Agenda 01/08/2019 Item #16D 301/08/2019
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Recommendation to accept the Conservation Collier 2016-2018 Annual Report to provide the
Board of County Commissioners (Board) and public with an update on the Program’s activities
during 2016-2018.
OBJECTIVE: To provide an update to the Board and public on the Program’s current and past two (2)
years of activities.
CONSIDERATIONS: Section 12.6 of the Conservation Collier Ordinance requires an annual report to
the Board for the purpose of updating them and the public on Program activities.
At the December 3, 2018 meeting of the CCLAAC, members made several minor revisions and voted
unanimously to forward the revised 2016-2018 Annual Report to the Board. Please see this Report for a
map of property locations and a full report of past and current activities.
This report was deferred in 2017, as activities associated with a renewed interest in acquisition and the
development of Cycle 9 took precedence over other program activities.
At the July 10, 2018 Board Meeting (Agenda Item #11D) the Board advised there would be no
acquisition cycle in 2019, therefore at this time there is no call to the public for new proposals.
FISCAL IMPACT: There is no fiscal impact associated with accepting the report.
GROWTH MANAGEMENT IMPACT: There is no Growth Management impact associated with this
Item.
LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS: The Conservation Collier Implementation Ordinance (Ord. No. 02-63,
as amended) requires “an annual public meeting for the purpose of updating the Board of County
Commissioners and the public and for soliciting proposals and applications.” Accordingly, no legal issues
are presented by this executive summary, which requires majority support for Board acceptance. -JAB
RECOMMENDATION: To accept the attached 2016-2018 Conservation Collier Annual Report as
presented.
Prepared By: Alexandra Sulecki, Principal Environmental Specialist, Parks and Recreation Division
ATTACHMENT(S)
1. (linked) Annual Report 2016-18 Final CCLAAC appvd 12-3-18 (PDF)
16.D.3
Packet Pg. 1365
01/08/2019
COLLIER COUNTY
Board of County Commissioners
Item Number: 16.D.3
Doc ID: 7542
Item Summary: Recommendation to accept the Conservation Collier 2016-2018 Annual Report
to provide the Board of County Commissioners (Board) and public with an update on the Program’s
activities during 2016-2018.
Meeting Date: 01/08/2019
Prepared by:
Title: Operations Analyst – Parks & Recreation
Name: Matthew Catoe
12/07/2018 10:11 AM
Submitted by:
Title: Division Director - Parks & Recreation – Parks & Recreation
Name: Barry Williams
12/07/2018 10:11 AM
Approved By:
Review:
Parks & Recreation Barry Williams Additional Reviewer Completed 12/11/2018 10:03 AM
Parks & Recreation Ilonka Washburn Additional Reviewer Completed 12/17/2018 12:29 PM
Public Services Department Kimberley Grant Level 1 Reviewer Completed 12/18/2018 3:17 PM
Public Services Department Todd Henry Level 1 Division Reviewer Completed 12/18/2018 3:35 PM
County Attorney's Office Jennifer Belpedio Level 2 Attorney of Record Review Completed 12/20/2018 8:52 AM
Public Services Department Steve Carnell Level 2 Division Administrator Review Completed 12/20/2018 1:35 PM
Office of Management and Budget Laura Wells Level 3 OMB Gatekeeper Review Completed 12/20/2018 1:54 PM
County Attorney's Office Jeffrey A. Klatzkow Level 3 County Attorney's Office Review Completed 12/21/2018 8:49 AM
County Attorney's Office Emily Pepin CAO Preview Completed 12/21/2018 11:24 AM
Budget and Management Office Ed Finn Additional Reviewer Completed 12/26/2018 4:16 PM
County Manager's Office Nick Casalanguida Level 4 County Manager Review Completed 12/27/2018 3:09 PM
Board of County Commissioners MaryJo Brock Meeting Pending 01/08/2019 9:00 AM
16.D.3
Packet Pg. 1366
Conservation Collier
Annual Report
2016-2018
2
Table of Contents
I. Executive Summary ............................................................................................................................................... 3
Table 1. Preserve Category Matrix ............................................................................................................................ 6
2. CCLAAC –Members, Summary of meetings and Actions for between 2016 and 2018 .......................................... 7
3. Program Lands Acquisition Status ...................................................................................................................... 11
Table 2. Good Deals, Land Donations ..................................................................................................................... 12
Table 3. Monetary Donations .................................................................................................................................. 13
Table 4. Multi-parcel Property Acquisitions in 2018 .............................................................................................. 14
Program Land Management Status .............................................................................................................................. 15
Alligator Flag ........................................................................................................................................................... 15
Camp Keais Strand Parcels ...................................................................................................................................... 16
Caracara Prairie ....................................................................................................................................................... 16
Cocohatchee Creek .................................................................................................................................................. 17
Freedom Park ........................................................................................................................................................... 18
Gordon River Greenway .......................................................................................................................................... 19
Logan Woods ........................................................................................................................................................... 20
McIlvane Marsh ....................................................................................................................................................... 21
Nancy Payton ........................................................................................................................................................... 22
Otter Mound ............................................................................................................................................................ 23
Pepper Ranch ........................................................................................................................................................... 24
Panther Walk ........................................................................................................................................................... 27
Railhead Scrub ......................................................................................................................................................... 28
Red Maple Swamp ................................................................................................................................................... 29
Redroot .................................................................................................................................................................... 30
Rivers Road ............................................................................................................................................................. 31
Shell Island .............................................................................................................................................................. 32
Wet Woods .............................................................................................................................................................. 33
Winchester Head Multi-parcel Project .................................................................................................................... 34
4. Program Financial Status ..................................................................................................................................... 35
Table(s) 5 – Summary of Conservation Collier Financial Activity for FY16, FY17 and FY18 .............................. 36
6. Conservation Collier Programs, Events, and Community/Educational Outreach .................................................... 38
Pepper Ranch Hunt Program ................................................................................................................................... 38
Caracara Prairie Preserve Hunt Program ................................................................................................................. 38
Pepper Ranch Guided Hike Program ....................................................................................................................... 38
Pepper Ranch Sunflower Festival ............................................................................................................................ 39
Social Media ............................................................................................................................................................ 39
5. Mitigation Programs ............................................................................................................................................ 40
6. Partners ................................................................................................................................................................ 40
9. Grants .................................................................................................................................................................... 41
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7. Volunteers ............................................................................................................................................................ 42
8. 2019 Objectives ................................................................................................................................................... 43
Exhibits ........................................................................................................................................................................ 44
Exhibit A. 2018 Map of Conservation Collier Program Lands and Proposed Acquisitions .................................... 44
Exhibit B. Conservation Collier Program Public Amenity Work Plan and Preserve Category Matrix .................. 45
Exhibit C. Conservation Collier Preserves by Commission District ....................................................................... 51
I. Executive Summary
Responsibilities
In accordance with the Conservation Collier Ordinance, as amended (2007-65, Section 12.6), there
will be an annual meeting to update the Board of County Commissioners (Board) and public on
the Conservation Collier Program. The following annual report is intended to serve as an
additional update to the Board and public.
The Conservation Collier Program is responsible for implementing the mandate of the electorate
of Collier County as provided by public referendum votes in November, 2002, and again in
November, 2006 confirming that mandate, to levy a 0.25 mill ad valorem property tax for a period
not to exceed 10 years for acquisition, protection, restoration, and management of environmentally
sensitive lands in Collier County for the benefit of present and future generations.
Lands Inventory
Conservation Collier has now implemented its mandate for 15 years. In March 2013, at the ten-
year mark, the ad valorem tax levy ceased. During this time 4,040.84 acres meeting program
criteria were acquired in 19 different locations for a cost of $103,900,000. A total of $47,332,251
was bonded for use in property acquisition, via bonds in 2004 and 2008, with both bonds now
retired. Since 2011, when the general buying ceased, an additional 22 parcels, or 61.02 acres, were
added to the inventory from donations, good deals and FY 18 acquisition in the multi-parcel
projects, for a current total of 4,101.86 acres.
On February 14, 2017, the Board of County Commissioners (Agenda Item 11B) directed staff to
restart Conservation Collier land acquisition utilizing up to $17 m of on-hand Conservation Collier
Program Land Management Trust Funds. These funds are to be repaid by either a property tax in
FY20, when a referendum will be conducted or, failing voter acceptance, by some other means
including potentially the County’s general fund.
Following an acquisition cycle that lasted through April 2018, 11 properties (3,620 acres) were
recommended for acquisition by the Conservation Collier Land Acquisition Advisory Committee
(CCLAAC), including a recommendation to continue acquiring in the multi-parcel projects (Red
Maple Swamp and Winchester Head) using future offsite preservation donations only. In April,
the Board approved the multi-parcel projects continuance and 2 additional acquisitions (Gore and
Hack - 197 acres), asking for the remainder of the list to be brought back in July. Board concerns
4
included using funds that might be needed in the event of a hurricane and using Land Management
Trust Funds without a clear repayment plan. Appraisals were performed and offers made on the
two properties in June-July. One owner accepted (Gore) and one owner rejected the County’s
offer (Hack).
In July 2018, the Board decided to move ahead with the remainder of the recommended
acquisitions, placing another 3,423 acres in the ‘A’ category of the Active Acquisition List. Three
(3) of the properties are adjacent to current preserves and four (4) are in new locations. A couple
of the new projects adjoin each other in new locations. If all are acquired, the
Conservation Collier Program will be responsible for 7,683 acres in 23 locations. Staff is currently
moving forward with due diligence on the remaining properties
Of the 19 currently acquired Conservation Collier properties, fifteen (15) have approved Final
Management Plans (FMP) and four (4) have approved Interim Management Plans (IMP). Twelve
(12) Conservation Collier preserves are currently open or opening shortly for public use in
categories 1 through 4 with signs, trails and benches installed.
Program Costs
The cost for management of all preserves for the period of FY16- FY18 totaled $537,511,
representing an average of $180,000 per year for land management. This funding accomplished
management actions on acquired preserve properties as described in approved land management
plans and as prioritized by the CCLAAC and approved by the Board of County Commissioners.
Grants in the amount of $366,000 were received between 2016 and 2018 to fund land management.
The cost for Program operations, including salaries, for the period of FY16-FY18 totaled
$1,112,630, representing an average of $371,000 per year for operations.
Total fund spent for capital projects between FY16 and FY18 are $88,135 and included repairs to
the caretakers cottage at Pepper Ranch, site plan development for an RV site at Pepper Ranch,
Gordon River Greenway solar gate and Conservation Collier’s portion of costs for removing tree
debris from the Gordon River.
Total program expenses for FY16-FY18, including capital projects, equaled $1,764,192,
representing an annual average program cost of $588,064.
Ordinance
During 2018, CCLAAC reviewed the Conservation Collier ordinance upon request of the Board
of County Commissioners. Changes have been discussed and the ordinance will likely come back
to the Board in December 2018 requesting these changes. During 2018 the Land Development
Code section 03.05.07 governing offsite preservation changed. Depending on particular changes,
policy Resolutions will need to be revised and brought to the Board, including the Purchase Policy,
the Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) Policy, and the offsite preservation policy.
Public Activities
Public activities at preserves between FY16 and FY18 included adult and youth hunts, festivals,
tours, volunteering, presentations and guided hikes. Activities planned for 2019 include an Earth
5
Day festival, volunteering, camping, biking, hiking and guided hikes on selected seasonal
weekends.
Conservation Collier preserves have been categorized to identify what public uses are currently
available (approved as part of the Annual Report, 10/23/12 16D4). Table 1 describes these
categories and identifies corresponding preserves.
Looking Ahead
Management activities for FY 2019 are expected to increase depending on how many potential
acquisitions come to fruition. Funds budgeted for land management in FY19 equal $326,000.
Estimates for initial land management activities on new properties are $2.9 million but this work
will take more than one year to accomplish. For FY19, approximately $228,000 is thought to be
needed to start initial exotic work. Currently approximately $100,000 has been budgeted. If all
additional properties are acquired, one additional land manager will be needed. As properties are
acquired, budget amendments will be sought for needed funding.
Please accept this report on the activities of Conservation Collier calendar years 2016-2018.
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Table 1. Preserve Category Matrix
Preserves
Category 1 Category 2 Category 3 Category 4 Category 5
Primary Use
Preserves:
easily
accessible with
public
amenities and
parking
Intermediate
Use Preserves:
few to no
amenities,
limited
parking,
primitive trail
system
Neighborhood
Preserve: no
onsite parking
or amenities
other than
benches, trails
and picnic
tables
Seasonal Use
Preserves:
may have
parking and
trails but will
be closed
during
seasonal
rainfall
months
Resource
Protection/Resto
ration Preserves:
currently no
public access due
to lack of
physical or legal
access or where
there are unsafe
conditions for
public
1 Alligator Flag X
2 Camp Keais X
3 Caracara Prairie X
4 Cocohatchee Creek X
5 Freedom Park X
6 Gordon River
Greenway X
7 Logan Woods X
8 McIlvane Marsh X
9 Nancy Payton X
10 Otter Mound X
11 Panther Walk X
12 Pepper Ranch X-currently
seasonal, off
season by appt.
13 Railhead Scrub X
14 Red Maple Swamp X
15 Redroot X
16 Rivers Road X
17 Shell Island X
18 Wet Woods X
19 Winchester Head X
20. Robert H Gore III
(coming) X
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2. CCLAAC –Members, Summary of meetings and Actions for between
2016 and 2018
The primary purpose of the CCLAAC, as defined by the Conservation Collier Ordinance, has been
to assist the Board in establishing an Active Properties Acquisition List with qualified purchase
recommendations consistent with the goals of Conservation Collier. During 2016 there was no
acquisition cycle. There were 7 CCLAAC members and they met quarterly, focusing on land
management. At the end of 2016 the Board restarted a buying cycle for the Program and members
began meeting monthly again, and began adding new members to return to a 9-member status One
new member was added in 2017. Initially, staff was advised to evaluate only previous A and B
lists properties and the Committee heard presentation during early 2017. In June of 2017, the
decision was made to accept new properties too, which delayed the cycle for several months.
During 2018 there were 9 active members. Membership of the CCLAAC is intended to be
comprised of broad and balanced representation of the interests of Collier County citizens,
including:
• Environmental, land management, and conservation interests
• Agricultural and business interests
• Educational interests
• General civic and citizen interests throughout the county.
Members currently serving, and their backgrounds and areas of expertise are:
• William Poteet, Jr. – Chairman (Business Interest) Re-appointed for a sixth term in February
2016, Mr. Poteet is a local Realtor and business owner who has been a member
of the CCLAAC since its inception in March 2003. He has served as Chairman
of the CCLAAC since August 2005 with unanimous re-election as Chair each
year. He also served as a member of the Outreach Subcommittee and as
Chairman of the Ordinance, Policy and Rules Subcommittee during active
acquisition phases. He currently serves as the Chair of the Lands Evaluation and
management Subcommittee. Mr. Poteet is an outstanding leader, assisting with
the development of many Program policies. He was recognized as an
Outstanding Advisory Committee Member of the month in March 2007.
• Patricia Sherry – Vice Chair (General Civic/Citizen Interest) Appointed in April, 2015, Ms.
Sherry comes to Conservation Collier from a background of civic engagement.
She served on the Town Council and Sewer Commission in her home state of
Connecticut where she owned her own Insurance Agency, gaining experience
with government operations and property acquisitions. Locally, Ms. Sherry
has served 2 years on the Waste Water Authority in Naples, where she worked
with many land issues, and has served on the Board of the Friends of
Fakahatchee and on the Greater Naples Chamber of Commerce Action
Committee.
8
• Susan Calkins – (Education Interest) Ms. Calkins was appointed in January 2015. She is
currently retired, having been previously employed as a professor of
anthropology and sociology. Ms. Calkins taught courses in Eco-Tourism
for Macomb College and the Hodges Center for Lifelong Learning. She is
a volunteer for Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, the
Conservancy of Southwest Florida and the Community Foundation. She
was actively engaged with the Conservation Collier Program at its
conception, and has been engaged through the years of its operation, many
times providing input to the County Commission on issues and properties.
• Michael Seef – (Environment-Education Interest) Mr. Seef was
appointed to CCLAAC
in September 2015 to fill a vacant term through February 2017, and was
reappointed for a 3 year term in February 2017. He is a retired
consultant/analyst who worked with major businesses like Quaker Oats and
McDonnell Douglass, and also the Federal Government in Housing and
Urban Development. Locally, Mr. Seef is a Board member of various
environmental and educational organizations and is a Master Naturalist
volunteering for CREW and Audubon. He has managed the Clam Pass
Guide educational program and has volunteered in environmental
educational programs in Australia and Japan. In his own residential community, he has managed
the preserve and has instituted Florida friendly landscaping, butterfly gardening and ponds
management.
• John Psaras – (General Civic and Citizen Interest) Mr. Psaras was appointed in April
2016. Currently retired and doing consulting, He has a Ph.D. and MBA and
has worked for 20 years in the chemical industry (Allied Chemical &
Monsanto) in various engineering and management positions. Following
that, he worked with the Department of Energy as Chief Scientific Officer
of Nuclear Waste Management. In that capacity, all the Environmental
Assessments he reviewed had land conservation and cleanup as
components. As a result, he developed a keen interest in ecosystem
damage mitigation.
He has served on his Parish Council, as a board member of several
condominium associations, and is currently a board member of the Naples
Council of World Affairs and serves as a Model UN Judge. While much of
his career has involved engineering and business management, his life’s avocation is
Minoan Archeology. He has participated in archeological digs on the island of Crete and
has experience in conservation of archeological sites.
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• Jacob Winge – (Education Interest) Mr. Winge was appointed in September 2016. A
Fourth Generation Floridian, Jacob's family has lived in Collier
County since the 1920s. Jacob has volunteered, supported, and
served with a number of organizations and local boards including
the Collier Republican Club, the Greater Naples Better
Government Committee, the Friends of Rookery Bay, the East
Naples Civic Association, the Friends of the Collier County
Museums, Boys and Girls Club of Collier County, The Latchkey
League, East Naples Kiwanis, the NAACP, and Youth Haven. He
also serves on the Growth Management Oversight Committee.
Jacob's professional experience includes marketing, community
outreach, and strategic planning.
• Carol Pratt – (Environmental and Conservation) Ms. Pratt was appointed on June 27,
2018 to fill the remainder of a vacant term. She worked for U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) for 8 years (1992-2000) as a
federal law enforcement officer stationed at J.N. Ding Darling
National Wildlife Refuge where she enjoyed educating visitors
about wildlife and habitats. For 4 years (2006-2010) she worked
with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
(FWC) as a Public Relations Specialist. She currently serves on
the Golden Gate Estates Area Civic Association board, the GAC
Land Trust Committee, and is a member of FWC’s South Bear
Stakeholders Group. She has been a Collier County resident for
decades, has a good understanding of the challenges associated
with conservation, and a knack for communicating with the public making science
interesting and understandable.
• Gary Bromley – (General Civic/Citizen) Mr. Bromley was appointed January 23, 2018
for a 3-year term. Mr. Bromley has lived in Collier County for 4
years, originally from Westchester, NY, where he served as an
environmental educator. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in
social science work and is currently retired. This is Mr. Bromley’s
first time serving on a County Board, but he is a member of the
League of Women voters where he participates on the
Environmental and Government Committees. He has also
participated in efforts to place Constitutional Amendments on
voter ballots and has participated with the Stonecrab Alliance on
environmental issues.
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• Brittany Patterson-Weber – (Environmental/Conservation/Education) Ms. Patterson-
Weber was appointed on June 12, 2018 for a 3-year term. She is
currently the Director of Education & Visitor Experience at
Naples Botanical Garden, and a member of the Garden’s
executive team. She has spent the last 15 years in Florida and
the Caribbean working in environmental education as both an
educator and program/center Director at the Calusa Nature
Center and Planetarium (Ft. Myers), Pidgeon Key Marine
Science Foundation (marathon), South Seas Island Resort
(Captiva), and Ambassadors of the Environment by Jean-Michel
Cousteau at the Ritz-Carlton Grand Cayman. She also has done
graduate work in Agricultural Extension Education and has a professional relationship with
Lipman Family Farms, whom she works with to bring a program about agriculture and
food systems called “Collier Greens” to teachers in Collier County. She also works with
the Collier County School district to make use of Florida’s unique habitats as outdoor
classrooms.
Past Members 2016-2018:
• Tracey Dewrell – (Business Interest) Re-appointed to a second term in April 2015, Mr.
Dewrell is a real estate and general litigation attorney and the
managing partner in Dewrell and Sacks, LLP. Mr. Dewrell has been
a member of the Florida Bar since 1998 and is also admitted to
practice in GA, where he is a registered arbitrator. He is the author
of the Federal Bar Review of Florida (1998-2008) and the Georgia
Foreclosure Investors Report, a statewide publication of mortgage
foreclosures with investment analysis maintaining over 1800
monthly subscribers. He is also chairman and CEO of U.S. Title
Insurance Corp, a national provider of title insurance and escrow
services. Mr. Dewrell has experience in land appraisal, a strong interest in conservation and
land management.
• John Hamilton Burton II - (Agriculture and Business Interest) Re-appointed in February
2013, Mr. Burton is a Broker Associate with Premiere Plus Realty in
Naples. He is a native Floridian, and has been a local resident for over
30 years. His background is in commercial and residential real estate
as well as the landscape nursery industry. His skills include areas like
contract negotiations, construction and appraisals. He studied
Agricultural Economics at the University of Florida, Warrington
College of Business and is active in the Naples Area Board of
Realtors. Mr. Burton’s appointment ended Feb 11, 2016.
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• Clarence Tears - Clarence Tears, Jr. - (Environmental and Conservation Interest) Mr. Tears
served from February 2010 to January 2016. Prior 2014, Mr. Tears had been
the Director of the Big Cypress Basin /South Florida Water Management
District, serving since October 1996, until he retired in early 2014. He was
responsible for the management of water resources for the public’s health,
safety, and welfare in Collier and northwest Monroe Counties with
experience spanning more than 24 years. Mr. Tears has served in numerous
positions of community leadership including graduate of Leadership Florida,
Chairman of Leadership Collier Class of 2001, Chairman Lake Trafford
Restoration Task Force, and appointment to the Immokalee Area Master
Plan Committee and 951 Horizon Study. He an active member of the US
Air Force Reserves with more than 24 years of service.
3. Program Lands Acquisition Status
At the December 13, 2016 Board meeting (Agenda Item 10B) Commissioner Saunders presented
an item calling for the re-establishment of funding of the Conservation Collier Program. Staff was
asked to come back in January 2017 with a report on current status of the program and options for
gauging public sentiment regarding re-authorization of the levy. The options staff brought back
on 1/24/17 (Agenda Item 11-C) included informal polling already done by the Trust for Public
Lands (TPL) and proposals for a poll. No specific decision was made but staff was asked to come
back in February to further explore funding options.
At the February 14, 2017 Board meeting, Commissioner McDaniel came back with a plan to start
acquisitions immediately by borrowing from the Land Management Trust Fund and going to
referendum later, presumably in 2018, to recoup the funds. The final Board vote at that meeting
was to use up to $17 million of Land Management Trust Funds and restart the program. At that
time, it was thought that a countywide referendum could be done in 2018, but there was another
tax increase also proposed for 2018, the one penny tax. After subsequent considerations of
including Conservation Collier as a beneficiary of the one penny tax, it was determined in June
not to do this and to wait until 2020 for a referendum so as not to compete with the one-penny tax.
In April 2017, staff brought back an executive summary to the Board to expand the membership
of the CCLAAC in anticipation of a land acquisition phase for the program. At that time, the goal
was to seek the A and B list properties from the 2011 AAL.
In June 2017, staff was asked to bring an item to the Board giving an historic overview and status
of the Conservation Collier Program. At that time, staff was told to include new properties in
addition to existing A & B properties. This set the cycle 9 timing back by several months, as
typically, the cutoff for applications in a cycle was June (six months for applications and six
months to develop the list).
In July 2017, the Board discussed proposed millage rates and considered adopting millage for
Conservation Collier in the FY18 budget. After much public comment it was decided not to
include Conservation Collier in the FY18 budget but to look at including it in the one-penny tax.
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That idea was also unsuccessful as it was opposed by local Conservation organizations. The
fallback plan was a public referendum in 2020.
In November 2017 staff was asked to bring an item regarding possible changes to program
selection criteria and to the Board. As many of the property reports were already completed by
that time, it would have set the program back even further to change the criteria midway in a cycle.
Staff’s proposal was to develop a Resolution allowing the Board to better focus existing criteria
for this cycle. The Board declined to sign the Resolution.
In February 2018, staff was asked to approach the Board again, go through the acquisition cycle
process again and get direction regarding the program criteria, again. Since the cycle was nearly
completed by this time, a discussion about changing criteria at this point was potentially
cataclysmic. Staff brought back the Resolution further focusing criteria for a future cycle, which
the Board did sign.
In April 2018, staff brought the CCLAAC-recommended Active Acquisition List to the Board.
The CCLAAC recommended all but one of the offered properties, and staff recommended only
buying the Hack property and continuing acquisitions in the multi-parcel projects using funds
donated through the offsite preservation option in the LDC (03.05.07). The Board only approved
both the Gore and Hack properties for acquisition, citing concern about spending Conservation
Collier funds which may be needed during hurricane season, but approved the acquisition of multi-
parcel projects parcels with offsite preservation donations. Staff was asked to come back in July
to discuss the remainder of the recommended properties.
In July 2018, staff brought back the remainder of the CCLAAC-recommended properties to the
Board, recommending placing them on the “B” List until additional funding could be secured. The
Board approved the entire list as A-List properties and asked staff to develop more information
and return in the fall of 2018.
Staff plans to return to the Board in December 2019, 2 years after cycle 9 was started, still
recommending not to acquire the remaining 7 properties on the Cycle 9 AAL until a dedicated
source of funding can be found. At this time the Gore property is close to acquisition and the Hack
parcel owners have refused the County’s offer.
In addition to the cycle 9 properties, Conservation Collier also acquired properties between 2016
and 2018 through the offsite preservation option for developers in the Land Development Code
and also had approval to approach the Board for “good deals.” No “good deals” were offered,
but 6.6 acres were acquired in the multi-parcel projects as donations, and approx. $120,000 was
received as monetary donations. These donations were used to acquire an additional 11.15 acres
in the multi-parcel projects for $105,700. See listings in Tables 2. and 3.– Good Deals, Land
Donation and Monetary Donations - and 3. – Multi-parcel project parcels acquired in 2018 -
below.
Table 2. Good Deals, Land Donations
Good Deals: None acquired between 2016 and 2018.
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Land Donations: The following land donations under the Offsite Preservation option in the Land
Development code (LDC 3.05.07, H.1.f. iii. a. and b.) were accepted by the Board between 2016 and
2018:
Owner Acres MPP
Location
Endowment
Provided
Assessed
Value
Board
Approved
/Item
Number
Date
Closed
PNC Bank
Donation
1.14 Winchester
Head
$0 (Straight
Donation)
$15,134 4/26/16 –
16A19
8/24/16
Lane Park 1.14 Winchester
Head
$19,608 $13,620 12/13/16 –
16D1
4/26/16
Richmond
Park
1.59 Winchester
Head
$6,193.05 $18,997 1/10/17 – D5 12/8/17
Vincentian
PUD
2.73 Red Maple
Swamp
$10,633.35 $21,431 10/25/16 –
11E
2/22/17
Total 6.6 $36,434 $69,182
Table 3. Monetary Donations
Monetary Donations: The following monetary donations were accepted by the Board between
2016 and 2017.
Owner Land
Acquisition
Provided
Endowment
Provided
Board
Approved/Item
Number
Date
Received
Earmark
Chatham Woods $33,499.30
$8,374.82
12/13/16 16D1 12/14/16 Multi-parcel
projects
(MPPs)
Comcast Data
Facility
$1,775.94
$443.98
3/28/17 16D1 4/5/17 MPPs
Naples Self Storage $36,030.56
$9,007.64
4/11/17 16D4 5/23/17 MPPs
Price Street and 41 $48,641.26
$12,160.31
Administratively
Approved
5/28/17 MPPs
Total $119,947.06
$29,986.75
*Donations through the LDC section 3.05.07, H.1.f. iii. a.
The Land Development Code off-site vegetation retention provision provides the criteria and
process for land and endowment donations. Two approved multi-parcel projects (MMPs),
Winchester Head (aka North Golden Gate Estates (NGGE) Unit 65) and Red Maple Swamp (aka
NGGE Unit 53) are active in accepting donations. In July 2015, after accepting 6 land donations,
the Board directed staff to review the current endowment donation amount with the Conservation
Collier Land Acquisition Advisory Committee (CCLAAC) and the Development Services
Advisory Committee (DSAC) for recommendations to amend the LDC to increase the long-term
management endowment. On 7/10/18, fully 2 years later, the Board approved the revised off-site
preservation section of the Land Development Code. In this amendment, the size of preserve that
can be taken offsite was reduced to ½ acre and endowment fees were increased. Several projects
have elected to utilize the offsite preservation monetary option during 2018, but these donations
14
have not yet come to fruition. Per Board direction from April 24, 2018 (Agenda Item 11B),
donation funds received are being used to acquire properties within the MMPs.
Multi Parcel Projects Acquisition with Donation Funds: Since the start of the offsite preservation
option in 2010, monetary donations in the amount of $700,600 have been received, with $440,000
designated for land acquisition and $260,600 designated for land management. A total of $18,919
have been used for land management at the Gordon River Greenway addition and in the Red Maple
Swamp Preserve in 2016 and 2018. A total of $179,226 has been used for acquisition starting with
the CDC parcel (Gordon River Greenway Addition) in 2015 and 6 parcels within the MMPs in
2018, as noted below.
The following properties were acquired or are in the acquisition process after the Cycle 9 Active
Acquisition List (AAL) was approved by the Board on 4/24/18 (Item 11B):
Table 4. Multi-parcel Property Acquisitions in 2018
Owner Acres Location Cost Assessed
Value
Date
Acquired/Status
Thurston 1.14 Red Maple
Swamp
$6,555 $8,949 Acquired 5/17/18
Celsnak 2.73 Red Maple
Swamp
$15,698 $21,431 Acquired 5/16/18
Romak 1.14 Red Maple
Swamp
$6,555 $8,949 Acquired 7/23/18
Bueno 2.73 Winchester Head $34,125 $36,241 Going through
probate
Wallace 1.14 Winchester Head $14,250 $15,134 Acquired 5/31/18
Wilson/Foster/Smith 1.14 Winchester Head $14,250 $15,134 Going through
probate
Mejia 1.14 Winchester Head $14,250 $15,134 Acquired 6/12/18
Total 11.16 $105,683 $120,972
15
Program Land Management Status
Properties are presented alphabetically. All photos and maps shown were created and taken by
Program staff unless otherwise indicated. Preserves are categorized for public use in the
following manner:
Category 1 – Primary Use Preserve; easily accessible with public amenities and parking.
Category 2 – Intermediate Use Preserve; few to no amenities, limited parking, primitive trails.
Category 3 – Neighborhood Preserve; no onsite parking or amenities other than benches, trails
and picnic table.
Category 4 – Seasonal Use Preserve; may have parking and trails but will be closed during
seasonal rainfall months.
Category 5 – Resource Protection/Restoration Preserve; currently no public access due to lack
of physical or legal access or where there are unsafe conditions for the public.
Alligator Flag – 7875 Immokalee Road, North Naples. This 18.46 acre Category 4, seasonal
use preserve is located on the north side of Immokalee Road across
from Gulf Coast High school. It was acquired in July 2006 at a cost of
$4,960,000 or $268,741 per acre. It is open to foot traffic between
dawn and dusk during dry season as the preserve floods in the summer.
There is no dedicated parking and no restroom, but it does have an
approximately 1 mile long established trail system and resting bench.
Visitation at this preserve is mostly from surrounding residents and
from the nearby schools.
This preserve is representative of several of the typical habitat types in
Collier County, including seasonally flooded cypress-pine-cabbage
palm, cypress wetlands and pine flatwoods. Seventy-eight species of
plants have been identified growing on the preserve, including 4
species protected by the State of Florida (3 bromeliads and 1 fern). Many species of wildlife have
been recorded on the preserve, including wetland dependent and migratory bird species, black
bear, deer, raccoon, and snakes. The preserve is also suitable for foraging by the state and federally
endangered wood stork, and is home to the state threatened Big Cypress fox squirrel. This preserve
provides outfall to the Immokalee Road canal for an identified flow way connecting with the
adjacent 160-acre Olde Cypress PUD preserve, to larger undeveloped areas to the north, and the
60,000-acre Corkscrew Marsh Complex to the northeast.
In 2016 and 2017, the emphasis focused on general trail maintenance. A monitoring project for
the Big Cypress Fox Squirrel was initiated by the University of Arizona. The study is scheduled
to be completed in June 2019 and results will be provided to staff. Hurricane Irma in September
2017 downed many tree branches and scattered debris, but no significant damage was done. The
preserve was reopened to the public in November 2017. In June 2018 a people counter was
installed to gauge visitation. The counter was installed in April 2018 and counted 50 persons a
week accessing the preserve that month. That number fell off during the summer to 20 persons
per week. Counts are approximations. Exotic removal continued through 2018.
16
Camp Keais Strand Parcels - The Camp Keais
Strand project, a Category 2 resource protection preserve
constitutes 6 parcels totaling 32.5 acres within the Flowway
Stewardship area of the Rural Lands Stewardship Area,
south of Oil Well Road and east of Desoto Boulevard in
Sections 31 and 32, Township 48 South, Range 29 East.
These parcels were acquired between 2008 and 2009 for a
total cost of $81,250 or $2,500 per acre. Three of the
parcels are contiguous and three are non-contiguous.
Because there is no legal access established to the properties
and physical access to this area is dangerous and difficult,
staff has not visited the properties other than to view them from above by airplane at the time they
were offered. To the best of staff’s knowledge, the parcels are comprised of cypress forest,
freshwater marsh and mesic pine flatwood vegetation communities.
Most of the land in the vicinity is owned by large agribusiness in
section sized parcels; however, within the two Sections where these
are located, the parcels have been subdivided into 1 to 80-acre
parcels and are owned by private individuals and agencies. The
Conservancy of SW Florida and the South Florida Water
Management District (SFWMD) also own parcels within this area.
An Interim Management Plan (IMP) update was approved by the
Board on 12/8/15 (Agenda Item 16D9), and again on 4/10/18
(Agenda Item 16D5). The Conservation Collier Financial Plan
does not provide for management of these parcels . The approved
Interim Management Plan will be reviewed every 2 years for
changes in conditions and is in effect a monitoring plan until
current access conditions improve.
Caracara Prairie – 2320 Corkscrew Road. This Category 2, 367.7-acre, intermediate use
preserve is located in the unincorporated northeast area of Collier
County at the east end of Corkscrew Road at the Lee/Collier County
boundary. It was acquired in December 2007 for $5,032,000, or
$13,685 per acre in partnership with the Corkscrew Regional
Ecosystem (CREW) Trust, who contributed $300,000 toward the
purchase price. The parcel is surrounded on 3 sides by CREW lands.
This preserve is open to the public year-round from dawn to dusk for
hiking and wildlife viewing. A three-mile trail system connects with
adjoining CREW Cypress Dome trails and parking, located
approximately 1 mile north. Visitation at this preserve is growing
during dry season but low during the wet season.
The preserve contains three distinct native vegetation communities, prairie, depressional marsh
wetlands and mesic pine flatwoods. The pastures provide habitat for native Florida wildlife species
including the federally endangered Florida panther, state threatened Florida sandhill crane and the
federally endangered crested caracara.
17
The preserve lies within Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC)-designated
priority panther habitat and within the FWC Corkscrew Regional Ecosystem Watershed (CREW)
Wildlife Environmental Area (WEA), a designation that permits recreational hunting with FWC
oversight. This preserve was also utilized for U.S. Fish and Wildlife (USFWS) panther mitigation
for the Collier County Solid Waste Department’s Resource Recovery Park in 2014.
This preserve currently has a cattle lease which is planned to be phased out over time. Eagle
Scouts have provided hiking gates, tables, resting benches and an information kiosk. In 2016, a
prescribed burn for fuel reduction was performed with good results. Additionally, one-hundred
(100) Cordgrass plantings took place in the northwest marsh. Monitoring of wildlife camera
surveys continued throughout 2016, 2017 and 2018 with panther, deer, hogs, turkey, owl, cattle
egret, great blue heron and other species noted. Hurricane Irma in September 2017 downed many
trees, requiring extensive cleanup which was completed, and the preserve reopened in December
2017. In July 2018, another 29 acres were burned in the southwest section of the parcel to reduce
understory, reduce hazardous fuel buildup, improve wildlife habitat, improve vegetation diversity,
and increase native grasses and forbs. In October 2018, staff received notice from the Florida
Department of Environmental Protection that the leaseholder for the Oil, Gas, and Mineral Rights
(OGMs) has applied for re-drilling an exploratory test oil well on the site (Permit Application
#1335D) and has requested a surface lease. Staff has responded by requesting that specific
protections for the site and its wildlife be built into the permit and requesting assistance from the
County Attorney’s Office in regard to a Surface Lease.
Cocohatchee Creek– 1880 Veterans Park Drive, North Naples.
This 3.64-acre preserve is located along Veterans Park Drive just outside
the entrance to Veterans Community Park off Immokalee Road in North
Naples. It is a Category 2, intermediate use preserve. Parking, restroom
facilities and handicapped parking are located at Veteran’s Community
Park, a short walk away. A shell trail winds approximately 700 feet
through the preserve to a picnic area under the oaks along the
Cocohatchee Creek. The portion of the trail leading to the picnic area is
handicapped accessible. Table, bench and trash/recycle receptacles are
provided. Visitation is approximately a dozen people a day. Two Eagle Scout projects have been
developed here. The first is a seating area at the north entrance and the second is a viewing
platform next to the creek at the picnic area.
18
This preserve contains one of the priority plant communities
targeted in the Conservation Collier ordinance: riverine oak.
Remnant patches of upland scrub (another program priority)
pine flatwoods and cabbage palm forest make up the
remainder of the upland habitats. A portion of Cocohatchee
creek is included within preserve boundaries. This small
freshwater creek separates the preserve from the neighboring
residential development and contains wetlands used by
foraging wading birds. The preserve buffers and protects
this creek, which flows north to the County’s Wiggins Pass.
The preserve is also home to several gopher tortoises, a state
species of special concern. In 2016, with assistance from
FWC, the creek was treated to remove invasive grass.
Additionally, herbicide maintenance applications are
applied to control exotic weeds and poison ivy. In
September 2019 Hurricane Irma dropped tree limbs and
other debris in the preserve, but these were cleaned up and the preserve reopened to the public in
October 2017. The management focus is on keeping the preserve free of exotic plants and trash,
keeping the creek free of exotic plants, maintaining the trail, and monitoring the resident gopher
tortoises.
Freedom Park – 1515 Golden Gate Parkway, Naples.
This 12.5-acre Category 1, primary use preserve is part of
the larger Freedom Park (50 acres total), formerly called
the Gordon River Water Quality Park. After the County
had acquired Freedom Park in 2004 under a Florida
Communities Trust
(FCT) Grant, the
eastern 12.5 acres
were sold to the
Conservation Collier
Program for
$56,300.
Freedom Park is associated with the Gordon River Greenway
Corridor, a 2-mile ecological trail corridor centrally located
within the Naples-Collier County urban area. One overall
Land Management Plan was developed and approved by the Board and FCT for management of
both Freedom Park and the Gordon River Greenway Park. The Freedom Park preserve portion is
located on the eastern side of the park and encompasses natural wetlands. Responsibilities for this
park are shared between the Parks and Recreation Department, Stormwater Department and
Conservation Collier, as shown on the map. Conservation Collier benefits by the presence of onsite
restrooms and parking maintained by Parks and Recreation. The Conservation Collier portion has
a boardwalk on it that is also maintained by the Parks and Recreation Department.
19
Habitat on the Freedom Park Preserve portion is freshwater tidal swamp with a small hammock
containing a mix of wetland hardwood tree species and cabbage palms. Numerous wetland
dependent bird species utilize the wetlands and listed wildlife observed includes Big Cypress fox
squirrels, tricolored herons, little blue herons and snowy egrets.
Ongoing maintenance of multiple exotic species along the boardwalk, trail and berms throughout
the preserve was facilitated during 2016 and 2017 by staff and private contractors. This preserve
is well used by the public. In June 2018 a people counter was installed to gauge visitation. The
counter was installed in May 2018 and counted 400 persons per week accessing the preserve that
month. That number peaked in June to 600 persons, fell to about 400 per week for the remainder
of the summer and is counting 600 per week again starting in September 2018. Counts are
approximations. Exotic removal continued through 2018.
Gordon River Greenway – 1596 Golden Gate Parkway, Naples. The 117.6-acre Gordon
River Greenway Park is a signature property and partnership
project including Conservation Collier, Parks and
Recreation, SW Florida Land PreservationTrust,
Conservancy of Southwest Florida, Naples Zoo, Naples
Municipal Airport and City of Naples. Conservation
Collier’s portion is 50.51 acres at the south side of the Park.
Joining with Parks and Recreation as one seamless project
has enabled Conservation Collier to maintain the preserve
qualities of the property, yet provide access via a paved trail
and boardwalk, and access to parking, restrooms and other
amenities that are not typically found on conservation lands.
The Gordon River Greenway is a category 1 preserve,
indicating it is a primary use preserve, easily accessible with
public amenities and parking. There are over 2 miles of
boardwalks and trails on the entire project with a third of a
mile on the Conservation Collier portion. The initial 43-
acre preserve property was acquired in April 2006 for a cost
of $2,085,900, or $48,509 per acre. An additonal 7.51 acres
was acquired in
November 2015
for $400,000, or $53,262 per acre. The development of
trails, boardwalks and construction added $1,755,496
for a total project cost of $4,241,396. The Park was
opened to the public in November 2014 and is
extremely popular with residents and visitors.
Habitats seen from the trail on the Conservation Collier
preserve portion include the Gordon River, wetland
hardwoods, scrub and mangrove forest. The preserve is
home to many species of native and protected wildlife including numerous species of wading birds,
migrating bird species, alligators, gopher tortoises, Big Cypress fox squirrel and manatees. A 17-
20
acre gopher tortoise preserve lies within the overall park, with a portion of that inside Conservation
Collier’s portion. The preserve contains wetland mitigation areas where, after exotics are
removed, staff will monitor native plant recruitment and potentially add supplemental plantings.
In the summer of 2015, an Eagle Scout project and an FGCU work day, provided restoration
plantings in upland areas where exotics were removed. In July 2017, another Eagle Scout istalled
plant signs along the trail. Numerous listed plant species have been observed within the preserve
area and are being routinely monitored. Initial archeological surveys discovered an historic spoil
pile on Conservation Collier lands but it did not qualify for listing on the National Register of
Historic Places. Collection of artifacts or disturbance of archeological or historical sites is
prohibited. Interpretive signage is in the development process and nearly completed.
2016 began with a post storm/tornado assessment with several trees down and blocking boardwalk
but no damage to infrastructure. 2016 and 2017 continued with trail and boardwalk monitoring
and removal of exotics by hand or chemically throughout preserve. In fall of 2017, Hurricane Irma
did damage to the forest and some trees were removed but more were staked and retained. Minor
damage to the boardwalk was repaired in earl y 2018. In late 2017, the new 7.51-acre portion that
was added in 2015 had a mulched trail installed and was planted with native species as part of an
Eagle Scout planting project to restore areas where significant exotics had been removed. The
planting project was completed in summer 2018.
This preserve is well used by the public. In April 2018 a people counter was installed to gauge
visitation. The counter was installed in May 2018 and counted 3,250 persons per week accessing
the preserve that month. That number fell in June to 2,000 persons and has stayed in that range
for the remainder of the summer through September 2018. Counts are approximations. Exotic
removal continued through 2018.
Logan Woods – 831 Logan Blvd, Naples. Logan Woods is a 6.78-acre Category 3
neighborhood preserve located on the northwest corner of the
intersection of Logan Blvd. and Pine Ridge Road, about one
mile east of I-75 at the Pine Ridge Raod exit. It was purchased
in October 2005 for $711,983, or $105,012 per acre. The
Transportation Department partnered with Conservation
Collier to acquire future road Right Of Way both along Pine
Ridge Road and Logan Blvd. Until this portion is needed for
road expansion, it will be managed as preserve land. There
is an approximately 700-foot mulched trail, bike rack, picnic
table, bench, trash and recycle receptacles at the preserve. The
preserve is used regularly by neighbors.
21
This preserve was acquired primarily as green space. The
surrounding residential community strongly supported its
acquistion and made that support known to the Conservation
Collier Committee and Commissioners. Their support was a
critical factor in the decision to purchase this preserve. The
vegetation community present is typical for Collier County –
Cypress-pine-cabbage palm. It was severely infested with
melaleuca and Brazilian pepper prior to acquistion. Extensive
exotic removal was funded by the Florida Department of
Environmental Protection, Bureau of Invasive Plant
Management. The University of Florida also removed melaleuca on a neighboring property to
avoid reinfestation using their TAME Melaleuca Project. The primary goal for this preserve is to
keep it clean and safe and to maintain the trail and picnic area for use by visitors.
Exotic maintenance control continued in 2016 as well as general trail maintenance by several
voulunteer groups and individuals. The north property fence painting was assisted by 28 students
from St. John Neumann High School in early 2017. In 2016 and 2017 removing a dead pine tree
leaning over neighboring property hastened an evaluation of several other large pines along the
preserve border. Residents wanting to remove these pines prompted the CCLAAC to consider a
tree policy for urban preserves, which will come forward when finalized. Unfortunately, many of
the trees residents were concerned about fell on their homes in Hurricane Irma. The tree canopy
in the preserve was significantly impacted. Many large pines fell and were subsequently removed.
McIlvane Marsh- No address assigned. This Category 5, resource protection preserve is
located northeast of Marco Island and
southwest of the intersection of U.S. 41
(Tamiami Trail) and County Road 92 (San
Marco Road). The McIlvane Marsh is an 800-
acre mangrove salt marsh with unpaved gated
access from Curcie Road off CR 92.
Conservation Collier owns 9 parcels totaling
378.87 acres in a mosaic pattern with the State
of Florida (329 acres), Collier County
Transportation Department (20 acres) and
private owners (80 acres). It was acquired
between May 2007 and January 2012 for a cost
of $2,804,791, or $7,403 per acre. There is
currently no public access. It has an approved
Interim Management Plan with the key objective to protect the habitat onsite, most recently
updated on 4/10/18 (Agenda Item 16D2).
22
McIlvane Marsh is a tidally influenced wetland
consisting primaril y of open marsh and mangrove
wetlands with small upland island areas on its northern
and eastern edges. Approximately 15-acres of pine
flatwoods uplands exist on the north side of the marsh
and 6 acres of cleared uplands exist on the eastern edge
of the marsh. Any treatment and retreatment of exotic
vegetation is dependent on the planned management
activities of adjacent agency lands. Wildlife surveys
should be developed and coordinated with surrounding
conservation agencies to determine monitoring plan
goals, techniques and parameters.
Nancy Payton – 1540 Blue Sage Drive, located east of Golden Gate City, taking White Blvd
to 23rd St SW, turning south and then
traveling west on Brantley Blvd. to Blue Sage
Drive. This 71-acre Category 2, intermediate
use preserve was acquired in sections
between September 2005 and April 2010 for
a total cost of $2,507,250, or $35,313 per
acre. In December 2006, it was officially
renamed the “Nancy Payton Preserve” by the
Board of County Commissioners. Nancy
Payton recently retired after working for
many years for the Florida Wildlife
Federation and has been very active in the
preservation of this Collier County Belle
Meade Area.
Management of this preserve balances resource restoration and
protection with natural resource-based recreational and
educational use. This preserve is covered under a US Fish and
Wildlife Service “Safe Harbor Agreement” to implement
management actions that will provide a net conservation benefit
for the Red Cockaded woodpecker (Federal–E). The preserve
opened to the public in May 2015, however, access issues exist.
Blue Sage Drive is an unpaved easement road that is in very poor
condition. Staff is researching road improvement potential. The
public can access this site and educational tours for summer camps and other groups have been
conducted at the site. A nature trail, benches, picnic tables and educational interpretive signs have
been provided for visitors, with contributions by Eagle Scouts.
Downed trees across the trail from the J anuary 2016 tornado were removed and an interpretive
sign damaged by the tornado was repaired. Additionally, cameras were installed as problems with
ATV riders increased in 2016 and 2017. In early 2017, a wildlife camera was destroyed by vandals
and a police case was opened, but no charges were filed as the perpetrator was not discovered.
23
After Hurricane Irma in fall of 2017, multiple trees and limbs were down blocking the trail and the
parking area. Following Hurricane Irma, a wildfire was started by a lightning strike. Trees were
cleared from trails by November 2017 and the preserve was reopened to the public. In 2018, there
were 3 breeding bird surveys dome on the property expanding the bird list. Also, Gopher Tortoise
surveys were conducted in 2016, 2017 and 2018 (with help from FWC) which included mapping
of burrows. Maintenance of exotics continued throughout the preserve. This preserve is a
destination site for bird watching. Exotic removal continued through 2018.
Otter Mound – 1831 Addison Court, Marco Island. Otter
Mound Preserve is a 2.46-acre
Category 2, intermediate use urban
preserve located in southwestern
Collier County in a residential area of
Marco Island. The preserve was
acquired between 2004 and 2007 for
$2,064,976, or $839,421 per acre. The
entire preserve site is a Calusa shell
mound (c. 700 A.D.-1200 A.D.) that contains artifacts of both
archaeological and historical significance. Access to the preserve is from
Osceola Court and Addison Court - with 3-space public parking available
including handicapped space at the entrance. It is
Otter Mound Preserve was purchased because it contains tropical hardwood hammock habitat, a
priority habitat designated by the Conservation Collier Ordinance (2007-65, as amended, Section
10.1.a.). In addition, the preserve contains the following features that make it an important
archaeological and historical site: undisturbed Calusa shell mounds, a historic pioneer structure
(outhouse), and shell terracing that runs along the northern and western sections of the property.
The location of the preserve in the urban area provides an opportunity for citizens, visitors, and
school-age children to view this habitat type and some Island history without traveling far.
Otter Mound Preserve is well used by Marco
Island residents and visitors including numerous
local bike tours, neighbors who routinely walk the
preserve and students and other local groups who
gather for educational programs given by staff.
The City of Marco Island partners with
Conservation Collier to maintain the Right of Way
in front of the preserve.
In March 2016, staff called the Marco Island
Police to open a case stemming from complaints of
drug activity going on at night in the preserve. Staff installed cameras and reques ted increased
police patrols, and the problem ceased. The case was closed in December 2017 because there
never was a specific person of interest identified.
24
During 2016 and 2017, general trail maintenance by staff and volunteer groups (FGCU and the
Sunrise Rotary of Marco Island), including hand pulling and chemical applications for exotics by
staff, was ongoing. During this time there were continuing disease issues with gumbo limbo trees,
remaining from a 2013 infestation of an unknown organism that caused gumbo limbo trees to
collapse, requiring removal. Tissue samples had been sent to the Florida Division of Plant
Industry, which were inconclusive, and Dr. Doug Caldwell at IFAS was asked to come evaluate
the infestation. Several trees were treated with Imidacloprid as a test, but widespread treatment
was not pursued on advice from IFAS./UF. This problem subsided but the preserve was still
losing gumbos in 2017. A total of 6 large gumbo limbo trees were removed after collapsing. There
was never a specific disease agent identified. As of October 2018, no additional gumbo limbos
have collapsed.
In the fall of 2017, Hurricane Irma decimated the preserve, felling at least 20 large royal Poinciana
trees and taking most of the existing canopy. Many of the downed trees that did not impact the
trail remain where they fell. As budgets allow, the downed trees will be removed but they are not
impacting visitation.
The trail was reopened for visitors in December 2017. In January 2018, the Sunrise Marco Rotary
members had a workday cleaning and re-mulching the trail. Since then, routine management has
been done to clear exotics and maintain the trail. Visitation is high at this preserve, as local tour
operations take their visitors here and the Marco Island Museum hands out brochures and
recommends visitation to its visitors.
Pepper Ranch – 6315 Pepper Road, Immokalee. Pepper Ranch Preserve, a Category 1
preserve located west of the town of
Immokalee and north of Lake
Trafford, is the largest of the
Conservation Collier Preserves at
2,512 acres. It was acquired in
February 2009 for $32,525,080, or
$12,948 per acre. The perception
continues to exist that Conservation
Collier paid too much for the
property, although it was actually
some of the least expensive land
(per acre) that was acquired by the
program – on par with lots acquired
in North Golden Gate Estates.
Since its acquisition, staff has been
working to remove trash and exotic
plant species, document wildlife and plants, and develop trails, programs, permit the ranch for
mitigation, and provide public amenities. Currently there are approximately 15 miles of trails for
use by hikers, mountain bikers and horseback riders. The ranch has an active cattle lease, primarily
to maintain pasture areas and for security purposes, which also provides revenue of $24,000 per
25
year. A limited hunt program provides opportunities for young hunters to learn the skill and for
County residents to hunt hog, a pest animal that damages habitat with its rooting, and some deer
and turkey, if population surveys allow. The hunt program pays for itself with fees. In 2015, a
small boardwalk and covered overlook was built that provides a beautiful view of Lake Trafford.
There is an active oil operation on the western side in 2 quarter sections
(330 acres) where there is one operating and two non-operating wells. The
producing well pulls approximately 80 barrels of oil daily. While most of
the oil, gas and mineral rights on the preserve are owned by Collier County,
the 2 quarter-sections have had the rights severed and are owned by a
private entity and leased to an operator - Hendry Energy Services. The oil
company maintains the lime rock ranch road.
In 2014, program staff submitted an application for a Conservation Bank to
US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), with the intention of banking and
selling Panther Habitat Units to County Departments needing panther mitigation credits. No
response was received from USFWS until December 2015, when USFWS responded to the
original proposal submission with encouragement. A finalized proposal was submitted in 2018 and
approved by the Board on October 9, 2018 (Agenda Item 16D6). The resulting Conservation Bank
will provide 8,669 Panther Habitat Units (PHUs) for development of future County projects at a
cost savings of $1,077,123.25.
Staff is also working with the Lake Trafford Management Team, a multi-agency group seeking to
address water quality issues in Lake Trafford. Conservation Collier has collaborated with UF/IFAS
on a project to redefine the watershed boundaries for Lake Trafford to determine what inputs may
be affecting the lake’s water quality. That project was completed in December 2016, and the data
will be used to inform future restoration of the preserve. It is anticipated that restoration activities
on the preserve will primarily involve blocking and filling ditches that lead into Lake Trafford
with adjacent berm material. Staff has been applying for an FWC grant for several years to conduct
the modeling portion of the project. It has been turned down 3 times, but FWC staff still appear
interested and discussions are ongoing. Depending upon the results from the modeling, restoration
along the ditch leading to Lake Trafford may also include some type of engineered flap structure
or weir to allow only a one-way flow of water from Pepper Ranch to Lake Trafford. Staff has
been consulting with the Big Cypress Basin to determine opportunities for SFWMD assistance
with funding of the construction, but the project will require significant matching funds from
Conservation Collier, which will need to be budgeted for FY20, as they are currently not budgeted.
The preserve boasts 10 distinct types of natural
plant communities, including forests, hammocks,
flatwoods, prairies, marshes, swamps, strands and
sloughs. Four hundred and fifteen (415) plant
species have been recorded at the preserve. Fifty–
two (52) bird species have been documented. with
ten (10) listed species, including Audubon’s crested
caracara, bald eagle, Florida sandhill crane, limpkin,
roseate spoonbill, and woodstork.
26
One of the major reasons to protect habitat is to
protect the species that use it. The entire area of
the ranch is included within the Florida Fish and
Wildlife Conservation Commission-designated
Primary Panther Habitat. Panthers are routinely
seen and recorded on wildlife cameras at the
preserve. Other wildlife on the ranch includes
Florida black bears, bobcats, big cypress fox
squirrels, coyotes, deer, wild hogs, alligators,
and snakes.
Public activities at the Preserve include festivals
and guided hikes. Staff developed a volunteer-
led hike program for the 2016 season, with four
Master Naturalists recruited and trained to provide the hikes at no charge to the visiting public.
Four hikes occurred during the 2016 season and 3 during early 2017, however the program was
halted during the remainder of 2017 and 2018 because staff was fully engaged with the 9th
acquisition cycle.
Additional activities at the preserve between
2016 and 2018 included monitoring, exotic
removals, and assisting with youth hunts, general
hunts, special events (Earth Day/Sunflower
Festival), general camping and Eagle Scout
construction projects. Trail maintenance,
including walking and biking, continued as did
exotic maintenance and debris removal
throughout the preserve. Hurricane Irma, in late
2017, created debris throughout the preserve, but
much of the debris along the trail system has been
removed and all trails were reopened by January
2018. Mid-summer 2018 saw a large grant
funded exotic removal project completed. Staff opened the Preserve for 2 weekends, in late Sept
and early October 2018 for sunflower viewing, with 2,066 people attending to view the spectacular
display!
Cycle 9 is poised to add an additional 1,035 acres on the south side of the preserve, but this
potential will not be realized, if at all, until 2019.
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Panther Walk – 2845 60th Ave NE, Golden Gate Estates.
The preserve is located west of Everglades Blvd., north of
Oil Well Road, and extends between 60th Ave and 62nd Ave
NE in North Golden Gate Estates in S31 T 47 R28. This
preserve consists of 10.69 acres acquired between 2007 and
2014, with 5.00 acres of that a donation accepted under the
Land Development Code off-site vegetation retention
provision (LDC 3.05.07, H.1.f. iii. b.) and another 1.14-acres
accepted as a straight donation. The cost for the purchased
portions of the preserve (4.55 acres) was $93,130, or
$20,468 per acre. In 2009, the adjacent Estates Elementary
School held a preserve naming contest and the winning
name of “Panther Walk Preserve” was chosen by a student
and was approved by the Board. This is a Category 4,
seasonal use preserve. A seasonally accessible trail allows
visitors to cross the property between 60th and 62nd Aves NE.
Native plant communities within the preserve include high quality
cypress wetlands, which are part of a larger wetland slough system
known as Horsepen Strand. To date, 64 plant species have been
recorded on the preserve. Conservation Collier staff conducted
floristic inventories in 2006, 2007 and June 2010. Two listed plant
species have been documented and the preserve contains habitat
used by listed species including Florida sandhill cranes, wood
storks, Florida panthers and mangrove fox squirrels.
In addition to its Estates zoning, this parcel is subject to the Golden
Gate Area Master Plan, which has as Objective 1.3 to protect and
preserve valuable natural resources. Also, as part of the Watershed
Management Plan, County staff is conceptually considering projects
to enhance flows of surface water through the Horsepen Strand and
to make this a “sending” area in a TDR and/or Watershed Mitigation Program. A Vacant Land
Market Analysis done in November 2016 estimated the market value as $10,000 per acre. The
Property Appraiser tax assessment is approximately $6,750 per acre.
For 2016, 2017 and 2018, exotic control has been ongoing Visitation is minimal to this preserve.
28
Railhead Scrub – 14510 Old US 41, North Naples. Railhead Scrub
Preserve is an
approximately 135-
acre natural area
located in the
northwest corner of
Collier County, south
of the Railhead
Industrial Park and
east of Old US 41.
One of the first large
program purchases,
eighty acres of the
preserve were acquired in July 2004 for
$21,967,050, or $274,588 per acre. The
remaining 55 acres were acquired in June 2007 for $10,650,000, or $293.636 per acre. Currently
Railhead Scrub Preserve is a Category 5 (Resource Protection/Restoration) preserve and will
remain so until acceptable access can be secured. The preserve contains approximately 117 acres
of upland habitat, primarily pine flatwoods and xeric oak scrub/scrubby flatwoods, and 18 acres
of wetland habitat including cypress and hydric pine flatwoods. Xeric oak scrub is the second-
most preferred habitat type identified in the Conservation Collier Ordinance (2007-65, as
amended, Section 10.1.a.). This is some of the last
undeveloped xeric oak scrub in Collier County,
including less than 200 acres protected in Rookery Bay
National Estuarine Research Reserve and another 78
acres protected by the Hamilton Harbor PUD. The
previous owners of the parcel had plans to develop it
into an industrial park before it was acquired.
Public access to this site has been problematic. When
the first part of this preserve was acquired, in 2004, the
County Transportation Department had acquired Right
of Way (ROW) and had planned to develop a County
road along the south side of the preserve – called Veterans Memorial Blvd. When the second
portion of the preserve was acquired in 2007, the ROW bisected the north and south sides of the
preserve. Veterans Memorial Blvd. was the planned access point for parking and preserve access;
however, after the 2004 acquisition, Veterans Memorial Blvd. was delayed, first to the County’s
2017 Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP), and then to the 2035 LRTP. Staff attempted to
create a small parking area off the east side of Veterans’ Memorial Blvd. and utilize an existing 1-
mile trail westward along the ROW for hikers to access the preserve, but persons trespassing with
ATVs along the ROW to get to interior recreational areas damaged the gate and made the trail too
dangerous for hikers.
Along the western side of the northern portion and bisecting the southern side down the center,
there is a railroad owned by CSX Railroad and leased to Seminole Gulf Railway (see red line on
first Railhead map shown). This rail line presents an obstacle to public access from the west. For
29
the public to cross it, the County would be required to bring the crossing up to federal railroad
crossing standard, including grade elevation changes and installation of a railroad crossing signal,
and to lease the crossing with annual fees, both of which are cost prohibitive. A recent June 2018
conversation with Seminole Railway management resulted in them advising they are no longer
interested in providing pedestrian crosswalks. Additionally, the access road from Old US 41, Sun
Century Blvd., is a privatively maintained roadway. There is no visitor parking along this road.
Therefore, this preserve is not currently open to the public.
In 2016 and 2017, the breeches at the gates and along the fences continued. Trucks and ATVs
continue to damage fences and trespass at the preserve. Police are called, but trespassers are
generally gone by the time deputies get there. Camera installation and re-positioning continues
despite numerous attempts to damage and dislodge cameras. Preserve maintenance, including
exotic abatement, continues. In 2018, staff arranged limited access through the adjoining Railhead
commercial development and will partner with Florida Gulf Coast University to facilitate
herpetological surveys, with all data provided to Conservation Collier.
Red Maple Swamp – No address assigned. This Category 5 (currently) preserve is one of
two formally designated multi-parcel projects. This type of
project has proved challenging for the program. Challenges
include fluctuating values ranging from $7,500 to $15,000 over
multiple years of buying, unwilling sellers within the project
boundary, and lack of assurance that in-holding parcels can be
acquired in the future - a particular challenge of the willing-seller
environment. The project covers the entirety of North Golden
Gate Estates Unit 53, located north of the Twin Eagles PUD and
west of the County Fairgrounds. Between 2004 and 2011,
approx. 200 acres out of a total of 305 (66%) were acquired. In
the map, acquired parcels are shown as dark green, and donation
parcels in pink. Between 2016 and 2018, 7.7 acres were donated
or acquired within Red Maple Swamp.
The most recent valuation for both multi-parcel projects was
performed in July 2017 returning an average value of $5,570
per acre. This is significantly lower than a 2008 appraisal of
$15,842 per acre, and a 2009 appraisal of $7,500 per acre but
higher than a 2016 appraisal value of $3,650 per acre.
Property Appraiser’s Office taxable values are currently (as
of October 25, 2018) approximately $9,150 per acre. If
additional funds are identified to resume purchasing within
the multi-parcel projects, new appraisals will be obtained
before making offers.
Within NGGE Unit 53, a 53-acre contiguous area has been
acquired and initial exotic removals have been ongoing since
2013, with exotic maintenance on this area being done
30
annually. Grants for exotic removal totaling $70,000 were received from state agencies during
2017 and 2018.
There is no current public access; however, the area is easil y accessible via 41st Ave NW and
Shady Hollow Blvd. West. The parking lot and trail access for SFWMD’s Bird Rookery Swamp
and its 12 miles of hiking trails are located along Shady Hollow Blvd. West. Once enough parcels
are acquired to allow for comprehensive management, staff will evaluate creating trails that can
be linked up with Bird Rookery Swamp trails.
In 2016, 2017and 2018, routine maintenance consisted of site inspections and continued exotic
species management over a 50-acre contiguous area on the west side of the preserve. In 2018,
with additional acquisitions resulting in more contiguously-owned lands, another 40 acres were
treated on the eastern side.
Redroot – 1330 Limpkin Road, Big Corkscrew Island Community. This 9.26- acre, Category
2, intermediate use preserve was acquired in June 2006
for $440,000, or $47,516 per acre. The parcel is
located along Immokalee Road just east of the turn off
on Sanctuary Road to get to the Audubon Corkscrew
Swamp Sanctuary. The access for the parcel is along
Limpkin Road, which is the first right turn off
Sanctuary Road. The entire cost of the parcel was
$460,000. The Public Utilities Department partnered
with Conservation Collier for $20,000 to acquire a
15,000 square foot (150’ X 100’) at the northwest
corner for a
future well site.
When the well site is constructed, visitors will be able to
use a small parking area which will be placed on the well
site. Currently, parking for visitors is along Limpkin Road.
There is a little over half a mile of trails on the property,
which are often used by horseback riders. This preserve
was primarily acquired to establish a conservation presence
along Immokalee Road in the developing urban fringe.
There are two types of vegetation communities exiting at
the preserve: pine flat wood and freshwater marsh. The parcel lies within FWC priority 2 panther
habitat. Some of the adjacent properties are cleared and
developed but there still exists an intact ecological link
with Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary. This habitat
requires prescribed fire. Staff conducted a prescribed
fire in 2011 and completed a second one in December
2016, improving the habitat.
Exotic maintenance continued in 2016, 2017 and 2018.
Burned areas have regenerated and overall maintenance of trails continues.
31
Rivers Road – No address assigned at this time. Rivers Road Preserve is a 76.74-acre Category
2, intermediate use preserve acquired in
10 parcels between 2008 and 2010 for a
total cost of $5,128,300, or $66,826 per
acre. It is located south of Immokalee
Road, between and accessible by private
roads, Rivers Road and Moulder Road,
2.5 miles east of Collier Blvd. (CR 951) in
S30 T48 R27.
The 10 parcels were offered together by 6
different owners. There are 9 different
plant communities which include several
listed plant species. Wetlands exist onsite
and provide habitat for wetland dependent
plants and wildlife. The preservation of
these properties forms a contiguous conservation area connecting to a wildlife corridor that utilizes
an underpass under Immokalee Road to connect through Twin Eagles Development with the
60,000 acres of Conservation lands including the Bird Rookery Swamp and the Corkscrew Marsh
complex.
This preserve opened to the public with trails, picnic tables, and parking May 25, 2016. Grant
funds from FWC contributed to the initial exotic removal, completed in early 2015. Fire lines and
trails have been put in and an Eagle Scout installed a picnic area and benches along the trail. Trail
maintenance, including exotic species abatement, was
ongoing throughout 2016, 2017 and 2018. Eagle Scout
projects have contributed picnic table, and benches and a
kiosk to the preserve. In September 2017, Hurricane Irma
did significant damage to the preserve, with multiple trees
down over all trails and firebreaks and in the picnic area.
By December most of the downed trees that impacted the
trail were removed and the preserve was reopened. Staff
continued to treat exotics, provide tours and mow trails.
Trails at this preserve are used by horseback riders.
32
Shell Island – No address assigned. This 83.18-acre Category 5, resource protection/restoration
preserve was acquired in 2006 for a cost of
$4,750,000, or $57,105 per acre. The original
sales price was $4,875,000 and Conservation
Collier was unable to pay that as it was above
appraised value. The Conservancy of
Southwest Florida contributed $125,000
above what Conservation Collier was able to
pay to meet the owner’s price. The purchase
price was higher than expected due to a 1989
Settlement Agreement between Collier
County and the owner (OR BK 1488 PG 777)
which the owned believed guaranteed him
between 3 and 4 units per acre.
This parcel fulfilled program qualifications
by satisfying all applicable screening criteria.
It is an example of one of the unique and
endangered plant communities listed as
preferred by the Conservation Collier
Ordinance (tidal freshwater marsh). The
nearly pristine marsh habitat is considered an
outstanding aesthetic feature.
This parcel provides habitat for wetland
dependent species, water quality enhancement for the adjacent Rookery Bay, an Outstanding
Florida Water, and will provide on-site
attenuation of floodwaters. Wildlife
includes wood stork (Federal Endangered
(E), white ibis (State–SSC), snowy egret
(State– Species of Special Concern
(SSC)), tricolored heron (State-SSC),
little blue heron (State-SSC), and
American alligator (Federally threatened
due to similarity of appearance to
crocodiles). A number of listed plant
species were also observed on the
property, including leather fern (Federal
E) and several listed Tillandsia
(Bromeliad) species. Restoration
potential is high, as the only major
restoration project would be to remove the old roadbed crossing the property.
Legal and physical access exists from C.R. 951 on the east boundary, and from Shell Island Road.
There is no vehicle access from C.R. 951, but there is access via Shell Island Road, which cuts
diagonally across the southeast corner of the property. Shell Island Road is a part of this parcel
but also provides access to state and Conservancy-owned lands to the west and is used by the
33
public to access Rookery Bay for fishing and kayaking at the end of Shell Island Road. Collier
County has entered a cooperative agreement with the state to
fill and grade the road on at least one known occasion, in
2003. This parcel is directly adjoining the Rookery Bay
National Estuarine Research Reserve (RBNERR) and will
serve to buffer and protect it from the effects of development
on neighboring properties. The parcel is almost entirely
wetlands, except for the approximately 4 acres of old raised
road bed (CR 22). This parcel has been utilized by Florida
Gulf Coast University as a “wetland lab,” for student
research.
In 2016, a FWC funding grant was received for treatment of
exotics Brazilian Pepper, Climbing fern and Melaleuca.
While it remains remarkably clean, the preserve continues to
be monitored for exotic re-growth. Providing public access
to this preserve would involve building a boardwalk, as
wetland soils are not appropriate for developing trails.
Because a public boardwalk that is accessible from Shell Island Road exists approximately 0.5
miles west of the preserve and contains an observation platform that overlooks a lake that is part
of the preserve, creation of an additional boardwalk is not necessary.
Wet Woods – 12815 Tamiami Trail N, Naples. The preserve is a 26.77-acre natural area located
within the urban boundary of Collier
County in the northwest corner,
immediately west of U.S. Highway 41
and south of Wiggins Pass Road in
S16 T48 R25. It is being maintained
as a Category 5 preserve until public
access can be established.
This preserve was acquired in 2005
for $2,160,000, or $80,687 per acre. It
was named Wet Woods Preserve by
local school children, a name
approved by the Board, in December
2006. The preserve contains various
native plant communities including
pine flatwoods, mangrove forests, and
both saltwater and freshwater
wetlands, with about 58% being wetlands and 42% uplands.
To date, 132 plant species have been recorded at the preserve. Of these, 110 (83%) are native and
22 (17%) are exotic. Seven listed plant species have been recorded at the preserve. Exotic species
are treated annually.
34
Forty-four bird species, including many protected by the State of Florida and the Federal
government, have been recorded on the property. A bald eagle nest that regularly fledges young
is in the flatwoods portion.
Currently, there is no sanctioned public use of the site. The closest public road to the property is
US Hwy 41 (Tamiami Trail North). A drainage ditch running north-south is located on the eastern
edge of the property and separates the preserve from US Hwy 41. This ditch makes the prese rve
virtually inaccessible currently from US 41.
In 2016, focus on exotic plant species continued with hand and chemical treatment of the accessible
areas. Exotic maintenance continued in 2017 and 2018 to manage patches of wild taro. Hurricane
Irma, in Sept 2017 downed significant vegetation, and most remains in the preserve, with only
downed trees along the border with Germain Dealership having been removed. To provide public
access, there would need to be parking and a boardwalk. Staff has looked for suitable parking
solutions but has not found one yet and plans for a boardwalk in 2008 were halted following the
economic downturn with no alternative funding source yet identified.
Winchester Head Multi-parcel Project – No address assigned. This preserve is one of
two formally designated multi-parcel
projects and is currently considered a
Category 5, resource protection/restoration
preserve. Multiparcel projects have proved
challenging for the program. Challenges
include higher prices for smaller lots,
fluctuating values over multiple years of
buying, unwilling sellers within the project
boundary, and lack of assurance that in-
holding parcels can be acquired in the future
- a particular challenge of the willing-seller
environment. The project covers a portion of
NGGE Units 62 and 65. Between 2004 and
2016, approx. 80 acres out of a total of
158.67 (50%) were acquired. In the map,
acquired parcels are shown as bright green, targeted parcels with no color, donations as light blue,
purple as those properties acquired in 2018 and white as properties owned by the Collier Soil and
Water Conservation District.
Two Vacant Land Market Analyses for both multi-parcel projects (and including Horsepen Strand)
were contracted by the County’s Appraiser in July 2017. In earlier appraisals, property values have
fluctuated. In 2008, values were $16,375 per acre. In 2009, values dropped to $10,000 per acre.
In 2016, values were at $13,500 per acre. The most recent 2017 Market Analysis reached an
averaged value of $12,500 per acre. Property Appraiser’s Office taxable values currently vary
between $17,000 and $19,000 per acre, depending on size.
If additional funds are identified to resume purchasing within the multi-parcel projects, new
appraisals will be obtained before making offers. Otherwise, bargain sales and donations will be
the only avenues for acquisition in these projects. Conservation Collier has acquired four 1.14-
acres lots as donations under the Land Development Code off-site vegetation retention provision
35
(LDC 3.05.07, H.1.f. iii. (b.) in this area (shown in purple on the map). If funds can be identified
for additional purchases it will benefit the program by consolidating the acquired areas and making
it feasible for comprehensive management to begin. Exotic maintenance is being done on donation
parcels to maintain them in the condition they were donated in.
There is no current public access; however, the area is easily accessible via 2 paved County roads,
37th and 39th Ave NE.; The project is a wetland and is only accessible during dry season. In 2016,
2017 and 2018, staff has continued to monitor the area and abate significant exotic maintenance
issues as they occur.
4. Program Financial Status
Conservation Collier spent approximately $105,125,402 on properties between 2003 and 2018,
acquiring and managing 4,071 acres in 19 locations throughout Collier County. Since 2011,
donation and good deal properties have added another 30 acres to the portfolio for a current total
of 4,101.86 acres. Acquisition and management funds were generated from an ad valorem
property tax of up to .25 mil, or $25 for each $100,000 in taxable property value for property
owners in Collier County. Additional income was derived from investment and banking interest,
grants and the sale of Panther Habitat Units (PHUs) to the Solid Waste Department in 2014. In
March 2013, at the ten-year mark, the ad valorem tax levy authorization expired.
As taxes were collected, 15% of the net levy went into the Land Management Trust Fund (174)
and 85% went into the Land Acquisition Trust Fund (172). On May 25, 2010 (Agenda item
16.E.2), the Board of County Commissioners authorized a transfer of up to an additional $10.3
million, above the ordinance mandated 15% of ad valorem taxes, from the “Land Acquisition
Fund” to the “Land Management Fund” during FY2011 – FY2013 to ensure land management
funding in perpetuity. On April 12, 2011 (Agenda Item 10F) the Board authorized early re -
payment of Bond Series 2008. Bond Series 2004 and 2008 were retired in FY 2013.
The Conservation Collier Program utilizes four active funds (172, 174, 179, 674, and 673) to
manage program financial resources and has 1 inactive fund - 272. Fund 673 is a new fund created
in October 2018 to hold funds for the recently approved Pepper Ranch Conservation Bank. Fund
172, the Land Acquisition Fund, is used to account for property acquisition activity. Fund 174, the
Land Maintenance Trust Fund, is the primary Conservation Collier operating and maintenance
fund. This fund also contains long-term Conservation Collier Maintenance Trust reserves.
Significant infrastructure improvements are managed through the Conservation Collier Capital
Improvement Fund 179. Pledged Caracara Preserve endowment funds and Caracara Preserve
maintenance costs are accounted for in Caracara Preserve Trust Fund 674. Fund 272 was
associated with a bond that has been paid and is not currently in use.
Sustained low interest rates and resulting low earnings on Conservation Collier Trust Funds are an
ongoing financial concern. In FY14 and FY15, staff addressed this matter with the Board of
County Commissioners. Using conservative projections, a Ten-Year Financial Plan was developed
which focused on reducing and containing expenditures, establishing a combined Conservation
Collier program minimum fund balance of $32,000,000, and establishing a three-year financial
planning window to ensure adopted budgets and spending practices remain consistent with long
range financial targets. During FY16, staff held costs to planned levels and, in some areas, less
36
than planned due to wet weather interference and grant assistance. During 2017 costs were also
held to planned levels. FY 2018 saw an increase in expenditures associated with ramping up for
new acquisitions per Board direction to begin cycle 9 using management reserves as funding. One
additional land manager / Environmental Specialist was hired in the beginning of 2018 to take over
the land management load being handled by the program manager, so she could focus on cycle 9
acquisition. Depending on what properties are finally approved for acquisition, another land
manager may also be needed. The following tables show Conservation Collier expenditures during
FY16 - FY18. The interest rate on Conservation Collier funds is approximately 1.37% annually
at the time of this writing in November 2018. This is better than the half a percent generated
between 2011 and 2017 but not the 2.5% needed to fully fund the long-term management fund.
Table(s) 5 – Summary of Conservation Collier Financial Activity for FY16,
FY17 and FY18
Conservation Collier
FY 16 Budget to Actual Comparison
Funds 172, 174, 179, 674, 272
Commit Item / Fund Ctr
Adopted
Budget
Amended
Budget
Commitment
Actual
%Consumed
REVENUE ‐ OPERATING
CF, CONTRIBUTION AND TRANS
(199,800)
(35,679,800)
(214,500)
(35,793,908)
‐
‐
(466,148)
(36,079,289)
217.32
100.80
REVENUE Total (35,879,600) (36,008,408) ‐ (36,545,437) 101.49
PERSONAL SERVICE
OPERATING EXPENSE
CAPITAL OUTLAY
TRANSFERS
RESERVES
275,000
504,400
486,300
584,900
34,029,000
277,000
534,240
571,807
598,982
34,026,379
‐
59,596
‐
‐
‐
275,416
349,909
433,632
564,980
‐
99.43
76.65
75.84
94.32
EXPENSE Total 35,879,600 36,008,408 59,596 1,623,937 4.68
Carry forward/Fund Balance at YE 34,029,000 34,026,379 34,921,500
102.63
37
Conservation Collier
FY 17 Budget to Actual Comparison
Funds 172, 174, 179, 674, 272
Commit Item / Fund Ctr
Adopted
Budget
Amended
Budget
Commitment
Actual
%Consumed
REVENUE ‐ OPERATING
CF, CONTRIBUTION AND TRANS
(368,700)
(34,456,000)
(410,574)
(34,626,332)
‐
‐
(533,736)
(34,921,521)
130.00
100.85
REVENUE Total (34,824,700) (35,036,906) ‐ (35,455,258) 101.19
PERSONAL SERVICE
OPERATING EXPENSE
CAPITAL OUTLAY
TRANSFERS
RESERVES
282,800
537,600
54,000
5,000
33,945,300
292,700
586,089
187,035
19,082
33,952,000
‐
17,228
‐
‐
‐
281,429
381,570
6,058
4,100
‐
96.15
68.04
3.24
21.49
EXPENSE Total 34,824,700 35,036,906 17,228 673,158 1.97
Carry forward/Fund Balance at YE 33,945,300 33,952,000 34,782,100
102.44
Conser v ation Collier
F Y 18 Budg et to Actual Compar ison
F unds 172, 174, 179, 674, 272
Commit Ite m / Fund Ctr
Adopte d
Budge t
Ame nde d
Budge t
Commitme nt
Ac tua l
%Cons ume d
REVENUE ‐ OPERATI NG
CF , CO NTRI BUTI O N AND TRANS
(532,000)
(34,578,900)
(739,176)
(35,666,072)
‐
‐
(737,558)
(36,087,975)
99.78
101.18
R EVEN U E Total (35,110,900) (36,405,247) ‐ (36,825,533) 101.15
PERSONAL SERVI CE
O PERA TI NG E XPENS E
CAPI TAL O UTLAY
TRANSFERS
RES ERV ES
433,100
595,800
54,400
306,300
33,721,300
433,100
729,085
1,255,480
1,316,282
32,671,300
‐
52,209
12,108
‐
‐
354,806
358,805
102,339
1,315,782
‐
81.92
56.37
9.12
99.96
EX PEN S E Total 35,110,900 36,405,247 64,317 2,131,733 6.03
U naudited Carry for war d/Fund
B alance at YE 33,721,300 32,671,300 34,693,800
106.19
38
6. Conservation Collier Programs, Events, and Community/Educational
Outreach
Pepper Ranch Hunt Program
Two separate hunt programs exist at Pepper Ranch Preserve - a public hunt program that is open
to all Collier County residents, regardless of age, and an FWC sponsored youth hunt program that
is open to children aged 12-17 (12-15 for youth turkey hunts). Although children from Collier
County are given first choice of youth hunt participation, youth hunts are open to all Florida youths
if openings cannot be filled by Collier County residents. Hogs are considered a nuisance species
and are hunted without limit. Staff conducts annual deer and turkey surveys to set quotas.
2016-17 Hunt Season:
A total of 8 hunts were conducted at Pepper Ranch Preserve during the 2016-2017 hunting season:
5 public and 3 youth hunts. Three of the public hunts were hog hunts, one for deer and one for
turkey. Youth hunts included one hog, one deer and one turkey hunt.
85 applications were received from Collier County residents for the hunting season, with 29 hunter
permits issued. A total of 5 hogs, 4 female deer, and 5 turkeys were harvested during the 2016-
2017 hunting season.
2017-2018 Hunt Season:
A total of 7 hunts were conducted at Pepper Ranch Preserve during the 2017-2018 hunting season:
Five public and two youth hunts. Three (3) of the public hunts were hog hunts, 2 for deer and 1
for turkey. Youth hunts included 1 hog and 1 turkey hunt.
Seventy-nine (79) applications were received for the hunting season, with 31 hunter permits issued.
A total of 4 hogs, 1 male deer, and 2 turkeys were harvested during the 2017-2018 hunting season.
2018-2019 Hunt Season:
A total of 8 hunts are scheduled at Pepper Ranch Preserve during the 2018-2019 hunting season,
starting in December 2018: 5 public and 2 youth hunts. Three (3) of the public hunts are hog
hunts, 1 for deer and 1 for turkey. Youth hunts will include 1 hog, 1 deer and 1 turkey hunt.
Seventy-nine (79) applications were received for the hunting season, with 19 hunter permits issued
at this time, and two hunts not yet assigned. No harvest has occurred at the time of this writing.
Caracara Prairie Preserve Hunt Program
Caracara Prairie Preserve is established as part the Corkscrew Marsh Unit of the CREW Wildlife
Environmental Area (WEA). This allows for Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
regulated public hunting for hog and spring turkey to occur within Caracara Prairie Preserve.
FWC runs these hunts and data is captured for the entire Wildlife Environmental Area (WEA)
without separating out the Caracara Prairie harvest data, but in speaking to FWC staff, only 5
turkeys have been harvested during the 2016-2017 and 2017-2018 hunt seasons, and no wildlife
has been harvested yet in the 2018-2019 hunt season.
Pepper Ranch Guided Hike Program – During late 2014, staff recruited a small group
of volunteers, mostly Master Naturalists and experienced hikers from the Alligator Amblers
39
chapter of the Florida Trail Association to lead hikes on Pepper Ranch Preserve trails for the
general public at no charge. These volunteers have been trained on the trails, trained as volunteers
in the Parks and Recreation System and have received safety training. In 2016 the program offered
4 free guided hikes to the public. The hikes were well attended and enjoyed by visitors. With the
advent of acquisition cycle 9 in 2017, there was no longer staff ability to run this program. Perhaps
it can be started again in 2019.
Pepper Ranch Sunflower Festival – The Sunflower Festival was an event hosted by
Conservation Collier and the Parks and Recreation Department at the Pepper Ranch Preserve
between 2014 and 2016. The most recent festival was held in on October 1, 2016 was a great
success, drawing over 400 people to visit and view the ranch and its fabulous displays of native
Florida sunflowers – the Southeastern sunflower – Helianthus agrestis. Activities at the event
included hay rides, guided hikes, narrated van tours of the Preserve, food vendor, music, a bear
program for children, and an arts and crafts table. The event drew in many people from the
Immokalee community who had not visited the preserve before. The problem with holding an
annual sunflower festival in early October is that the preserve is still quite wet and large groups
parking cars damage the lawn and trails are too wet to hike. Additionally, the sunflowers do not
bloom every year. Staff determined it was better to hold a festival in April (for Earth Day) which
is reliably drier and does not depend on the sunflowers. For the last two years, staff has partnered
with the One by One Foundation to put on an Earth Day festival at Pepper Ranch, involving local
residents and increasing local interest. In 2018 staff opened the preserve for visitors to drive
through to see the sunflowers on 2 weekends, which were highly successful with 2,066 visitors
driving through in the 6 days the preserve was open.
Social Media
Face book – Conservation Collier maintains a Face book Page titled “Conservation Collier
Program.” Since its inception in 2011, the Conservation Collier Page has 395 total page likes,
with over 1,040 people reached. As of November 6, the Conservation Collier Facebook page has
1,452 “likes” and 5,376 people reached. The FB page is becoming the best way to reach supporters
with information and events.
Website – Conservation Collier maintains a website within the Collier County website at
www.Colliergov.net/ConservationCollier. Visitors can find information about preserves, their
locations, what amenities are located there, contact information for staff, volunteering information,
links to hiking information, and what kind of experience each of the preserves open to the public
offer. Land Management Plans, forms, all meeting agendas, agenda item backup, and meeting
minutes are also maintained on the website.
Printed Materials
The Outreach subcommittee has been working through 2017 and 2018 to develop outreach
materials and distribute them throughout the County at hotels, the Chamber of Commerce,
museums, attractions, and other public locations throughout the County. The Committee has
designed a rack card and a panel that will be placed at the Naples Preserve, to expand and
complement the existing 8 preserve brochures.
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5. Mitigation Programs
Conservation Collier has followed 2007 Board direction (6/26/07, Agenda Item 10A) in pursuing
both wetland and Panther Habitat Unit (PHU) mitigation credit for those properties where the
opportunity exists. Wetland mitigation credits have not been economical for the program to
pursue. The costs associated with wetland mitigation bank establishment within Conservation
Collier lands are high, because only hydrologic restoration can provide the “lift” or “functional
gain” necessary to generate credits. Credits are not provided by state or federal agencies for exotic
vegetation removal since this restoration activity is already required as part of the Conservation
Collier program.
Caracara Prairie Preserve – Collier County’s Solid Waste Department has used all
2,272.72 PHU credits available at Caracara Prairie Preserve to mitigate for development of the
Collier Resource Recovery Park. The Conservation Collier Program received a total of $1,301,600
in revenue over FY14 and FY15 for the PHU credits. This revenue is estimated to fund 25% of
routine management costs and 100% of costs associated with US Fish and Wildlife Service
(USFWS) PHU mitigation requirements.
Pepper Ranch Preserve – Staff submitted a Pepper Ranch Preserve Panther Habitat
Conservation Bank Proposal to USFWS on July 23, 2014. A Panther Habitat Conservation Bank
would allow multiple County projects to be mitigated through the preservation and enhancement
of Pepper Ranch Preserve. USFWS did not respond to the proposal until December 2015, when it
provided feedback that the proposal was viable. In the final documents, 8,669 PHU credits were
identified and are expected to be used for development of future County projects at a cost savings
of $1,077,123.25. Conservation Bank documents were signed by the Board of County
Commissioners in September 2018 and by USFWS in October 2018. Staff is approximately 1
month from being able to sell credits and has already been approached by staff in other Divisions
for potential purchases.
6. Partners
Conservation Collier is pleased to have developed acquisition funding, land management,
research, project development, and other related program partnerships with a multitude of agencies
and organizations. These agencies and the nature of their partnerships are listed alphabetically
below:
Audubon of Collier County – Community and Advisory Committee Support
Boy Scouts of America – 12 Eagle Scout projects have been completed or are in the process on
Conservation Collier Preserves
City of Marco Island – Management partnership – Otter Mound Preserve
City of Naples – Gordon River Greenway partner
Collier County Parks and Recreation Department – Freedom Park and Gordon River Greenway
Park management partnership –Management Plan approved through Florida Communities Trust
(FCT) Grant Program in place - Cocohatchee Creek Preserve – management assistance.
Collier County Solid Waste Department – Caracara Prairie Preserve - panther mitigation credit
(PHUs) for Resource Recovery Park.
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Collier County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) – Labor for preserve projects under the Weekender
Workers Program
Conservancy of Southwest Florida – Community and Advisory Committee Support
Corkscrew Regional Ecosystem Watershed Trust (CREW) – Caracara Prairie Preserve -
acquisition and education programs; Land donation in Red Maple Swamp
Florida Division of Forestry – Prescribed fire within urban preserves
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) - Exotic Removal funding
(Conservation Collier staff coordinates the regional working group that distributes exotic removal
funding in south Florida) – Wet Woods, Logan Woods, Railhead Scrub, Shell Island, Rivers Road,
and Pepper Ranch Preserves; Pepper Ranch Preserve Youth Hunt partnership.
Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) – Research - Caracara Prairie Preserve, Lake Trafford
Management Team, Volunteers
Florida Southwestern State College (FSW) – Student Field Trips, Volunteers
Florida Wildlife Federation – Community and Advisory Committee support
Naples Airport Authority – Gordon River Greenway partner
Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve (Rookery Bay NERR) – Pursuing management
partnership for Shell Island Preserve and McIlvane Marsh management activities.
South Florida Water Management District – Caracara Prairie Preserve – property management,
wildlife monitoring, Lake Trafford Management Team
Southwest Florida Land Preservation Trust – Gordon River Greenway partner
University of Florida (UF) – Logan Woods Preserve-exotic removal, Lake Trafford Management
Team
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) – Exotics removal grants under the Partners Program
and Coastal Program for Otter Mound, Shell Island, Railhead Scrub, Rivers Road, Pepper Ranch
and McIlvane Marsh.
9. Grants
Conservation Collier has actively pursued grants for both acquisition and management purposes.
Currently, there have been no awards for land acquisition, but many for management, primarily
for the removal of invasive, exotic species but also for needed equipment and plant community
restoration. Exotic removal grants have come from state and federal government agencies,
including U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Partners Program), the State of Florida through the
Invasive Plant Species Management Council, and the University of Florida. The table below
shows the amount of grant funds obtained and Conservation Collier management funds expended
for each preserve between 2016 and 2018. Conservation Collier has had approximately 17% of all
land management activities funded through grants. The total value of grants awarded to the
program for land management since 2003 is $1,088,714.
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Preserve Year
preserve
Acquired
Year Grant
Awarded
Grant Funds
Acquired
Gordon River Greenway 2006-
2015
2016 $50,000
Pepper Ranch 2009 2016 $50,000
Shell Island 2005 2016 $10,000
Railhead Scrub 2011 2017 $20,000
Red Maple Swamp
Multi-parcel Project
In
progress
2017 $20,000
Freedom Park 2008 2017 $8,000
Pepper Ranch 2009 2018 $150,000
Red Maple Swamp
Multi-parcel Project
In
progress
2018 $50,000
Wet Woods 2005 2018 $8,000
Nancy Payton 2005 2018 $12,000
Total Grants 2016-
2018
$378,000
7. Volunteers
During 2016, Conservation Collier was the grateful recipient of 1,473.75 volunteer hours.
During 2017, Conservation Collier was the grateful recipient of 1,646.75 volunteer hours.
During 2018, Conservation Collier was the grateful recipient of 946.25 volunteer hours (as of
Nov 9, 2018).
If the total volunteer hours for 2016, 2017 and 2018 (4,066.95 hours) are multiplied by the
Florida minimum wage ($8.20/hr.), which amounts to a savings to the program of $33,349!
Volunteer tasks accomplished include:
• Exotic plant treatment,
• Preserve monitoring and maintenance,
• Trail creation and maintenance,
• Hike leadership,
• Mountain bike trail construction and maintenance,
• FWC Youth Hunt guides,
• Wildlife surveys,
• Vegetation management
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The above does not include Eagle Scout projects where total hours worked are not collected.
The service of volunteers for Conservation Collier is governed by Collier County and Parks and
Recreation Volunteer Policies. The following are Eagle Scout projects done for Conservation
Collier between 2016 and 2018:
• Jorge Cortes – Troop 52, Alligator District, SW Florida Council – Natural play area at Pepper
Ranch Preserve
• William Mentillo – Troop 25, Alligator District, SW Florida Council – Privacy plantings at 5
Pepper Ranch Campsites
• Joseph Manuel - Troop 25, Alligator District, SW Florida Council – benches-amphitheater at
Panther Walk Preserve
• Thomas Hogle – Troop 25, Alligator District, SW Florida Council – Kiosk at Rivers Road Preserve
• Jeffrey Harth – Troop 25, Alligator District, SW Florida Council - Planting privacy shrubs between
5 campsites at Pepper Ranch Preserve
• Charles Niveyro – Troop 951, Alligator District, SW Florida Council – bridge in campground
crossing ditch and bench at Lake Trafford Overlook
• Connor Jenkins – Troop 165, Alligator District, SW Florida Council – bike trail bridge at Pepper
Ranch Preserve
• Jonathon Poteet – Troop 2, Alligator District, SW Florida Council – plant signs at the Gordon River
Greenway
• Nicholas Laws - Troop 165, Alligator District, SW Florida Council – Gordon River Greenway
Native Planting
• Lincoln Stranger – Troop 165, Alligator District, SW Florida Council – Gordon River Greenway
Native Planting
8. 2019 Objectives
1. Acquire newly approved lands and place them under management.
2. Continue to accept donation properties under the Land Development Code Offsite Preservation
Option.
3. Continue to develop public access for acquired properties as directed by the Board of County
Commissioners.
4. Continue to implement land management practices at all preserves as outlined in each Board -
approved Land Management Plan.
5. Continue to implement the Collier County Hunt Program at the Pepper Ranch Preserve.
6. Secure grant funding wherever possible.
7. Look for any and all ways to reduce expenditures without sacrificing quality of land
management and public access amenities.
8. Continue to pursue mitigation opportunities on acquired lands.
9. Continue to evaluate potential for sale/trade or donation of lands where it would benefit the
Program.
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Exhibits
Exhibit A. 2018 Map of Conservation Collier Program Lands and Proposed
Acquisitions
45
Exhibit B. Conservation Collier Program Public Amenity Work Plan and
Preserve Category Matrix
Conservation Collier Program Public Amenity Work Plan
(Proposed Revision as of December 2018)
Introduction:
The Conservation Collier Program is responsible for implementing the mandate of the
electorate of Collier County as provided by public referendum votes in November, 2002,
and again in November, 2006 confirming that mandate, to levy a 0.25 mill ad valorem
property tax for a period not to exceed 10 years for acquisition, protection, restoration,
and management of environmentally sensitive lands in Collier County for the benefit of
present and future generations. A nine (9) member citizen’s advisory committee named
the Conservation Collier Land Acquisition Advisory Committee (CCLAAC) was appointed
in early 2003 to make recommendations to the Board of County Commissioners on land
purchases and program policies. Members are appointed for 3 year terms. On February
10, 2015 (Agenda Item 17E), the CCLAAC membership was reduced from 9 to 7
members until active acquisition resumes. Active acquisition resumed in January 2017,
and the CCLAAC began to advertise for 2 additional members. In June 2017 an eighth
member was appointed, and one member’s term ended. In 2018, two new members were
appointed, one in January and the other in July. Currently, the CCLAAC is fully staffed
with 9 members.
Conservation Collier has been implementing its mandate for 15 years. During this time
4,100 acres have been acquired in 19 different locations for a cost of $105.1 million.
Two approved multi-parcel projects, Winchester Head and North Golden Gate Estates
Unit 53, have continued to acquire through offsite preservation donations and bargain
sales between 2016-2018. A total of 6.6 acres were received as donations or good deals
since the beginning of 2016. During 2018, an additional 11.16 acres were acquired in the
multi-parcel projects through acquisition, using funds that had been donated for offsite
preservation.
Per the Conservation Collier Ordinance (2002-63, as amended, Section 2), the ma in
objective of Conservation Collier is to acquire, preserve, restore, and maintain vital and
significant threatened natural lands, forest, upland and wetland communities located in
Collier County, for the benefit of present and future generations. Howeve r, one ancillary
purpose of the Program is “to have the acquired sites available, with minimal risk to the
environmental integrity of the site, to educate Collier County's school-age population and
the general public about the uniqueness and importance of Collier County's subtropical
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ecosystems and natural communities” (Collier County Ordinance 2007-65, Section 4.10.).
This document is intended to update the 2015 Work Plan and provide annual guidance
regarding the construction of public access amenities within Conservation Collier
Preserves.
In 2011, the Conservation Collier Land Acquisition Advisory Committee (CCLAAC)
categorized each preserve based upon its existing and proposed public access amenities.
The “Conservation Collier Preserve Public Amenity Matrix” (Exhibit A) identifies all public
amenities - existing and proposed - at all 19 Conservation Collier Preserves, and
categorizes each preserve into 1 of 5 categories. Additionally, the CCLAAC created a
“Conservation Collier Public Amenity Priority List” (Exhibit B). This identified not only the
public amenities recommended at each preserve, but also the priority in which these
public amenities should be constructed. In 2013, after considering the current financial
status of the Program, some planned amenities were postponed or reduced. This update
provides a proposed revised Work Plan for 2016. This plan may be revised annually, or
as needed.
With the exception Gordon River Greenway Preserve and Pepper Ranch Preserve, which
are anticipated to receive a high volume of public visitation, the improvements proposed
at each preserve represent the minimum amenities necessary to provide safe and
economically feasible public access.
Background:
As mandated by Collier County Ordinance 2007-65, 15% of ad valorem taxes received
through the Conservation Collier Program were placed into a “Land Management Fund”
annually since FY 2003. This 15% transfer stopped in FY 2013, when the levy ceased.
The “Land Management Fund” is separate and distinct from the Conservat ion Collier
“Land Acquisition Fund” and is intended to generate enough interest annually so that only
the interest will be used to fund recurring annual management activities at all
Conservation Collier preserves in perpetuity. With interest rates around half a percent
following the economic downturn, a reassessment of planned expenses was necessary
to conserve principal in the Land Management Fund.
Concern about long term Program finances began in 2009, when data gathered on
management costs, coupled with revenue forecasts and future interest rate projections,
suggested that there would be insufficient funds in the “Land Management Fund” to
complete all Board approved land management activities and potential public access
improvements. CCLAAC budget workshops were held to discuss long term maintenance
funding for Conservation Collier preserves during the July 13, 2009 and September 14,
2009 CCLAAC meetings. As a result of these workshops, on May 25, 2010, Agenda Item
16E2, the Board of County Commissioners authorized a transfer of up to an additional
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$10.3 million, above the ordinance mandated 15% of ad valorem taxes, from the “Land
Acquisition Fund” to the “Land Management Fund” during FY2011 – FY2013 to ensure
land management funding in perpetuity.
In November 2010, the Collier County Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
recommended that projected future interest rates be revised downward. These revisions
severely impacted the projected “Land Management Fund” balance. Because of this
situation and in order to ensure sufficient management funds in perpetuity, on January
25, 2011, Agenda Item 10B, the Board: directed the County Manager, or his designee,
to prepare a Public Amenity Master Plan for all Conservation Collier preserves, suspend
all Conservation Collier acquisitions until a Master Plan was approved by the Board, and
approved the Conservation Collier Cycle 8 Active Acquisition List for purchase when
funds are available. The 2012 Public Amenity Work Plan was the Board requested Master
Plan drafted by Conservation Collier staff based upon recommendations by the CCLAAC.
It was approved on October 23, 2012, Agenda Item 16D4.
Between 2013 and 2015, interest rates remained low, and the Public Amenity Work Plan
was further revised. This 2016-2018 Public Amenity Work Plan represents the most
current status of this plan.
Preserve Categories:
Conservation Collier Ordinance 2007-65 defines natural resource-based recreation as,
“all forms of uses which are consistent with the goals of this program and are compatible
with the specific parcel. Such uses shall include but not be limited to hiking, nature
photography, bird watching, kayaking, canoeing, swimming, hunting and fishing.”
To date, the Conservation Collier Program manages 19 separate preserves th roughout
the County, nine of which are officially open to the public. See Exhibit A. Recreational
opportunities offered at these open preserves are compatible and appropriate to their
location, hydrology and plant communities. Additionally, the natural r esource-based
recreational opportunities coincide with the approved Land Management Plans of these
preserves. The “Conservation Collier Preserve Public Amenity Matrix” (Exhibit A)
identifies all public amenities, existing and proposed, at all 19 Conservat ion Collier
Preserves, and categorizes each preserve into 1 of 5 categories. Category descriptions
are provided below. Regardless of category, preserves may be closed to the general
public when deemed appropriate by staff (i.e., conducting a prescribed b urn, after storm
events, debris removal, levels of unusually high water, days when hunting is permitted,
etc.).
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Category 1 – Primary Use Preserve
• Easily accessible and enough space to construct parking on or near the parcel and
other amenities such as restrooms may be available on or near the preserve.
• ADA accessibility (parking and trails) will be provided.
• May have a daily staff presence (as appropriate) and staff is available to conduct
interpretive tours of the preserve by request.
• Occasional field trips and/or educational programs may be provided.
• Natural resource-based recreational opportunities offered will correspond with the
preserve’s approved Land Management Plan.
• Marked trails and interpretive materials will be available on-site.
• Capital improvements, such as boardwalks, canoe/kayak, launches, overlooks,
picnic benches, and bike racks will be provided for visitors where feasible.
• Will be open to the public during daytime hours, unless special arrangements are
made.
Category 2 - Intermediate Use Preserve
• Has space to provide limited parking on or near the parcel without degrading the
hydrology and plant communities and may be conducive to providing a primitive
trail system. In such cases, an unimproved trailhead may be provided.
• Additional natural resource-based recreational opportunities may be offered where
feasible and will correspond with the preserve’s approved Land Management Plan.
• Restrooms may be provided on or near the site where feasible.
• Will not have a daily staff presence but staff will be available to conduct interpretive
tours of the preserve by request.
• Interpretive signs, brochures, picnic tables and bike racks may be present.
• Will be open to the public during daytime hours, unless special arrangements are
made.
Category 3 - Neighborhood (Limited Use) Preserve
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• Intended to be a “neighborhood” preserve. There is no space available for parking
for either ecological, access, or safety reasons. Members of the public who would
like to visit may have to walk or bike a distance from public parking areas.
• No restroom facilities will be available.
• Primitive trails will be provided.
• Interpretive signs, brochures, picnic tables and bike racks may be present.
• Additional natural resource-based recreational opportunities may be offered where
feasible and will correspond with the preserve’s approved Land Management Plan.
• Staff will be present for periodic site inspections and at other times as necessary
for the proper management of the preserve.
• Staff will be available to conduct interpretive tours of the preserve by request.
• Will be open to the public during daytime hours.
Category 4 - Seasonal Use Preserve
• Parking may be available for the public on or near the site.
• Seasonal (usually winter months), marked, primitive trails will be available during
appropriate times of the year.
• Restroom facilities may be available.
• Interpretive signs, brochures, bike racks may be present.
• Additional natural resource-based recreational opportunities may be offered where
feasible and will correspond with the preserve’s approved Land Management Plan.
• Staff will be present for periodic site inspections and at other times as necessary
for the proper management of the preserve.
• Staff will be available to conduct interpretive tours of the preserve by request.
• Will be open to the public seasonally and only during daytime hours. The public is
advised to check with Conservation Collier staff or on the Conservation Collier
website for up-to-date information.
Category 5 - Resource Protection/Restoration Use Preserve
• Provide no public access. Public access may not be feasible due to the lack of
physical and legal access or where the land stewardship activities could create
unsafe conditions for the public.
• No restrooms or marked trails will be offered.
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• Staff will be present for periodic site inspections and at other times as necessary
for the proper management of the preserve.
Preserves
Category 1 Category 2 Category 3 Category 4 Category 5
Primary Use
Preserves:
easily
accessible with
public
amenities and
parking
Intermediate
Use Preserves:
few to no
amenities,
limited
parking,
primitive trail
system
Neighborhood
Preserve: no
onsite parking
or amenities
other than
benches, trails
and picnic
tables
Seasonal Use
Preserves:
may have
parking and
trails but will
be closed
during
seasonal
rainfall
months
Resource
Protection/Resto
ration Preserves:
currently no
public access due
to lack of
physical or legal
access or where
there are unsafe
conditions for
public
1 Alligator Flag X
2 Camp Keais X
3 Caracara Prairie X
4 Cocohatchee Creek X
5 Freedom Park X
6 Gordon River
Greenway X
7 Logan Woods X
8 McIlvane Marsh X
9 Nancy Payton X
10 Otter Mound X
11 Panther Walk X
12 Pepper Ranch X-currently
seasonal, off
season by appt.
13 Railhead Scrub X
14 Red Maple Swamp X
15 Redroot X
16 Rivers Road X
17 Shell Island X
18 Wet Woods X
19 Winchester Head X
20. Robert H Gore III
(coming) X
Conservation Collier Public Amenity Priority List, Proposed Revised 2018
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Priority Preserve Amenities Estimated Cost
Estimated
year of
construction
1 Pepper Ranch RV pad and utilities $77,000 FY 19
2 Robert H. Gore III Parking and trail system $40,000 FY 19
Total $117,000
Exhibit C. Conservation Collier Preserves by Commission District