Major step toward acquisition
Last week, the Lee County Board of County Commissioners voted unanimously to move our 68-acre Wulfert Bayous acquisition project into the next phase of potential purchase through Lee County’s Conservation 20/20 Program. This vote was crucial to move this project forward through the process.
Many thanks to all of our supporters for helping to make this happen, from contacting the commissioners via email and phone call to the leaders of the HOAs on Sanibel, the Committee of the Island and Erick Lindblad of the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation who all sent letters of support for this acquisition.
From here, the Lee County 20/20 staff will begin the due process for possible acquisition of the 68-acre parcel. The “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society has committed to raising a partial match of the county’s investment. We will keep you posted as actions develop.
Special thanks to:
n Sanibel Mayor Kevin Ruane. The mayor met individually with each commissioner to encourage support of this land acquisition. Even during the water crisis and time consuming responsibilities with the city and beyond, he took the time to do this, and it had a great impact on the vote.
n John McCabe and Marc Giattini. Both John and Marc have spent an inordinate amount of time working hard behind the scenes to get the DDWS and this property to this stage.
Interested in learning more about this project and what you can do to help make it a reality? Contact DDWS Executive Director Birgie Miller at 239-472-1110 ext. 4 or director@dingdarlingsociety.org.
Birgie Miller is the executive director of the “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society-Friends of the Refuge.