CONSERVATION 20/20

OVERVIEW

Cathy Olson, Conservation Lands Manager

Lee County

Department of Parks and Recreation

• Lee County’s current environmentally sensitive land acquisition and management program • Willing seller program (no eminent domain) • Land evaluated according to its significance for water resources, wildlife habitat and public access

• Land purchased based on appraisals

What is Conservation 20/20?

Goals for the C20/20 Program

• Protect and enhance hydrologic features (natural floodplains, marshes and estuaries, surface water management and water supply)

• Restoration of altered ecosystems

• Wildlife management

• Nature-based recreational opportunities

• 1995: Grassroots group of concerned citizens formed

• 1996: Program established through referendum • Program name represents a vision for the future of Lee County balanced between growth and conservation • 2015: Program updates

• provides for targeted acquisition • adjusts the funding mechanism • provides safeguards for the program

Conservation 20/20 history

C20/20 Ordinances and Resolutions

• Ord 96-12: Established the CLASAC and procedures for implementing the program

• Ord 05-17: Amended and restated 96-12

• Ord 13-09: Amended 05-17 based on recommendations

from the Blue Ribbon Committee

• 6 additional resolutions amending the acquisition process and criteria occurred in 1997, 2001, 2004, 2006 and 2007

2015 Revisions

• Changed funding from millage based program to one funded directly by the general fund

• Added language to protect the fund

• Added language so that the acquisition fund will be no less than $40 million and no more than $100 million

• Allowed the use of TDRs

• Allows C20/20 funding to purchase land used solely for water quality and storage projects but non-C20/20 funds for construction and maintenance

2015 Revisions

• Management and restoration is based on a 5 year plan (Capital Improvement Plan)

• Changed annual reporting format

• Changes to the ordinance require a super-majority vote of the BoCC

DO YOU APPROVE OF LEE COUNTY CONTINUING TO USE GENERAL REVENUE FUNDS TO ACQUIRE, RESTORE, IMPROVE, AND MANAGE LAND FOR CONSERVATION, SURFACE WATER MANAGEMENT, WATER QUALITY, WATER RECHARGE AND SUPPLY, FLOOD CONTROL, WILDLIFE HABITAT, PASSIVE PUBLIC RECREATION, AND OPEN SPACE PURPOSES, PURSUANT TO LEE COUNTY ORDINANCE 15-08 (COMMONLY KNOWN AS THE LEE COUNTY CONSERVATION 20/20 LAND PROGRAM)? YES-For NO-Against

Referendum ballot language

Conservation 20/20 Current Holdings

• 44 Preserves totaling ~24,931 acres • 123 separate acquisitions

• Range in size from 1 acre – 5,620 acres

• Uplands: 51%; Wetlands: 49%

Conservation 20/20 Connection

Land acquisitions have expanded the size of regional conservation areas:

• Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge • Corkscrew Regional Ecosystem Watershed • Yucca Pens Unit of Cecil B. Webb WMA • Charlotte Harbor Preserve State Park • Koreshan State Park • Babcock Ranch Preserve • Harns Marsh

Land acquisitions have expanded the size of these County conservation areas: • Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve • Matanzas Pass Preserve • Hickey Creek Mitigation Park • San Carlos Bay – Bunche Beach Preserve

Conservation 20/20 Connection

Management Plans

• Each preserve has a land management plan

- inventories the flora and fauna

- provides a guide for restoration and management

- identifies appropriate public use based on protecting the natural systems on site

- identifies costs and potential partners

• Reduces amount of flow into receiving water bodies • Sediments and nutrients settle (assists county in reaching TMDL goals) • Reduces flooding for neighbors and helps with FEMA flood rate • Important to improve ecosystem and wildlife habitat • Increases groundwater recharge • Many projects funded through grants awarded

Hydrological Restoration

Grant Funded Hydrological Restoration Projects

Examples:

• Yucca Pens

• Smokehouse Bay

• Caloosahatchee Creeks

• Six Mile Cypress North

Grant Funded Hydrological Restoration Projects

• Yucca Pens 2010: Ditch blocks to help remediate manmade flowways and rehydrate drained wetlands

Grant Funded Hydrological Restoration Projects

• Smokehouse Bay 2013: Filling manmade ditches to rehydrate salt marshes

Grant Funded Hydrological Restoration Projects

• Caloosahatchee Creeks 2016: Rehydration of wetlands

Hydrological Restoration and BMAP

C20/20 lands accounted for 63% of the projects submitted for the 3 BMAPs

37% of the pollution load reduction credit was

supported on C20/20 land ($11.5 million estimate for TN removal).

Filter Marsh Partner projects

• Billy Creek Preserve: – C20/20 purchased the land for the filter marsh – The City of Fort Myers built and operates it

• Powell Creek Filter Marsh:

– C20/20 purchased the land and maintains the natural areas and recreational areas of the preserve

– Natural Resources Division built the filter marsh in a disturbed area and operates the filter marsh

Basic Management Obligations

• Installation of fences and boundary signs

• Installation and maintenance of fire lines

• Prescribed burning

• Exotic plant control

• Care of public amenities

Pre and Post invasive exotic plant treatment

Pop Ash Creek Preserve

Pre and post melaleuca treatment

Pine Island Flatwoods

Benefits of Restoration of Altered Ecosystems

• Enhances natural processes and natural communities

(hydrological, prescribed fire, etc)

• Enhances wildlife habitat

• Enhances public use and enjoyment

• Reduces risk of wildfire

Wildlife Management

• Provides habitat for state and federally protected wildlife and more common wildlife

• Provides areas for listed species mitigation

requirements for public projects (gopher tortoise, wood stork, Florida panther, Florida Scrub-jay, etc…)

Listed Species Mitigation

Imperial Marsh (panthers) $300,000 in costs; $850,000 in benefit

Gator Hole (gopher tortoise) $100,000

Alva Scrub (Florida Scrub-jay) $800,000 estimated costs; $7,200,000 benefit

Wetland & Wood Stork Mitigation

Estero Marsh Preserve $3 million spent in permitting, restoration, maintenance

and monitoring $7 million savings in mitigation for Lee County

capital projects (Three Oaks Parkway etc.)

Wild Turkey Strand Preserve $6-8 million estimate for permitting, restoration,

maintenance and monitoring $14 million estimated savings in mitigation for Lee County

capital projects

Nature Based Recreation

• Hiking • Bird watching • Horseback riding • Geocaching • Photography • Fishing • Canoe and kayaking • Picnicking • Llama walking • Feral hog hunting

Uses coming soon: • Mountain biking • Primitive camping

Preserves with Public Access

30 of the 44 preserves currently have public access opportunities

Preserves with Public Access

Preserves with Public Access in Design, Permitting

or Construction Process

Alva Scrub, Six Mile Cypress North, and West Marsh Preserves

Guided nature walks

• Led by trained volunteers • Free • Hosted year-round • Learn about plants, wildlife, water and conservation • Pick up a schedule or view calendar online

• Opportunities for individuals and small or large groups • Work days accompanied by staff • Record wildlife sightings - Lee County Bird Patrol • Trash collection and removal • Exotic plant control • Lead a guided nature walk

Volunteer Opportunities

Website: www.Conservation2020.org

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