OKEECHOBEE — To improve fish and wildlife habitat quality, the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) plans to conduct prescribed fire across roughly 10,000 acres of Lake Okeechobee’s Moonshine Bay when weather permits between of Oct. 29 and Nov. 2.

The FWC manages Lake Okeechobee’s littoral zone marsh cooperatively with the United States Army Corps of Engineers, South Florida Water Management District and Audubon of Florida.

Application of prescribed fire is part of an integrated habitat management approach on Lake Okeechobee. Prescribed fire is a safe way to apply natural processes, ensure ecosystem health and reduce the threat of wildfire.

Ecologically responsible prescribed fires help improve habitat for fish, waterfowl, wading birds, the Everglades snail kite and other wildlife populations.

For public safety, during the time of fire, access to navigational trails through Moonshine Bay may be temporarily limited.

For information, contact FWC’s Okeechobee Field Office at 863-462-5190; or, visit the Lake Okeechobee Aquatic Plant Management Interagency Task Force Website at (http://www.floridainvasives.org/Okeechobee/index.cfm).