FNCC TACKLES TRAIL DEBRIS, SMILAX

February 29, 2020

In keeping with its mission ...acquiring (and caring for) land in trust for preservation, conservation, or public recreation, Florida’s Nature Coast Conservancy members hit the Cedar Key Railroad Trestle Trail on Thursday, February 27, 2020, from 9 to 10:30 am on Kiss-Me-Quick.

The Trail, though largely clean of food packaging, Styrofoam, and soda cans, nevertheless needed attention. Recent storms and wind resulted in downed limbs, fronds, and the like; recent warm days resulted in the proliferation if the ever-present smilax.  

So, care for the Trail, they did! Jerry Salamon, armed with chain saw, made quick work of a downed tree at the Trail’s head and more downed limbs further down the Trail. Jennifer Webb tackled smilax and smaller limbs, freeing up the yaupon hollies, small oaks, and palmettos underneath to the fresh air and sun. Hugh Horton annihilated more smilax than Karen Falat and Mandy Offerle could tote to the Trail head; the two could barely match his pace. Carol Wilcox cut, pulled, yanked, and toted, greatly enhancing the size of the Waste Pro debris piles at the gate.

The Cedar Key Railroad Trestle Trail marks a part of the route of the first train arriving in Cedar Key in 1861 and the last train departing on July 7, 1932. Integral to Cedar Key’s history, more information on the Trestle Trail may be found on the flier at the Trail’s head, at the Cedar Key Historical Society Museum at 7070 D Street, and at the Cedar Key State Museum at 122 31 SW 166th Court in Cedar Key.

The next scheduled clean up is March 26, 2020.

Pictures courtesy of Karen Falat.   The first pictures Offerle, Webb, Salamon, Wilcox, Falat; the second Horton.

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