Lee conservation site gets $1.5 million grant

Lee County has been awarded a $1.5 million state grant to restore habitat and build recreational amenities at a recently acquired addition to the Conservation 20/20 Galt Preserve on Pine Island's southern tip.

The funding will come from the state Department of Community Affair's Florida Communities Trust program. It will be accepted pending approval from Lee County Commissioners later this fall.

Until 2007, the Galt Preserve was a 160- acre parcel in Lee County's Conservation 20/20 program. Last year, the non-profit Calusa Land Trust joined with 20/20 to purchase an additional 105 acres. The latter is where the recreational amenities will go and the state dollars will be spent.

Habitat there hosts listed species such as the bald eagle, wood stork, gopher tortoise, golden leather fern and giant airplant. The property will be managed by Lee County Parks & Recreation staff to protect the species as well as provide recreational opportunities. Currently, there are no amenities on the original preserve or the additional acreage.

The Conservation 20/20 program is a willing seller program in which land owners nominate their own land to be acquired. The acquisition process has several stages where the property is reviewed for its viability to be included in the program and recommendations for acquisition are given to the Board of County Commissioners for final approval.

For more information on Galt Preserve, visit www.conservation2020.org or www. leeparks.org.