February 4, 2002
Ms. Susan Trokey, Realty
Specialist
J.N. “Ding” Darling
National Wildlife Refuge
1 Wildlife Drive
Sanibel, FL 33957
Dear Susan,
Thank you for attending our recent
Watershed Council meeting to share information about plans to expand the
boundaries of the J. N. “Ding”
Darling National Wildlife Refuge Complex.
The members of the Watershed Council and the visitors present all seemed
very interested in the presentation you made, and we are grateful for the time
and energy you devoted to us to clear up the confusion regarding the proposed
expansion.
After hearing your presentation and reviewing the literature you provided, the members of the Watershed Council reached a consensus to endorse the Preferred Alternative (protection and management of up to 45,000 acres). We support your proposal to protect additional fish and wildlife habitats in Lee and Charlotte Counties through a combination of management agreements, leases and conservation easements with willing landowners and fee title purchases from willing sellers. We agree that by expanding the boundaries of the J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge Complex, the U.S.F.W.S. will increase its ability to protect breeding populations of colonial birds, assist other agencies and organizations in their habitat management efforts, and respond to opportunities to protect areas vital to the establishing purposes of the refuges and the mission of the U.S.F.W.S.
We appreciate your
efforts to keep the people of Southwest Florida in the loop regarding the work
of the U.S.F.W.S. in this area. We
look forward to working with you and your colleagues to further address critical
water resource issues facing the Caloosahatchee and Big Cypress watersheds.
Sincerely,
Noel Andress
Chairman,
Board of Directors
The mission of the Southwest Florida Watershed Council is to protect, conserve, manage and/or
restore the land and water resources of the Caloosahatchee and Big Cypress Watersheds through participation and cooperation of all stakeholders in consensus building, planning, and decision making to meet the
economic, natural and cultural needs for this and succeeding generations.
