Potential 20/20 Land Purchase Moves Forward
On Wednesday, July 16, Greater Pine Island Civic Association President Chris Blum attended the Lee County Conservation Lands Acquisition and Stewardship Advisory Committee (CLASAC) meeting to speak in support of the protection of one of the last large parcels of native vegetation on the island. We’re happy to report that CLASAC unanimously recommended the purchase move forward!
CLASAC is the committee that reviews land purchases as part of Lee County’s Conservation 20/20 program. This land acquisition and stewardship program was established in 1996 through voter referendum to protect natural areas in Lee County; CLASAC recommends lands for purchase to the Lee County Board of Commissioners.
Thanks to the work of the Calusa Land Trust, the committee recommended the purchase of four Pine Island properties totaling 57.9 acres — it’s one of the last large parcels of native Pine Island landscape on the island. The proposed purchase now goes before the Lee County Commission (date not yet set). If Commissioners approve, county staff will begin purchase negotiations.
The properties, at and adjacent to 9901 Stringfellow Road, SJC, include old growth, native slash and longleaf pines, palmettos, native netted pawpaw shrubs and other native species. It is also home to at least four gopher tortoise nests and two bald eagle nests.
By purchasing the property, not only would the county protect it from future development, it would also help extend the impact of the nearby Buttonwood Preserve — purchased by Conservation 20/20 in 2012 — and other lands that are part of Charlotte Harbor State Park owned by the state of Florida. The purchase of the properties also have water quality benefits, as they are adjacent to waters currently identified as impaired and exceeding total maximum daily loads for nutrients. Keeping the parcels as native habitat will help to keep additional excess nutrients from entering Pine Island Sound.
Once cleared, this native habitat would be gone for good — another slice of paradise lost!
For these reasons, in addition to attending the meeting and speaking in support of the land purchase, the GPICA Board has voted to donate $1,000 to the purchase or future maintenance of the property to help show the community’s support.
Special thanks from our community go to the Calusa Land Trust, which has worked with the property owners over several years to make the Conservation 20/20 connection, and to the property owners themselves for being willing to work with the county on this important land conservation project!