TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Millions of dollars in Florida Forever land-conservation funds would be tied to sea-level rise and hurricane recovery under a measure moving forward in the Florida Senate. Another part of the bill would include wildlife crossings as land eligible for purchasing through Florida Forever. The current year’s budget has $33 million for Florida Forever. David Cullen, a lobbyist for Sierra Club Florida, cautioned against opening Florida Forever money for land acquisition tied to three proposed toll-road projects or separately “skewing” the Acquisition and Restoration Council land-selection process. That proposal (SB 7016) also would set up a nine-member Sea-Level Rise Task Force which would have until Jan. 1, 2021 to reach baseline projections on anticipated sea-level rise and flooding impacts along Florida’s coastline.

Getty ImagesTALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Five years ago, 75 percent of Florida voters approved setting money aside for land conservation and acquisition, but since its passage lawmakers have never fully funded Florida Forever. Environmental groups used the fifth anniversary of the passing Monday to call on lawmakers to dedicate $100 million to Florida Forever going forward. State Senator Linda Stewart is sponsoring a bill that would guarantee $100 million to Florida Forever and make the funding reoccurring. Environmentalists like Aliki Moncrief with the Florida Conservation Voters said overall, she's optimistic going into the 2020 session. The Governor requested $100 million for Florida Forever this past Legislative session.

Ron DeSantis and Cabinet members agreed Thursday to buy and conserve more than 900 acres of land across the state at a combined cost of just over $11 million. The land, which will be acquired with Florida Forever conservation funds, includes 717 acres within the Wakulla Springs Protection Zone in Wakulla County, 129 acres in Charlotte County and the 57-acre Fish Island in St. Johns County. Fish Island, the most expensive of the proposals at $6.5 million, is one of the last remaining undeveloped waterfront properties in St. Augustine. "We are so pleased that the Cabinet has agreed to move forward to purchase this property with Florida Forever funds and even more pleased that Fish Island will be preserved, McCarthy said. Without his leadership to fund Florida Forever in 2018, this project would not have been possible.

Ron DeSantis and Cabinet members next week will consider spending just over $11 million of Florida Forever conservation funds to acquire more than 900 acres in three parts of the state. The pieces of land targeted for conservation are 717 acres within the Wakulla Springs Protection Zone in Wakulla County, 129 acres in Charlotte County and the 57-acre Fish Island in St. Johns County. The land in Wakulla County, south of Tallahassee, would require $4.2 million from the state. The property connects the Apalachicola National Forest with the Edward Ball Wakulla Springs State Park. Department of Environmental Protection officials said they are seeking $2.54 million from the Federal Forest Legacy to reduce the cost.

The 57-acre property is on the Intracoastal Waterway immediately adjacent to the State Road 312 bridge onto Anastasia Island. The Land Trust said Fish Island is a healthy maritime hammock forest and preserving it will help avoid water quality impacts to the Matanzas River. North Florida Land Trust is urging the community to show support for the protection of Fish Island, an environmentally sensitive and historically significant land, prior to the cabinet's July 23 meeting in Tallahassee. Recently the St. Augustine commissioners voted unanimously to approve management of Fish Island if the state agrees to buy the property. The NFLTs posted information on its campaign to preserve Fish Island on its website.