ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY & ADVOCACY

Court of Appeal agrees with Conservancy: Rivergrass must address traffic and taxpayer impacts

The Strength of Partnerships: Importance of LOSOM and SB 2508

Due to the efforts of the Conservancy, strong partnerships and outcry from citizens like you, Governor DeSantis vetoed SB 2508 on June 8, a bill that would have resulted in untold negative impacts to our precious natural resources.

SB 2508 was introduced mid-session, allowing only one public hearing and severely limiting the public’s ability to provide critical input on important legislation that would have negatively impacted our environment and our economy. Public pressure did result in language changes that attempted to lessen the damaging aspects of the bill and this apparently was sufficient to satisfy some. However, the Conservancy partnering with Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation (SCCF) and Friends of the Everglades remained steadfast in our vocal opposition.

Our continued, collaborative opposition was based on the fact that SB 2508, even as amended, would have undermined the new Lake Okeechobee System Operating Manual (LOSOM) and had a chilling effect on state water managers by perpetuating the harmful “hold and dump” practices for management of Lake Okeechobee.

The result would have been reduced beneficial flows to the Caloosahatchee and Everglades during the dry season and increased damaging high-volume discharges to our coastal communities during the wet season.

It is important to note that the LOSOM process is one in which the Conservancy, in partnership with SCCF, deployed our resources and were the only groups on the West Coast providing independent critique of the proposed hydrologic models.

The Conservancy is pleased to share that the Second District Court of Appeal (DCA) ruled in our favor, confirming our legal right to present evidence against Rivergrass Village with regard to traffic impacts and fiscal neutrality. We were prepared to provide evidence to the circuit court that Rivergrass will create significant traffic issues and will require taxpayer subsidies to cover costs for needed infrastructure, services, and facilities to support Rivergrass’ population. Collier County and Collier Enterprises claimed that the Conservancy could not challenge a development order based on traffic issues and a development’s cost burden to taxpayers.

The DCA stated that the circuit court erred in siding with Collier County and Collier Enterprises because the community does have a right to bring forth claims related to a development’s traffic and fiscal impact. The Conservancy is very pleased that the DCA confirmed our legal right. We are eager to finally be able to show at trial how Rivergrass Village will impact the community.

We thank the 13 civic and environmental organizations who filed an amicus brief in support of our appeal. Furthermore, we remain grateful to our supporters and members who continue to stand with the Conservancy, as we continue our long and distinguished 59-year history of advocating for sustainable development and finding solutions that balance the needs of our growing community with preservation of our natural resources.

Wildlife Corridors Critical to Survival

The current population of endangered Florida panthers is estimated to be as low as 120-230 cats. In order to secure the Florida panther’s future, additional habitat to the north needs to be secured – and the corridors to connect them to the core population in our region is essential. Existing Florida panther corridors and habitat are also currently under threat from development.

Thus, the Conservancy has assembled maps and resources that stakeholders, agencies, and the public can utilize to prioritize land acquisition and protection efforts, in advancement of a statewide wildlife corridor that will benefit not just the Florida panther, but also many flora and fauna.