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126-Acre Island is Lee's Most Recent Concervation 20/20 Buy
Dec 12, 2006 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Karen Forsyth, County Lands Division, 126-ACRE ISLAND IS LEE'S MOST RECENT CONSERVATION 20/20 BUY FORT MYERS, Fla. (December 12, 2006) – The Board of Lee County Commissioners today approved the purchase of a 126-acre island in Charlotte Harbor through the Conservation 20/20 program – bringing program acreage purchased to-date to 17,986. The $2.5-million purchase is for that portion of Cayo Pelau Island which lies in Lee County. The island, consisting of about 116 acres of wetland mangroves, and 10 acres of uplands, lies a short distance to the west of Bull Bay in Charlotte Harbor, near Gasparilla Sound. Cayo Pelau contains a very high diversity of native plant communities, including rare tropical hardwood hammocks and three sandy beaches. The mangroves provide critical shoreline storm protection and water quality benefits for the surrounding region. The island provides suitable foraging and nesting habitat for a variety of avian species as well as nesting habitat for the listed wading birds common to southwest Florida. The island has long been associated with tales of buried pirate treasure. In truth, the island was home to prehistoric Native Americans, Cuban fishermen, and Columbus B. McCloud, a 19th century Audubon warden. Cayo Pelau clearly contains extensive and important archaeological deposits throughout the property, for which careful studied and protection is required. Considerable support for Lee County's acquisition of the property has been demonstrated through numerous letters, phone calls to staff, and attendance at public meetings. In fact, the Gasparilla Island Conservation and Improvement Association, Inc. has pledged $10,000 and the Calusa Land Trust and Nature Preserve of Pine Island, Inc., has pledged $20,000 toward the purchase price of the property. The Board of Commissioners' citizens' advisory committee, CLASAC, voted unanimously to pursue the property for acquisition. The Seller's original asking price was $6.8 million. However, through detailed and lengthy negotiations with the Division of County Lands Staff, the seller has agreed to sell the property for $2.5 million. Closing is expected to occur within the following 90 days. 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.
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