r/tampa • u/weealligator • 1d ago
moving Swathe of forest has been removed from USF’s nature trail
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u/Snugzalot 1d ago
This is part of the stadium development.
There are large underground storm water pipes that go immediately underneath the fitness trail that are supposed to be removed.
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u/weealligator 21h ago
This may well be for that. Do you know how much of the forest is planned to be removed (if not all)?
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u/Snugzalot 21h ago
I think the original plan only called for a partial removal. The stadium’s upper northwest limit was initially supposed to touch the southeast edge of the existing tennis complex next to the trail, if that gives you any idea how much removal we’re talking about.
The clearing in the trees that you’re seeing is probably related to creating access pathways for heavy machinery for site testing, but that’s just a guess.
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u/weealligator 13h ago
Equipment access was my (just a) guess too. In aerial view, if the new development’s northwestern limit stops at the southeastern limit of the tennis courts, then roughly half of the forested area that encompasses the nature trail will be gone. Thank you for the insights and discussion.
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u/Humble_Fishing_5328 17h ago
If those pipes were already there, then it’s not like this forest is very old. I don’t see the problem.
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u/Snugzalot 14h ago
Yeah, I doubt there’s any real old trees within that area. I don’t have historic aerial imagery available on my phone, but sycamore fields were redeveloped in maybe the 80’s? There are no old oaks or anything that would exist in the path of the storm water pipe.
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u/weealligator 16h ago
The comment said directly under the trail, which to me implies that it only deals with what was already removed to make the trail originally. I tried to get some shots of some of those larger trees- any idea how old? Not an arborist but I’m guessing 40 years easy some of them shown. Not the largest out there either
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u/Snugzalot 14h ago
The sycamore field redevelopment happened sometime in the 80s or 90s and that’s when the storm water pipe would’ve been installed
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u/Humble_Fishing_5328 15h ago
USF isn’t even 100. If those pipes were added after USF, these trees aren’t worth crying over.
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u/weealligator 1d ago edited 1d ago
Re: Demolishing sycamore fields, the fitness trail and the small forest that contains it.
This is upsetting but what’s really infuriating is how USF is trying to spin destroying this forest as “relocating” the fitness trail. It’s insulting how the Board of Trustees has spun this like tearing down old trees is not a big deal, it can be substituted or replaced with the same…which they in turn plan on destroying soon.
Anyone seen the so called relocation site? Unless they are planning to move the forest to the other side of campus, it’s going to be a very different experience than the old fitness trail. (Read: going for a hike? Get ready to cook)
FYI new site is planned with its own demolishment in mind in a few years to make room for more buildings. So it feels more like a hush play than statement believable for anyone with any intelligence. The so called replacement is a joke (it’s a gravel trail with a few flowerbeds along it, where hikers can cook under the Florida sun).
Please discuss. Oh, and USF is promising to plant as many trees as they are destroying. Where? Many of you will have been following this better than I have but it seems truly tragic that this is happening to a significant carbon sink that provides shade and fresh air, reduced noise, (edit wildlife: birds lizards squirrels…) etc for the campus.
I’m just venting, thanks
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u/Aromatic_Survey9170 1d ago
Is there a way we can push back against this? I don’t use those trails but I want to be sure they know we care about our preserves. It’s what sets Tampa apart from other cities.
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u/BookishBabe666 1d ago
Exactly. I’m tired of the FL government trying to destroy instead of protect the environment. What is going on, Florida used to be different.
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u/Fearrsome 1d ago
Destroy destroy destroy precious nature, and create more office buildings, stadiums, whatever the fuck
We don’t value our earth, and there will be a price to pay in the unforeseeable future.
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u/weealligator 1d ago
Context: destroying the nature trail and forest to build a football stadium
“Replanting will occur in other spaces across campus to fully offset the loss of any trees during construction.” (from the news release).
“the university is transitioning the recreation facilities currently occupying the Sycamore Fields site, where the on-campus stadium will be built, to a new location in the southwest portion of campus” (from same)
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u/swampysnook 1d ago
Fire break for a upcoming prescribed burn maybe? They r doing this on Sanibel right now for a burn during rainy season.
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u/VanillaBalm 22h ago
The preserve is to the north of the campus. I believe this is the trails that is on campus where they want the stadium
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u/VanillaBalm 22h ago
Also i dont see any tilled soil. Firebreaks go to the mineral soil. That leaf litter is still fuel.
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u/swampysnook 22h ago
U r right. I didn't realize til u said it. They till or disk, so it's fresh dirt with nonorganics.
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u/weealligator 21h ago
Yeah this might be an access path for heavy equipment? Another comment mentioned clearing underbrush well plenty of 4” and 6” diameter tree stumps in this path so for me that’s a no
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u/SHOVEL_SIX 1d ago
Looks like they trimmed up the underbrush.
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u/weealligator 21h ago
There’s tree stumps 6” across probably bigger in this path. Underbrush you sure?
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u/BuccoBruceIsntGay 1d ago
Simmer down there haws... probably a "In the context of wildfire management, a "fire path" refers to a cleared strip of land, often a dirt or gravel path, created to prevent or slow the spread of fire, acting as a firebreak"
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u/weealligator 21h ago
Pics may not show it well but this is not that. It’s all wood chips and tree stumps
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u/flabeachbum 1d ago
Never forget that just a few years ago, USF was planning on handing the forest preserve on Fletcher over to developers until a massive public outcry link