CONSERVATION 20/20 MANAGEMENT AND MANAGEMENT TRUST FUND OVERVIEW Cathy Olson, Conservation Lands Manager Lee County Department of Parks and Recreation

C20/20 Ordinances and Resolutions Ord 96-12: Established the CLASAC and procedures for implementing the program Ord 05-17: Amended and restated 96-12 Ord 13-09: Amended 05-17 based on recommendations from the Blue Ribbon Committee 6 additional resolutions amending the acquisition process and criteria occurred in 1997, 2001, 2004, 2006 and 2007

Goals for the C20/20 Program Protect and enhance hydrologic features (natural floodplains, marshes and estuaries, surface water management and water supply) Restoration of altered ecosystems Wildlife management Recreational opportunities

Management Trust Fund Ord 05-17 currently states: No less than 10% of the Program revenues to be placed in the Management Trust Fund FY 14 total balance: $36,117,405 (as of 10/2013) $3,505,717 Dedicated Funds for specific projects from grants and donations $32,611,688 Trust Fund balance (Millage Revenues) 4

Management Trust Funds Collected FY 1998: $1,069,520 FY 1999: $1,129,060 FY 2000: $1,217,039 FY 2001: $1,349,016 FY 2002: $1,546,995 FY 2003: $2,096,365 FY 2004: $2,399,179 FY 2005: $4,326,969 FY 2006: $3,086,314 FY 2007: $4,323,619 FY 2008: $4,641,663 FY 2009: $4,064,649 FY 2010: $3, 137,066 FY 2011: $2,670,184 FY 2012: $2,557,424 FY 2013: $2,577,461 FY 2014: $0 5

Projected Restoration Costs of Existing Holdings $ 17,641,110 Grants and other partnerships will be sought to cost share the initial restoration costs minimizing the use of the Management Trust Fund so it lasts into the future for management.

Conservation 20/20 Current Holdings 43 Preserves totaling ~25,000 acres Range in size from 1 acre – 5,620 acres

Lee County Conservation 20/20 Preserves

Management Plans Each preserve has a land management plan - inventories the flora and fauna -provides a guide for restoration and management - identifies appropriate public use based on protecting the natural systems on site -identifies costs and potential partners

Grant Funded Hydrological Restoration Projects Examples: Yucca Pens Smokehouse Bay Deep Lagoon

Grant Funded Hydrological Restoration Projects Yucca Pens: Ditch blocks to help remediate manmade flowways and rehydrate drained wetlands

Grant Funded Hydrological Restoration Projects Smokehouse Bay: Filling manmade ditches to rehydrate salt marshes

Grant Funded Hydrological Restoration Projects Deep Lagoon: Rehydration of an old farm field

Hydrological Restoration Benefits Improves ecosystem and wildlife habitat Increases ground water recharge Sediments and nutrients settle (assists county in reaching TMDL goals) Reduces flow off the preserves into the receiving bodies

Hydrological Restoration and BMAP C20/20 lands accounted for 63% of the projects submitted for the 3 BMAPs 37% of the pollution load reduction credit was supported on C20/20 land ($11.5 million estimate for TN removal).

Filter Marsh Partner projects Billy Creek Preserve: C20/20 purchased the land for the filter marsh The City of Fort Myers built and operates it. Powell Creek Filter Marsh: C20/20 purchased the land and maintains the natural areas and recreational areas of the preserve Natural Resources Division built the filter marsh in a disturbed area and operates the filter marsh

Benefits of Restoration of Altered Ecosystems Enhances natural processes and natural communities (hydrological, prescribed fire, etc) Enhances wildlife habitat Enhances public use and enjoyment Reduces risk of wildfire

Pop Ash Creek Preserve Pre and Post invasive exotic plant treatment

Pine Island Flatwoods Pre and post melaleuca treatment

Wildlife Management Provides habitat for state and federally protected wildlife and more common wildlife Provides areas for listed species mitigation requirements for public projects (gopher tortoise, wood stork, Florida panther, Florida Scrub-jay, etc…)

Listed Species Mitigation Imperial Marsh (panthers) $300,000 in costs; $850,000 in benefit Gator Hole (gopher tortoise) $100,000 Alva Scrub (Florida Scrub-jay) $800,000 estimated costs; $7,200,000 benefit

Wetland & Wood stork Mitigation Estero Marsh Preserve $3 million spent in permitting, restoration, maintenance and monitoring $7 million savings in mitigation for Lee County capital projects (Three Oaks Parkway etc.) Wild Turkey Strand Preserve $6-8 million estimate for permitting, restoration, maintenance and monitoring $14 million estimated savings in mitigation for Lee County capital projects

Nature Based Recreation Hiking Bird watching Horseback riding Geocaching Photography Fishing Canoe and kayaking Picnicking Llama walking Uses coming soon: Mountain biking Feral hog hunting Primitive camping

Preserves with Public Access 30 of the 43 preserves currently have public access opportunities

Preserves with Public Access

Preserves with Public Access in Design, Permitting or Construction Process Alva Scrub, Buckingham Trails, Galt, Six Mile Cypress North, Telegraph Creek and West Marsh

Annual Operating Costs for Current Holdings $1,500,000 current operating budget from the General Fund and is supplemented by restoration projects funded through the Management Trust Fund and grants

Basic Management Obligations Installation of fences and boundary signs Installation and maintenance of fire lines Prescribed burning Exotic plant control Care of public amenities

Future Operating Costs after Planned Restoration & Construction of all Amenities on Current Holdings Estimated to cost $2,333,434 annually