SANIBEL-CAPTIVA CONSERVATION FOUNDATION

On Aug. 6, the Lee County Board of County Commissioners voted to pursue the acquisition of a 14-acre in-fill parcel located within the J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge on Sanibel.

The county reported that the land is located about 500 feet east of Captiva, on an island known as Buck Key. It is the last remaining privately-owned infill parcel on it. The parcel was recommended for acquisition by the Conservation Land Acquisition and Stewardship Advisory Committee (CLASAC).

Any purchase agreement will be returned to the board for future consideration.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service manages the refuge, which contains 6,525 acres in the county.

The “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society-Friends of the Refuge reported that it, the refuge, Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation and others attended the CLASAC’s meeting on May 15 and spoke in favor of acquiring the land through the Conservation 20/20 program.

SANIBEL-CAPTIVA CONSERVATION FOUNDATION

It added that the balance of Buck Key has already been preserved by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, SCCF and state, and it is managed under an agreement with the refuge.

The SCCF noted that the 335-acre island is the largest uninhabited one within the Pine Island Sound.

“We would like to thank the commissioners for taking an important next step forward in preserving this unique natural resource,” SCCF Chief Executive Officer James Evans said.

The SCCF reported that preserving Buck Key enhances the resiliency of Captiva and protects mangroves, a tropical hardwood hammock and fish habitat for gamefish, such as snook, redfish, sea trout and tarpon, plus roosting and nesting sites for wading birds, like herons, egrets and ibis.

It added that the waterfront land was listed for sale in June of 2023 for $21 million as “ideal for luxury residential homesites or a private estate.”

Also at the meeting, the county commissioners voted to purchase 10 acres east of Stringfellow Road in St. James City, Pine Island, for $50,000. The land will be added to the Pine Island Flatwoods Preserve — Bayside, an existing Conservation 20/20 property. Closing costs are estimated to add up to $12,000 to the acquisition cost. The CLASAC recommended approval of the purchase.

In addition, the commissioners voted to pursue the acquisition of a 129.5-acre parcel located in Buckingham, south of the Orange River Road and east of Interstate 75 and north of Homestead Lane. The parcel was recommended for acquisition by the CLASAC.

Again, any purchase agreement will be returned to the board for consideration.

There are currently 31,444 acres within the Conservation 20/20 Land Acquisition Program.

For more information, visit www.leegov.com/parks/conservation2020.