complete agenda - Florida Department of Environmental Protection

ITEM 9:
REQUEST: Consideration of a 557-acre reduction to the Osceola Pine Savannas Florida
Forever project boundary.
LOCATION: Osceola County
DSL Staff Remarks:
The Office of Environmental Services (OES) has conducted a review of the Osceola Pine
Savannas Florida Forever project boundary for the purpose of removing any remaining acreage
that has been disturbed by development or is no longer desirable for state acquisition.
Staff have found five removal sites with 222 individual parcels containing residential
development, commercial buildings or infrastructure. The total acreage being proposed for
removal is 557 acres with a tax assessed just value of $6,691,997.
Project History: This project was formed in 1995 when the Land Acquisition Advisory Council
(LAAC) added the Osceola Pine Savannas project to the Conservation and Recreation Lands
(CARL) list. This fee-simple/less-than-fee project was sponsored jointly by Florida Fish and
Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and the Florida Natural Areas Inventory (FNAI). The
St. Johns River Water Management District (SJRWMD) and FWC are both considered
acquisition partners on this project. While FWC is the designated manager of the overall
project, OES monitors the conservation easements.
The purpose of this project is to preserve and restore the integrity of the extensive functional
ecosystems, ranging from pine flatwoods, dry prairie, and scrub to marshes and cypress
swamps, that now extend from the Bull creek to the Three Lakes Wildlife Management Areas.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has reviewed the proposed
amendment and does not object to the removal of these developed or disturbed sites from the
project boundary. The Division of Historical Resources (DHR) indicates there are no
archaeological sites present, and has no objection to removing the proposed sites. The Florida
Natural Areas Inventory (FNAI) has also reviewed the removal sites and provided a detailed
analysis (see attached).
According to FNAI’s GIS analysis, the removal of the proposed 557 developed acres will leave
27,601 acres remaining to be acquired in the 46,591 acre project, making this project 41 percent
complete.
DSL STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Approve the changes to the project boundary.
ARC RECOMMENDATION:
( ) APPROVE
( ) APPROVE WITH MODIFICATIONS: ____________________________________
( ) DEFER
( ) WITHDRAW
( ) NOT APPROVE
( ) OTHER: __________________________________________________________