MANATEE COUNTY — In 2020, Manatee County voters approved a local tax for the county to purchase additional environmental lands with 71% of the vote. However, the Florida Natural Areas Inventory's 2025 report on conservation efforts in the state indicates that Manatee County's conservation land ratio is lagging behind others in the region.
According to FNAI’s 2025 report, only about 14% of Manatee County’s roughly 474,000 acres are in conservation. By that ratio's measurement, Manatee County’s conservation ranks behind Sarasota County (33%), Charlotte County (42%), Lee County (21%), and Hillsborough County (17%).
Only ag-oriented Hardee County (6%) and Pinellas County (12%), the most water-locked and densely populated county in the state, rank lower in the Tampa Bay region. Since the 2020 referendum, Manatee County has added nearly 5,000 acres of environmental land, representing a 1 percent increase, according to FNAI.
The purchases include the acquisition last year of 68 acres for the new Crooked River Preserve in Parrish (the first acquisition made after the referendum passed). The county also acquired 97 acres to expand Emerson Point Preserve in Palmetto and is working to acquire 550 acres in Myakka City that would be added to the Florida Wildlife Corridor.
One of the challenges faced has been a lack of large parcels of available land, as builders continue to purchase and develop such land for residential housing. The environmental lands program is funded through a 0.15 millage ad valorem tax, estimated to cost under $30 per household and generate $6.7 million annually. The goal is to acquire and improve land to protect water resources, preserve wildlife habitats, and create parks.
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nellmcphillips
Too bad the State screwed up the purchase of Rattlesnake key. Maybe this is a property the County should pick up. The County was part of the original purchase but the State backed out because of the so called appraisal of the owner who claimed there was 50 acres of developable land. The sustainability of that area into the future for development is highly unlikely given current flood maps for the area now and into the future. All of the rattlesnake key purchase and areas along Hwy 19 were inundated during Helene last year. This purchase would go a long way to meeting conservation goals.
Sunday, August 10, 2025 Report this
Charlene
As usual, it's greed that is hampering the sensible conservation of lands in our county.
Thursday, August 14, 2025 Report this