A 10-year plan for the Lake Stone Fish Management Area will be presented at a public hearing in Pensacola on Thursday, March 28. People are invited to the 7 p.m. public hearing at the Ernie Lee Magaha Governmental Complex, Board of County Commissioner Chambers, 221 Palafox Place.

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) staff will present the draft land management plan for the Lake Stone Fish Management Area, and attendees will be encouraged to provide comments and ask questions. For more information on the upcoming local public hearing, go to MyFWC.com/Conservation and select “Terrestrial Programs” then “Management Plans.”

The Lake Stone FMA, in northeast Escambia County just west of the town of Century, is managed through a cooperative agreement between the FWC and Escambia County to conserve natural communities and use lake management techniques to maintain healthy fish habitats. The FMA features a man-made lake stocked with largemouth bass, bluegill, redear sunfish, black crappie and channel catfish. The impoundment, managed and maintained by FWC, was constructed in the late 1960s to provide additional freshwater fishing opportunities in an area where these opportunities are limited.

Escambia County maintains public camping facilities and a fishing pier, along with roads, trails and parking facilities in the area. In addition to fishing opportunities, the FMA provides recreational opportunities such as wildlife viewing, hiking, paddling and camping. Gasoline boat motors are prohibited from use on Lake Stone; however, the use of electric trolling motors is allowed.

“This draft management plan provides conservation-based management for healthy terrestrial and aquatic habitats, cultural resources, along with fish- and wildlife-based outdoor recreation opportunities for public use,” said Dylan Imlah, FWC land conservation planner.

All lands purchased with public funds must have a management plan that ensures the property will be managed in a manner that is consistent with the intended purposes of the purchase.

Hunting and fishing regulations are not included in this plan or meeting; those will be addressed through a separate public process.

To obtain a copy of the land management prospectus for Lake Stone FMA, call Dylan Imlah at 850-487-9102 or email Dylan.Imlah@MyFWC.com.

For more information on management plans and their goals, visit MyFWC.com/Conservation and select “Terrestrial Conservation Programs” then “Management Plans.”

For more on the Lake Stone FMA, go to MyFWC.com and select “Wildlife Viewing” then “Wildlife Management Areas.”

Find out more about Fish Management Areas around the state at MyFWC.com/Fishing, where you can click on “Freshwater Fishing Sites/Forecast.”

Contact: Diane.Hirth@MyFWC.com, 850-251-2130; Rebekah.Nelson@MyFWC.com, 850-767-3619