be managed in a manner that is consistent with the intended purposes of the purchase.

This weekend (July 3-5) admission will be free to state parks in the area in commemoration of the 250th anniversary of the nation’s founding.
Yeah, it’s hot, and yeah, it might rain, but the weekend offers a great time to observe wildlife and wildflowers in bloom and to simply get outdoors on your own or with friends and family,
Just remember to come early and bring water and wear comfortable clothes and you’ll be fine.
This part of Florida offers a variety of state park experiences and natural habitats to explore.
Here is a summary.
Lake Kissimmee State Park on Camp Mack Road east of Lake Wales is the oldest state park in Polk County, opening in 1977, a year after America’s Bicentennial. It offers miles of hiking trails, a boat ramp, picnicking facilities and a 19th century cow camp. Its staff also administers Allen David Broussard Catfish Creek State Park off Firetower Road near Poinciana. It offers a network of hiking trails–some of them quite challenging–and a good opportunity to see unusual wildlife such as Florida scrub jays
Highlands Hammock State Park inn Sebring is one of Florida’s oldest state parks It was developed by the Civilian Conservation Corps during the Depression in the 1930s. It offers a scenic boardwalk, hiking trails and picnic facilities.
Colt Creek State Park on State Road 471 north of Lakeland offers a variety of trails for nature observation and photography picnic areas and fishing pier and canoe/kayak launch on a reclaimed rock pit.
Lake Louisa State Park off U.S. 27 south of Clermont offers hiking and nature photography on a section of the Lake Wales Ridge.
Payne Creek Historic State Park outside of Bowling Green in northern Hardee County offers hiking trails, historic exhibits and canoeing, kayaking and fishing along a tributary of the Peace River, though water levels may be a little low for navigation at the moment because of the drought.
If you would like to travel farther afield to explore Florida’s award-winning state park system, go to https://www.floridastateparks.org/ to plan your adventure.