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CHAPTER I <br />PURPOSE, OBJECTIVES, AND POLICIES <br />PURPOSE <br />This ELP Guide is to assist the ELAP through the planning process and the procedures that lead to decisions <br />on the acquisition of land. <br />Land acquisition is initiated by the identification of a need to meet certain objectives that require a property <br />base - one that has the potential for acquisition. Acquisition involves obtaining full control (fee title) or <br />partial control through easements, leases, or agreements. <br />OBJECTIVES <br />The primary objective of the Indian River County ELP Guide is to outline procedures for acquiring, and <br />managing environmentally significant lands. <br />Environmentally Significant Lands <br />Lands so described are environmentally rare and irreplaceable and are valued ecological resources. For the <br />purposes of the 2022 Environmental Bond referendum, these lands contain one or more of the following <br />resource categories: Natural Communities; Forest Resources; Plants; Animals; Coastal and Wetland <br />Resources. The land acquisition objectives for each category are as follows: <br />Natural Communities. Identify, acquire and protect those natural communities that represent the <br />best examples, with priority given to the most endangered or threatened. To ensure consistency of <br />description of natural communities, see the Conservation Element of the Indian River County 2030 <br />Comprehensive Plan. <br />Forest Resources. Identify, acquire, and protect lands to maintain representatives of the various <br />forest or timber types. <br />Plants. Identify, acquire and protect sites which contain endangered or threatened species, or <br />species of special concern. Priority should be given to those sites that are critical to the survival of <br />these plant species or that contain important assemblages of rare or endangered species. <br />Animals. Identify, acquire, and protect lands that are critical to the survival of endangered or <br />threatened animals or species of special concern. <br />Wetland and Coastal Resources. Identify, acquire, and protect undeveloped coastal areas to <br />conserve their significant natural and aesthetic attributes. Identify, acquire, and protect significant <br />wetland areas, with specific emphasis on resources associated with the Indian River Lagoon, <br />including its associated tributaries. <br />Water Resources. Identify and protect lands that are valuable for conservation of water resources, <br />including surface waters and those contributing to public drinking water sources. <br />6 <br />Revised: December 2023 <br />227 <br />