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Conservation 20/20 Approaches 18,000 Acres Preserved
Dec 6, 2006 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Karen Forsyth, County Lands Division CONSERVATION 20/20 APPROACHES 18,000-ACRES PRESERVED FORT MYERS, Fla. (December 6, 2006) – The Board of County Commissioners approved a 404-acre Conservation 20/20 purchase Tuesday – bringing the total acreage preserved since the program's inception in 1996 to 17,835. The $5.9-million parcel is located east of I-75 about one mile north of Corkscrew Road and three miles south of State Road 82. The sellers are Sam Galloway Sr. and Joseph Mazzola as co-trustees. Also Tuesday, the County Commission approved the Conservation 20/20 "Leave a Legacy" program, which provides an incentive through a recognition program to owners of exceptional conservation lands to become willing sellers to the program. The "Leave a Legacy" program allows preserves of more than 100 acres and that receive a minimum score on reviews to be named by the sellers of the property. 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. The program generates $43 million annually. |