Babcock Ranch

[Novalex]

Good News! This afternoon the Babcock Florida Company and the South Florida Water Management District signed a Letter of Good Faith Cooperation that sets forth an agreement allowing 90 days (with an additional 90 possible) for “the necessary investigation and analysis for the public authorities to engage in good faith negotiations for the purchase of the Babcock Florida Company.”

Congratulations to all who have worked so hard to reach this milestone! We’ll be in touch again once we know what the next steps will be, and how everyone can be involved!



Susan Brookman

Southwest Florida Regional Planning Council

239.656.7720, ext. 217

sbrookman@swfrpc.org

[RutnNStrutn]

That's outstanding news CJ!!!
Did you know that the Babcock Ranch is one of the most ecologically important areas in our region? Located in Southeastern Charlotte and Northeastern Lee Counties, the Ranch is comprised of cypress domes, swamps, and mesic flatwoods and wet prairies in a block that straddles the Telegraph Swamp.
The species diversity found on the Ranch, coupled with the fast-growing population in the vicinity, make the ranch an ecological refuge. Its sheer size of 91,361 acres (143 square miles) makes it critical habitat to many species, particularly large mammals such as Florida panthers and Florida black bears.
Federal and State governments are currently administering an $8+ billion plan to restore the Everglades. Babcock Ranch and the waters of the Telegraph Swamp are extremely important to the health of the western Everglades ecosystem, particularly the Caloosahatchee River, making preservation of the Ranch important on a national scale.
The citizens of Southwest Florida are very fortunate that the Babcock family has provided outstanding stewardship of the Ranch's natural resources over the years.
Now that the family is no longer interested in retaining ownership of the Ranch, its future is uncertain.
The Southwest Florida Regional Planning Council is one of many governmental and community organizations that would like to see the Babcock Ranch placed into the public domain and managed in a way that protects its natural systems. To that end, we are involved in a major effort to identify funding sources.

http://www.swfrpc.org/Babcock.htm

Now what they won't tell you is several developers got together, made a bid on the property, then asked for it to be rezoned residential. The plan is to build a huge community.
You know, most of the turkey hunt TV shows that have been filmed in Florida have been at the Babcock Ranch. I strongly suggest that you begin to drop letters to Southwest Florida WMD & request that this property be reserved. It's the least we can do. Great job informing people about this CJ. Not everyone is up to date on this stuff like you and I are!! ;) :D

[Quackers]

I heard today that these two bills are in the legistrature now. They allow developers and the city circumvent the wishes of private land owners. In other words, they can get your property whether you want them to or not. They are trying to use these bills to acguire land in the Coral Gables area.

Has any one else heard about this? It's one of those stories that can't be true, but it looks like it is.:confused:

[N. Cook]

Ihave little doubt that these lands will end up as "public" , but I have lots of doubt that any of the general public will ever hunt there. Better preserved than subdivided into housing, but just another large area shut off except to a chosen few.

[Converted]

I wouldn't write it off just yet Newton. Remember that few folks thought the Dupuis would ever be open to hunting... including the Dupuis';) Now, even though it is nearly 100% quota hunt, it is open to the general public.