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Protect Conservation Lands |
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Image: Florida Scrub-jay by Bob Montanaro |
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The St. Johns River Water Management District will vote on whether or not to declare “surplus” and exchange a 1,275 acre parcel of conservation land known as the “Sand Lakes Tract”. Prior to 1999, the Indian River County Commission had been pursuing purchase of this property under its local environmental lands program. In 1999 the St. Johns District stepped in and bought the land as part of a larger land purchase. The district is now proposing to trade the Sand Lakes Tract away as part of a proposal to avoid a lawsuit on an unrelated matter. In 1998 the people of Florida voted overwhelmingly to pass a Constitutional Amendment protecting conservation lands from being sold traded or otherwise disposed of. This Constitutional provision requires a 2/3 vote of the St. Johns District Governing Board and a specific determination that the Sand Lakes Tract is “No Longer Needed for Conservation Purposes”. Nothing about the Sand Lakes Tract has changed since the District bought it with conservation funds that makes it less valuable for conservation or justifies a decision that it is “no longer needed” for this purpose. Audubon of Florida, the Pelican Island Audubon Society and the Indian River County Commission are asking the St. Johns Governing board to vote “No” and keep the parcel as conservation land. |
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Organizations against this bad deal |
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Press Release A collection of editorials and articles about the proposed land swap in Indian River County.
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Petitions for Review of a Final Order of the St. Johns River Water Management District
Pertinent Maps (use back button to return to this page)
Editorial Cartoon |
Citizen letters opposing land swap |
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Contact Information |
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Contact the Governor or Lt. Governor E-Mail Governor Charlie Crist E-Mail Lt. Governor Jeff Kottkamp: View Governor's contact information: |
Contact the Florida Cabinet E-mail Attorney General Bill McCollum: E-mail Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink: E-mail Agricultural & Consumer Services Commissioner Charles H. Bronson: |
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images and text copyright Pelican Island Audubon Society. E-mail: piaudubon@bellsouth.net |
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