Agenda 05/08/2018 Item #10A05/08/2018
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Recommendation to submit a resolution to the Florida Forest Service to indicate support for the use
of swamp buggies within the Picayune Strand State Forest and Wildlife Management Area during
specified State of Florida hunting seasons and on designated roads.
OBJECTIVE: To obtain support from the Board of County Commissioners (Board) to submit a
resolution to the Florida Forest Service, a division within the Florida Department of Agriculture and
Consumer Services, indicating support for enhanced vehicle access, specifically the use of swamp
buggies, in the Picayune Strand State Forest and Wildlife Management Area (WMA) only during
specified State of Florida hunting seasons and only on roads identified by the Florida Forest Service for
said use.
CONSIDERATIONS: On March 27, 2018, the Board provided Commissioner McDaniel support to
work with staff and bring back an item for Board consideration regarding an update to the Picayune
Strand State Forest management plan to allow swamp buggies in the Picayune Strand WMA for specific
purposes.
The Picayune Strand WMA is located in eastern Collier County and comprises 78,000 acres of forest.
Two major canal systems, the Golden Gate and the Faka Union, were built during in the 1960 - 1970’s to
drain the area for the Golden Gate Subdivision. However, the canal systems negatively impacted the
ecology of the region, and the area is now included in the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan
(CERP) to restore, preserve, and protect the south Florida ecosystem.
Consistent with the CERP project, the current road system in the Picayune Strand WMA is also
undergoing changes. A large portion of the existing roads have been removed, and public access can be
challenging. At this time, the Picayune Strand WMA prohibits Off-Highway-Vehicles (OHVs), however,
should the remaining roads become non-navigable by vehicles due to flooding, then swamp buggies (a
form of OHV) may be required to access the state forest in order to enjoy recreational hunting
opportunities offered by the area.
On April 12, Thomas Reinert, Ph.D., Regional Director - South, with the Florida Fish and Wildlife
Conservation Commission acknowledged that “some public access in the WMA has become challenging”
and that the “FWC is coordinating with the Florida Forest Service to explore options for allowing
managed off-road vehicle access on Picayune Strand WMA”. The resolution is intended to continue this
dialogue and provide the state agencies awareness of the County’s support to allow swamp buggies within
the Picayune Strand WMA for specific purposes.
FISCAL IMPACT: There are no Fiscal Impacts associated with this action.
LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS: This item has been reviewed by the County Attorney, raises no legal
issues, and requires majority vote for approval. -JAK
GROWTH MANAGEMENT IMPACT: There is no Growth Management Impact associated with this
action.
RECOMMENDATION: To support and send the attached resolution to the Florida Forest Service
indicating support and the need for enhanced vehicle access, specifically the use of swamp buggies, in the
Picayune Strand State Forest and Wildlife Management Area (WMA) only during specified state hunting
seasons and to only be used on roads and trails identified by the Florida Forest Service for said use.
10.A
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05/08/2018
Prepared by: William McDaniel, County Commissioner District Five
ATTACHMENT(S)
1. Resolution - Picayune Strand Access (PDF)
10.A
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05/08/2018
COLLIER COUNTY
Board of County Commissioners
Item Number: 10.A
Doc ID: 5429
Item Summary: Recommendation to submit a resolution to the Florida Forest Service to indicate
support for the use of swamp buggies within the Picayune Strand State Forest and Wildlife Management
Area during specified State of Florida hunting seasons and on designated roads.
Meeting Date: 05/08/2018
Prepared by:
Title: Operations Analyst – Growth Management Operations & Regulatory Management
Name: Judy Puig
04/20/2018 2:06 PM
Submitted by:
Title: Dept Head - Growth Management – Growth Management Department
Name: Thaddeus Cohen
04/20/2018 2:06 PM
Approved By:
Review:
Office of Management and Budget Valerie Fleming Level 3 OMB Gatekeeper Review Completed 04/20/2018 2:16 PM
County Attorney's Office Jeffrey A. Klatzkow Level 3 County Attorney's Office Review Completed 04/23/2018 8:45 AM
Budget and Management Office Mark Isackson Additional Reviewer Completed 04/25/2018 10:33 AM
County Manager's Office Nick Casalanguida Level 4 County Manager Review Completed 04/29/2018 10:13 PM
Board of County Commissioners MaryJo Brock Meeting Pending 05/08/2018 9:00 AM
10.A
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10.A.1
Packet Pg. 299 Attachment: Resolution - Picayune Strand Access (5429 : Picayune Strand State Forest Access)