The first pole-and-troll zone proposed for Florida Bay waters of Everglades National Park will be explained in public-comment sessions Nov. 9 and 10.</p><p>A draft plan from Everglades staff recommends establishing the zone in Snake Bight, east of the mainland Flamingo visitor center.</p><p>"The new zone would remain open to the public, but combustion-motor use would not be allowed," according to a park statement. "Inside the zone, boats would only be permitted to use push poles, paddles or electric trolling motors."</p><p>Park staff heeded advice from local anglers and conservation groups to designate an area as a prototype for similar areas that could be designated pole-and-troll to safeguard shallow seagrass flats from propeller damage, Superintendent Dan Kimball said.</p><p>"The park is now pursuing this idea," Kimball said. "Over the summer, my staff and I visited several pole-and-troll zones in Florida to learn firsthand about implementation and management options."</p><p>If successful, the pole-and-troll concept could be expanded to other flats that generally have a low-tide depth below 2 feet as part of a new management plan.</p><p>Snake Bight and the adjacent Garfield Bight were the primary sites suggested as potential test areas by guides, anglers and conservationists who are tracking the park's Florida Bay review.</p><p>Park staff also considered two bay sites much closer to the Keys, at Peterson Key Bank and Shell Key Bank, but concluded "Snake Bight ... best met the project objectives and ranked highest among the four sites."</p><p>Snake Bight is easily monitored from Flamingo, and offers boat access through Tin Can Channel and Snake Bight Channel. As proposed, boats could travel at idle speed through the Jimmie's Lake section of Snake Bight.</p><p>The decision is enact the zone at Snake Bight is not final. Comments will be taken by mail and e-mail through Nov. 30, and at the two public hearings:</p><p><li> 6 to 7:30 p.m. Nov. 9 at the Campbell Agricultural Center, 18710 SW 288th St., Homestead.</p><p><li> 6 to 7:30 p.m. Nov. 10 at the Key Largo Holiday Inn, mile marker 99.7.</p><p>For a slide show about the project, go to Everglades National Park's Web site, <a href=”http://”target=” www.nps.gov/ever”> www.nps.gov/ever </a>. See the homepage link to "Everglades National Park Planning -- Proposed Florida Bay Pole and Troll Zone."