Creating a Greenway in Northern Florida
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Creating a Greenway in Northern Florida Congressional District: 4 Florida Baker and Columbia Counties Member: Ander Crenshaw Location On the Osceola National Forest in northeastern Florida. Acquired to Date Method Acres Cost ($) Purchase 45,370 $16,799,000 Purpose Conserve and enhance critical scenic, recreational, and wildlife Exchange 18,528 n/a resources; achieve landscape scale conservation with an Donation 7,000 n/a emphasis on restoration, watersheds, natural treasures, climate Partners 40,765 $31,500,000+ change, sustainable bioenergy, and recreation. President’s Buget FY2012 Purchase Acres Cost ($) SWC 435 $1,000,000 Pending Future Action Method Acres* Cost ($) SMR 1,060 $3,500,000 Pending 3,500 $9,000,000 Partners The Suwannee River Water Management District will contribute up to $600,000 towards the purchase of the Suwannee tract. The Trust for Public Land has contributed to pre-acquisition work and is holding the St. Mary’s tract pending Federal purchase. Cooperators State of Florida, Columbia County, Baker County, Florida Sierra Club, The Nature Conservancy, National and Supporters Florida Wildlife Federations, Defenders of Wildlife, Florida and National Audubon Societies, Save the Panther, Habitat for Bears, Florida Defenders of the Environment, Ducks Unlimited. Project These acquisitions are located near the Interstate-10 corridor west of Jacksonville and adjacent to the Osceola Description National Forest. As one of the major export/import locations in the South, the Interstate 10 corridor is under constant pressure as industrial and residential developments expand from suburban Jacksonville, with major industrial growth expected over the next 12 to 36 months. Acquiring these tracts in advance of new development will prevent conversion to other uses. In addition, there is a critical hydrologic link between acquisition of these tracts and the welfare of what many consider to be the largest intact watershed in the East. Nationally, experts recognize the 170,600-acre Suwannee Wildlife Corridor - Pinhook Swamp (SWC) as an unparalleled contiguous conservation-watershed-wildlife corridor bridging the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge in Central Georgia to the Osceola National Forest in northern Florida. Over 700,000 federal acres referred to as the Greater Okefenokee Ecosystem are connected through this project making this the largest federal wildlife corridor east of the Mississippi River. As one of the most valuable biodiverse and unique ecosystems in the east, this riparian/wildlife corridor is the home to a multitude of federally endangered species, including wood storks, red-cockaded woodpeckers, gray bats, and eastern indigo snakes. In addition, this area contains 11 other known species of State or Federal concern, including the black bear. The Trust for Public Land has long envisioned the St. Mary’s River Connector (SMR) as the first step in connecting the 1,632-acre St. Mary’s Shoals Park (and two miles of pristine river frontage) to the Osceola, thereby joining both to the Greater Okefenokee Ecosystem. The recreational and wildlife opportunities associated with these acquisitions are enormous and will serve to protect a bevy of threatened species while preserving critical habitat. In addition, this project will provide unrivaled recreation experiences for the public as a greenway connection is pursued from the scenic bluffs and white sandy shoals of the St. Mary’s River to the Osceola. As a critical recharging area to the Florida Aquifer and home to the free-flowing Suwannee and St. Mary Rivers, these acquisition areas offer wetland and riparian benefits that cannot be overemphasized. Protection of these areas is vital to the health and integrity of these magnificent rivers and the water quality of northern Florida. Development pressure from the Jacksonville metro area continues to be felt in this area and opportunities to protect these vast expanses of open space are quickly disappearing. These purchase opportunities are disappearing. With these proposed acquisitions, experiences of the estimated million annual visitors to this unique ecosystem will be enhanced, protected, and preserved for future generations. Strategic Sustain and enhance the Osceola National Forest through conservation of open space and protection of wildlife Goal resources while improving the quality and availability of outdoor recreation experiences for the public. Forest Service 3 4 1 6 Lower Alapaha Conservation Area th Withlacoochee 67 West Conservation Area Suwannee Ridge Mitigation Park Wildlife and Environmental Area Hamilton Adams7 Tract Michel Tract 5 Holton Creek 1 Conservation Donaldson Tract Area Suwannee River Florida Youth State Park Fort Union Conservation Ranches Connector Area Conservation Easement Madison Warner/Harrell County Conservation Conservation Area Easement 2 4 9 Suwannee River State Park 132 Madison Twin Rivers State Forest 90 Falmouth Spring Conservation Area 2 Suwannee 4 9 10 Suwannee River Proposed Acquisition Parcels 11th 136 136 Vicinity Map Legend Suwannee River Proposed Acquisition Parcels Acquisition Parcels FY 2012 LWCF National Forest System Lands This map depicts USDA Forest Service Land Status Record data Joint Ownership and the approximate location of the proposed purchase parcel. Private Conservation Lands Regional Agency Land State of Florida Forest Service Region 8 National Forests in Florida 0 0.5 1 2 The USDA Forest Service Makes no warranty, expressed or implied, Miles regarding the data displayed on this map, and reserves the right to Map Creation Date - 01/03/2011 correct, update, modify, or replace this information without notification. Map Revision Date - Map 1 of 2 file: c:\(data\lwcd2012\r8\maps\flor\ Arlene Heap 6 41 129 6 41 Martin 6 6 Luther King H 1 9 atley g 24 5 n i K r n i e t r h Jasper t a u M L 1 5 41 9 4 2 129 67th Suwannee Ridge 249 Mitigation Park Wildlife Hamilton and Environmental Area 75 41 129 Holton Creek Conservation Area Fort Union Conservation Area Sanders Conservation Easement 132 Suwannee River Proposed Acquisition Parcels 132 Suwannee River Farms Management Area Suwannee Woods Ferry 2 49 Conservation Area Swift Creek 129 Conservation Area Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park 10 2 4 9 O ld N F o e b rr le y s Vicinity Map Legend Suwannee River Proposed Acquisition Parcels Acquisition Parcels FY 2012 LWCF National Forest System Lands This map depicts USDA Forest Service Land Status Record data Joint Ownership and the approximate location of the proposed purchase parcel. Private Conservation Lands Regional Agency Land State of Florida Forest Service Region 8 National Forests in Florida 0 0.35 0.7 1.4 The USDA Forest Service Makes no warranty, expressed or implied, Miles regarding the data displayed on this map, and reserves the right to Map Creation Date - 01/03/2011 correct, update, modify, or replace this information without notification. Map Revision Date - Map 2 of 2 file: c:\(data\lwcd2012\r8\maps\flor\ Arlene Heap Creating a Greenway in Northern Florida Suwannee Wildlife Corridor - Pinhook Swamp (SWC) St. Mary’s River Connector (SMR) St. Mary’s Shoals Park (to be connected to the Osceola National Forest) .