October 26, 2008
To: Agricultural Commissioner Charles Bronson
Re: Berry Groves / Sand Lakes Tract / Corrigan Land exchange

Dear Mr. Bronson:

The negative impacts regarding the land swap of Berry Groves are:

1. Th e precedent that is being set by disposing of lands that were purchased with public funds for conservation, especially for dubious reasons such as avoiding the prospect of the threat of a lawsuit.

2. Berry Groves was purchased for conservation because of its habitat value. In the SJRWMD Technical Publication SJ2001-3 entitled ASSESSING THE POTENTIAL OCCURRENCE OF RARE, THREATENED AND ENDANGERED SPECIES IN THE UPPER ST. JOHNS RIVER BASIN, the report found that although the Sand Lakes tract is relatively small in comparison to other areas that we examined, because of the variety of different types of habitat, the Sand Lakes Tract could be very important for some wildlife species. Its upland scrub and dry prairie and other lands make it among the rarest and most endangered habitats in Florida. It's one of the only tracts like it in that part of the world. The report should have been provided to the SJRWMD Governing Board before they were asked to vote on whether the Sand Lakes Tract was needed for conservation purposes.

3. The St. Sebastian River is bordered by several pieces of property that are publicly owned for conservation or recreation, that have significant habitat value that would negatively affect the river, if no longer held in public trust.

4. Impacts of stormwater from possible development of Berry Groves through the Red barrow slough to the South Prong of the St. Sebastian River the historic drainage pattern in this area.

Thank you for your consideration of this critical matter. I urge you to accept the appeals of St. John's Administrative action.

Very truly yours,

Russell Herrmann
Sebastian

< < <back to Protect Conservation Lands

Fair Use Disclaimer

The Pelican Island Audubon Society web site, www.pelicanislandaudubon.org, is a nonprofit, noncommercial web site that, at times, may contain Copyrighted material that have not always been specifically authorized by the Copyright owner. The Society makes such material available in its efforts to advance the understanding of issues related to Florida’s natural environment in hopes of helping to find solutions for those problems. It believes that this constitutes a “fair use” of any such Copyrighted material as provided for in Section 107 of the US Copyright Law. Persons wishing to use Copyrighted material from this site for purposes of their own that go beyond “fair use” must first obtain permission from the copyright owner.

All articles are copyrighted by the respective newspapers.