Jun 23, 2005
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Karen Forsyth, County Lands Division
479-8506 
COUNTY CLOSES ON 60-ACRE CONSERVATION 20/20 SITE
FORT MYERS, Fla. (June 23, 2005) - Lee County's Conservation 20/20 Program has closed on a 60-acre site in southeastern Lee County contiguous to Imperial Marsh Preserve.
The parcel is located on State Road 82 at the south end of Homestead Road in Lehigh Acres and has mature flatwoods and cypress wetlands (see attached picture of a pond on the site).
The county purchased the property from Alan J. Baum, trustee, for $681,500.
With this latest purchase, the county now has 11,490 acres it has purchased and set aside for long-term preservation through the Conservation 20/20 Program.
Lee County Parks & Recreation is continuing to develop management plans for the preserves. At Tuesday's (June 28) County Commission meeting, commissioners are being asked to approve the two latest Land Stewardship Plans for Wild Turkey Strand Preserve (2,629 acres) and Deep Lagoon Preserve (383 acres).
Commissioners also will be asked to approve two new park ranger positions to patrol Conservation 20/20 preserves.
Lee County's Conservation 20/20 Program is funded through a property tax of 50 cents for every $1,000 of taxable property value. Conservation 20/20 is a willing seller program to acquire and manage land critical to help sustain: 1) water supply and water quality; 2) flood protection; 3) wildlife habitat; and 4) passive recreation. It is overseen by Lee County taxpayers through the Conservation Lands Acquisition and Stewardship Advisory Committee (CLASAC or Conservation 20/20 Advisory Committee), with the help of the Board of Lee County Commissioners and county government staff.