Wildlife-Centered Recreation Thoughts

9/16/2022

Recently, Friends learned of an opportunity to apply for a $15,000 grant to improve access to recreational activities at the Refuges.

National Wildlife Refuges, such as our Lower Suwannee and Cedar Keys Refuges, are established primarily to conserve fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats. In conserving the wildlife and their needed habitat, the refuges also provide wildlife-centered recreational opportunities, such as hiking, cycling, bird-watching, butterfly-watching, photography, kayaking, hunting and fishing.

We are brainstorming ideas for projects we might propose that would increase access to our wildlife-centered recreational activities without creating more work for the refuge staff. We need them to manage the habitat and wildlife, not our recreation. Any cool ideas? Email friends@friendsofrefuges.org, or leave a comment.

Picture of visitors on the Shell Mound pier

Bird-watching at Shell Mound pier.

Picture of hiker crossing a stream on a rope bridge

Hiking on the Refuge

Kayaking Cedar Keys NWR.

2 Comments

Russ

9/19/2022 08:53:07 am

A great way to improve access to the refuge would be to ensure that the heavily visited parts have full cellphone coverage. That would enable greater use of the online maps and brochures and future interactive features. Of course it would also be an important contribution to safety and might reassure visitors disinclined to wander too far off the grid. Not sure of the technology or costs and whether signals, extenders, repeaters, boosters, or some other devices would be needed. Maybe an antenna somewhere along HWY 347 would do it.

Debbie Meeks

9/19/2022 12:09:06 pm

Better cell service would be a great improvement for the refuge. Unfortunately the large size and lack of funds make it impractical for either the Friends or the refuge to provide it. I keep hearing rumors about new cell towers in the area so we can lobby and advocate cell providers for them.

Wildlife-Centered Recreation Thoughts

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