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

2. 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 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

3. 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

4. Management Trust Fund
Ord 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

5. 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

6. 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.

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

8. Lee County Conservation 20/20 Preserves

9. 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

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

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

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

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

14. 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

15. 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).

16. 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

17. 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

18. Pop Ash Creek Preserve
Pre and Post
invasive exotic plant treatment

19. Pine Island Flatwoods
Pre and post
melaleuca treatment

20. 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…)

21. 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

22. 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

23. 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

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

25. Preserves with Public Access

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

27. 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

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

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