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RE: Request for County Resolution Supporting Federal Acquisition of Lier Groves, Earing Point Groves, and Pryor Properties on North Jungle Trail as a Buffer to the Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge It is requested that the data herein presented be given formal consideration by the Board of County Commissioners at its regular meeting of April 6, 1999. DF.CCRiPTION AND CONDMONS The Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge (PRMR), located on north Jungle Trail, was established by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1903 as the first national wildlife refuge. Over the past several years, regional staff at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and local environmental groups have campaigned for federal funding to acquire a "buffer" along the refuge. The purpose of the buffer is to guard against potential adverse impacts associated with future development of neighboring lands. Indian River County has contributed to the PINWR buffer by acquiring the "Korangy Tract" and by participating in the acquisition of the "Kennedy Buffer" through the County environmental lands program. On January 19, 1999, the Board of County Commissioners adopted a resolution in support of the allocation of federal Land and Water Conservation Funds by Congress for federal acquisition of Kennedy Groves property as an additional buffer to the Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge. As explained to the Board at the January 19 Board meeting, the Conservation Fund (a nonprofit organization) is assisting the FWS to secure additional land to add to the refuge buffer. County staff has again been contacted by representatives of the Pelican Island Preservation Society (PIPS) requesting that the County expand its support by adopting another resolution that would encourage federal acquisition of lands owned by Lier Groves, Earing Point Groves, and Samuel Pryor on north Jungle Trail to add to the refuge buffer. As such, attached is a proposed resolution for the Board's consideration. The proposed resolution supports federal acquisition of the subject properties, and does not commit county acquisition funding. Federal acquisition of the subject properties would complement the PINWR Buffer project that is currently ranked 5th on the County Land Acquisition Advisory Committee's (LAAO) acquisition list. The PINWR buffer project has been on the LAAC acquisition list since 1995. Support of the federal acquisition proposal would serve the County's environmental land acquisition objectives, yet require no addition expenditure of county bond fiords. Staff recommends that the Board of County Commissioners adopt the attached resolution in support of the allocation of federal Land and Water Conservation Funds by Congress for federal acquisition of the Lier Groves, Earmg Point Groves, and Pryor properties on north Jungle Trail as an additional buffer to the Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge. ON MOTION by Commissioner Adams, SECONDED by Commissioner Stanbridge, the Board unanimously adopted Resolution 99-028 supporting federal acquisition of properties bordering the Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge (tier Groves, Earing Point Groves and Pryor). APRIL 611999 -21- BOOK 1 Fa11J �4