"This initiative is aimed at preserving a rural working ranch landscape to protect and restore one of the great grassland and savanna landscapes of eastern North America. The partnerships being formed would protect and improve water quality north of Lake Okeechobee, restore wetlands, and connect existing conservation lands and important wildlife corridors to support the Everglades restoration effort."
- Interior Secretary Ken Salazar

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News and Upcoming Events

• June 8, 2011: Final summary document of public scoping comments submitted by the 3/31/11 deadline
• April 25, 2011: Instructions posted on how to request a copy of the Draft Land Protection Plan (LPP) and Environmental Assessment (EA), both anticipated for release this summer.
• March 25, 2011: Cindy Dohner, the Southeast Regional Director for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, informed the River Ranch Property Owners Association that the Service will not seek to purchase their lands, or interest in their lands, to create the proposed refuge and conservation area.
• March 11, 2011: Summary/Compilation of All Public Scoping Comments Received to Date, as of 3/10/2011
• March 11, 2011: Verbal Public Scoping Comments Submitted at the Public Scoping Meetings:
  • February 10, 2011: Vero Beach, FL, ~580 attendees
  • February 9, 2011: Okeechobee, FL, ~665 attendees
  • February 4, 2011: Sebring, FL, ~325 attendees
  • January 26, 2011: Kissimmee, FL, ~200 attendees
• February 7, 2011: Public Scoping comments through February 3 available for download
• February 4, 2011: New Frequently Asked Questions and corresponding Fact Sheet posted

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About the Partnership

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The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and a diverse group of public and private partners are advancing a collaborative approach to conserve wildlife and habitat across the Greater Everglades ecosystem. This partnership is the Greater Everglades Partnership Initiative.

Our initial proposal is the Everglades Headwaters National Wildlife Refuge and Conservation Area.

To join our mailing list for future notifications, please mail, e-mail or fax this form to:

• Mail: Everglades Headwaters Proposal, PO Box 2683, Titusville, FL 32781-2683
• Email: EvergladesHeadwatersProposal@fws.gov
• Fax: 321-861-1276
• For additional information, please call Cheri Ehrhardt, Natural Resource Planner, at 321-861-2368

For information on the public review process, please read the Federal Register notice. 

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What is the proposed schedule for the project?

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• Conduct Public Scoping & Meetings: January-March 2011
• Develop Draft Land Protection Plan & NEPA Document: April-June 2011
• Conduct Public Review and Comment on Proposal: Summer 2011
• Develop Final Plan: Fall 2011

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Who is involved?

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The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service currently is working with more than a dozen partners on the Greater Everglades Partnership Initiative in a collaborative approach to land conservation in south-central Florida. We welcome the opportunity to work with other interested partners as this process move forward. The current partners are:

Federal Government

• US Department of Agriculture, Natural Resource Conservation Service
• US Air Force, Avon Park Air Force Range

State Government

• Florida Department of Agricultural and Consumer Services
• South Florida Water Management District
• Florida Department of Environmental Protection
• Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
• Florida Division of State Lands

Local Government

• Osceola County, Parks Division

Non-Governmental Organizations

• The Nature Conservancy
• National Wildlife Refuge Association

Landowners

• Multiple ranchers