complete agenda - Florida Department of Environmental Protection

ARC Summary August 12, 2010
ARC ACTION: Mr. Cochran moved that this item be placed on the consent agenda. The
motion was seconded by Ms. Griner. By a unanimous vote, the motion was approved.
ARC RECOMMENDATION:
(x) APPROVE
( ) APPROVE W/ MODIFICATIONS:
( ) DEFER
( ) WITHDRAW
( ) NOT APPROVE
NEW BUSINESS
LAND ACQUISITION
ITEM 4: REQUEST: Receive public testimony for three proposals (2010 cycle 2) under
consideration for addition to the Florida Forever List.
Horse Creek Ranch (HCR)
Dr. Richard Hilsenbeck presented the Horse Creek Ranch proposal. He provided the following
information:
• HCR is 16,000 acres that includes 5 ½ miles of Horse Creek and parts of Hardee and
Desoto counties.
• This conservation easement is for watershed protection.
• It is owned by Doyle Carlton and is his “home place.”
• 53 percent of the property is in natural condition 47 percent is in improved pasture, since
this is an active cattle ranch.
• The property is located on a hydrological divide and it ranges in height from 40-feet to
85-feet above sea level in places.
• After Hurricane Charlie, DOF left snags for wildlife in their cleanup.
• There is a seasonally inundated floodplain forest on the property, as well as a 1933
bridge across the creek.
HCR DISCUSSION: Dr. Frederick asked what the owner’s thoughts on the conservation
easement were. What would he be keeping? What would the state be buying? Dr. Hilsenbeck
said that they would be relinquishing mining and development rights and maintaining grazing,
hunting, and fishing rights. There was a lodge on the property already and he might want to
retain a couple of home sites for his children; that was not certain yet. Dr. Hilsenbeck also said
that there was a possibility of specialty hunts.
Mr. Cochran mentioned that the Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) could be a possible partner
for this land, but Dr. Hilsenbeck said it would score quite low on the WRP. There was
discussion that Southwest Florida Water Management District could be a partner in the future,
perhaps.
Dr. Hilsenbeck said he has been telling the landowners that it will take about three years before
anything could possibly happen with Florida Forever proposals.
Lower Suwannee River and Gulf Watershed Conservation Easement (LSRGW)
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