Environmental Management Preserves

Preserves The Environmental Lands Division (ELD) manages the County's wild lands using sound land management practices that promote the health and quality of ecosystems native to the County. Management practices focus on maintaining the natural biological diversity while protecting locally rare and historically indigenous species. The ELD also provides opportunities for the public to appreciate these wild lands for their intrinsic value. Many of the Division's projects, such as exotic species control and ecological restoration, are funded by the Penny for Pinellas.
Preserves are ecologically diverse properties with well-defined, resource-based public recreational amenities. Management, education, and outreach efforts associated with each preserve are guided by a 5- to 10-year management plan. Each plan is developed by ELD staff with input from other professionals, collaborators and citizens. The plan is implemented upon approval by the Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners and, in some cases, other governmental agencies. Currently, the ELD manages four (4) preserves in Pinellas County.
Brooker Creek Preserve Mobbly Bayou Preserve Shell Key Preserve Weedon Island Preserve
Award-winning education centers are nested within Brooker Creek and Weedon Island Preserves. Activities and programs at the Brooker Creek Preserve Environmental Education Center encourage visitors to experience, discover and understand the Preserve's role in the Brooker Creek watershed. Educational programming at the Weedon Island Preserve Cultural and Natural History Center interprets the natural ecosystems found at the Preserve and the indigenous peoples historically supported by these systems. Both Centers offer interactive hikes, interpretive trails, workshops and presentations, classroom laboratories, resource centers, engaging exhibit galleries, and gift shops. The resource-based public recreational activities on ELD-managed preserves are governed by the Preserve Ordinance 08-29. The ELD also manages 15 smaller, environmentally sensitive areas called Management Areas. Click here to learn more about these lands. For more information, please contact us at: (727) 453-6900 ELD@pinellascounty.org
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