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HomeMy WebLinkAbout21-337 RESOLUTION NO. 21-337 A RESOLUTION OF THE ST. LUCIE COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, SUPPORTING AND ENDORSING THE ADAMS RANCH II LESS-THAN-FEE FLORIDA FOREVER PROJECT APPLICATION SUBMITTED TO THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION BY ADAMS RANCH, INC. AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE WHEREAS,Adams Ranch, Inc.,owns approximately 16,000 undeveloped acres situated in western St. Lucie County, Florida; and, WHEREAS,Adams Ranch, Inc., has applied to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the Florida Forever Program to create a new less-than-fee project to protect approximately 15,160 acres of ranch and natural lands with permanent conservation easements; and, WHEREAS, the Florida Forever Program less-than-fee projects focus on maintaining the integrity and function of working agricultural landscapes and ensuring opportunities for viable agricultural activities on working agriculture lands. This program will allow these working lands to continue to provide jobs, food, and pay taxes in St. Lucie County; and WHEREAS, Adams Ranch is a 4th generation, family cattle business, that has continually owned and managed the land since 1937; and WHEREAS, the aforementioned 15,160 acres contains numerous wildlife and surface water corridors. The ranch is a large landholding within the St. Lucie Estuary Watershed, which supplies freshwater to the Indian River Lagoon ecosystem, North America's most diverse estuary with more than 4,000 plant and animal species. The ranch lies within the watershed's C-24 basin and is located on the northwest side of the 2,609-acre C-23/C-24 North Reservoir project maintained by the South Florida Water Management District("SFWMD").The ranch is located one mile from the C-24 Canal that feeds this North Reservoir and ranch managers coordinate with the SFWMD on the release of water from the north and eastern portion of the ranch into the canal. Additionally, the ranch is located across State Road 70 from the 1,233-acre Cypress Creek (Trail Ridge) Complex and the 4,853-acre C-23/C-24 South Reservoir project maintained by the SFWMD; and WHEREAS, the Acquisition and Restoration Council will soon be voting to approve the Adams Ranch II project application and will rank the Florida Forever Projects in December 2021; and WHEREAS, the purchase of one or more conservation easements will further the environmental and natural resource goals and objectives of St. Lucie County, Florida. NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED by the St. Lucie County Board of County Commissioners that: Section 1. The Board of County Commissioners of St. Lucie County, Florida, hereby supports and endorses the Adams Ranch II Florida Forever project application. Section 2. This Board further encourages the Department of Environmental Protection to favorably consider this project so that it may continue forward in the Florida Forever project approval and acquisition process. After motion and second, the vote on this resolution was as follows: Chris Dzadovsky, Chair AYE Sean Mitchell, Vice-Chair AYE Commissioner Linda Bartz AYE Commissioner Frannie Hutchinson AYE Commissioner Cathy Townsend AYE PASSED AND DULY ADOPTED this 21st day of September 2021. BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ATTEST: ST. LUCIE COUNTY, FLORIDA " Li 4 1 IN/ CO,ti BY: gs# 7;nioZi RAJ •- �fi�cAChair i IL '04•41©--.%. i rTI f0 ' r1;,lb, ftl sdi APPROVER-.S TO FOR ) ND CORRECTNESS BY: ' �%� County Attof