Jun 12, 2007

PRESS RELEASE

June 12, 2007 

Lee County purchased today through the Conservation 20/20 Program a 110-acre parcel on Pine Island. This acquisition brings the total lands acquired through the Conservation 20/20 Program to over 18,000 acres. This property is located northeast of Stringfellow Road approximately mile east of Harbor Drive adjacent to Smokehouse Bay on Pine Island in Section 33, Township 43 Range 22.  Big Smokehouse Key, an 82-acre island owned by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service lays directly to the east of this preserve. 

About half of the property was used an ornamental tree farm that was badly damaged in 2004 by hurricane Charley. The County will restore the farm back to its original native pinelands. The remainder has healthy salt flats and mangrove wetlands. The salt flats and mangroves are important resting areas for migratory shorebirds. The mangrove wetlands also act as nursery areas for fish and invertebrates. Other environmental benefits of the property include local drainage and coastal flood protection, water quality improvement, and storm protection.  The County will develop a management plan with community assistance that will explore appropriate uses for the preserve, which may include horseback riding, hiking, picnicking and perhaps as a kayak launch site. 

The owners wanted $2,725,000 for the property, but the Division of County Lands, the agency which negotiates land purchases for the County, was able to acquire the property for $1,345,000. The Calusa Land Trust and Nature Preserve of Pine Island, Inc. (CLT) donated $5,000.00 towards the purchase of this property has offered to assist the County with the management of the property. 

The Conservation 20/20 program buys environmentally important lands for preservation. It's funded by a property tax, which was approved by referendum in 1996.  It is 50 cents for every $1,000 of taxable property value. Since the first purchase in 1997, the county has bought 18,095 acres.

Printable Version