http://www.fws.gov/southeast/evergladesheadwaters/
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working to conserve the natural resources and rural way
of life in the
After considerable public input, the
Service is proposing to create the Everglades Headwaters National Wildlife
Refuge and Conservation Area. Unlike a traditional refuge, the Everglades
Headwaters would be a mix of refuge lands and easements that would fill in gaps
across the landscape. The goal is to connect existing conservation lands to
create wildlife corridors and healthy habitats; provide more opportunities to
hunt, fish, hike and learn about wildlife; and improve the water quality and
quantity in the upper
The Service is proposing a 100,000-acre
Conservation Area and a 50,000-acre National Wildlife Refuge. This is a
voluntary program. The Service would work with willing landowners to purchase
full or partial interest in their land.
· Public comment period extended to November 25, 2011. View press release.
· Press release: First
public hearing this Saturday (September 24, 2011) on proposed Everglades
Headwaters National Wildlife Refuge and Conservation Area
· Read our full September
7, 2011 news release
· Watch
a video recording of the September 7, 2011 press conference
· Federal Register Notice: Proposed Establishment of
The proposal is outlined in detail in two documents, the Draft Land Protection Plan and the Draft Environmental Assessment. An Executive Summary of the proposal is also available.
The Service is hosting two public
meetings to answer questions and take comments on the proposal. The deadline to
submit comments is
The public hearings are:
1 - 5 p.m. on Saturday, September 24, 2011 at the South Florida
Community College Theatre for the Performing Arts
600 W. College Drive
Avon Park, FL 33825
1901 Chief Osceola Trail
The schedule is the same for both
meetings. From
Anyone who needs reasonable accommodations in order to attend and
participate in the public hearings should contact Cheri Ehrhardt
at 321/861-2368or Cheri_Ehrhardt@fws.gov as soon as possible. In order to allow
sufficient time to process requests, please contact us for assistance no later
than one week before the hearing.
Verbal and written comments may be submitted
at the public hearings.
You do not need to attend a public
hearing to share your views with us. Written comments may also be submitted by:
Email to EvergladesHeadwatersProposal@fws.gov
Fax to 321.861.1276
Mail to
US Fish and Wildlife Service
Please include your name and address in
any comments submitted. Before including your address, phone number, e-mail
address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, you should
be aware that your entire comment—including your personal identifying
information—may be made publicly available at any time. While you can ask us in
your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public
review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.
Comments must be received by
Time permitting, the Service will also
consider requests from organizations for informational presentations during the
public review and comment period. The Service would be able to share
information and details about the proposed refuge and conservation area, but
would be unable to accept verbal public comments at these meetings. However,
written comments could be submitted to the Service representative. To request
an informational presentation about the proposal, please contact Cheri_Ehrhardt@fws.gov or 321/861-2368 .